Community Activities

HAVE A CUP OF TEA AND CELEBRATE THE DIAMOND JUBILIEE!

This summer Marie Curie Cancer Care is calling on all tea lovers again in Bristol to put the kettle on in support of local Marie Curie Nurses.

Are you celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this year with a street party, garden party or just with a group of friends? Why not join in with people across the country celebrating this milestone and raise funds at the same time for Marie Curie?

This year alone Marie Curie’s local nurses will look to provide free care and support to 168 terminally ill patients and their families in Bristol – yet there are more and more who need this support.

By getting together with friends, family or neighbours and holding a tea party of your own you can ensure this care can continue in Bristol.

Please register today online at www.mariecurie.org.uk/teaparty or call 08700 340 040 for your free Tea Party fundraising pack.

Chance for voluntary and community groups to get involved in the South Glos Joint Strategic Needs Assessment update

Are you part of a voluntary or community group, locally? South Gloucestershire’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) is being updated. The JSNA identifies current and future health and wellbeing needs and influences how services are planned and funded. This includes services provided by the voluntary and community sector.

The Care Forum would like to hear from the health and social care VCS to ensure its views and knowledge is represented in the JSNA. There will be three focus groups in June for the VCS, all of these are the same and you only need to attend one:

·       Wednesday 13 June 12pm – 2.30pm with lunch, Westcott Studio, Kingswood Foundation Estate, Britannia Road, Kingswood, Bristol, BS15 8DB;

·       Thursday 14 June 2.30pm - 4.30pm with cake, The Vassall Centre, Gill Avenue, Fishponds, BS16 2QQ;

·       Tuesday 19 June 10am – 12pm with coffee and pastries, Ridgewood Community Centre, 244 Station Road, Yate, Bristol, BS37 4AF.

Transport expenses can be provided.

Contact vcsinfojsna@thecareforum.org.uk to book.

If you cannot make one of the focus groups and would like to be interviewed by email or telephone, contact vcsinfojsna@thecareforum.org.uk to arrange a time.

The current JSNA documents can be viewed here: http://www.ourareaourfuture.org.uk/JointStrategicNeedsAssessment.htm

Bromley Heath Neighbourhood Watch

If you are interested in finding out more about the Bromley Heath Neighbourhood Watch (BHNW) or wish to contact them about anything specific, please visit their website at www.bhnw.org.uk.

Free welfare and benefits and debt advice on hand to residents

South Glouestershire residents who need help with managing their debt or claiming welfare benefits are being helped thanks to a local advice service.

South Gloucestershire Council has awarded a three year contract to a partnership of five local organisations to provide a free advice service for its residents. The partnership is made up of voluntary and community sector organisations incuding Avon & Bristol Law Centre, Age UK South Gloucestershire, Bristol Debt Advice Centre, North Bristol Advice Centre and South Gloucestershire Citizens Advice Bureau.

Regardless of circumstances, anyone can ask for advice from these agencies by going to one of the drop-in sessions which are run at community venues across South Gloucestershire.

As well as looking out for drop-in sessions run in your local area, you can phone for initial advice and a home visiting service is available for people unable to visit their offices in person. All the agencies provide general advice, with specialist knowledge in welfare benefit and debt advice. They can also help with advice ranging from employment to community care.

Contact the service's office nearest to you:

Bristol Debt Advice Centre (Old Market, Bristol) - 0117 954 3990 and www.bdac.org.uk

North Bristol Advice Centre (Gainsborough Square, Lockleaze) - 0117 951 5751

South Gloucestershire Citizens Advice Bureau (Yate) - 08444 111 444

Age UK South Gloucestershire (Thornbury) - 01454 411707

Avon & Bristol Law Centre (Stokes Croft, Bristol) - 0117 99248662

Well Aware

Since Well Aware was established in 2010 it has become one of the most popular local online resources for people wanting information about health and well being services. It offers a wide choice of services based on post code selections and so provides a truly local service.

For people in the Downend & Bromley Heath area who don’t know where to turn to when they want to find, say, a local group or organisation, a home help, advice on adapting a home to meet changing needs, or just someone to talk to – Well Aware has it all, and more. 4,500 local organisations are listed on Well Aware and can be accessed through the web site or by a FREE phone call to 0808 808 5252. Visit www.wellaware.org.uk.

Volunteers needed to support families coping with a terminal illness

Marie Curie Cancer Care is currently recruiting volunteers who can provide one-to-one support to people with terminal cancer and other life-limiting illnesses, their families and carers through its new Marie Curie Helper service in Bristol.

As a volunteer for this service, you will be put in touch with a local family so that you can offer them company, respite support and practical information on a one-to-one basis, according to their needs. For a few hours each week, you will provide a listening ear or respite for the carer so that they can take some time away from their caring role, usually by visiting people in their home.

Experience is not necessary. We will provide all the training you need for this role and you will receive ongoing supervision and support from your local service manager. We will also cover your travel expenses.

If you are aged 18 or over and have few hours to spare each week, please get in touch with the local service manager on 0845 3032777 or email bristolhelper@mariecurie.org.uk. For more information and to view short films on our service, visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/helper.

You can also get in touch if someone you know could benefit from the support of a Marie Curie Helper.

CAB launches campaign to educate people on Employment Rights

South Gloucestershire Citizens Advice Bureau is currently undertaking research into local people's awareness of their workplace rights. They are also investigating employers who actively disregard employment rights. Their aim is to raise awareness of basic employment rights in the region, whilst also reminding rogue employers of their duty to adhere to national employment regulations.

Every year the CAB helps hundreds of workers whose workplace rights have been denied or ignored. Denial of paid holiday is one of the biggest problems reported.

Many are also unaware of their basic workplace rights. For example, in a recent pilot survey conducted by South Gloucestershire CAB, 12% of respondents who were employed did not have a written contract, but did not perceive this to be illegal or unfair. Others decide not to pursue rightful claims for fear of losing their jobs, or are put off by the prospect of a time consuming and potentially costly Employment Tribunal.

Beth Haines Doran, CAB Social Policy Assistant, says:"We want to hear from you if you are unsure of what your rights are. We also want to hear from you if you think you have been treated unfairly or denied your legal rights in the workplace. You can find your local Citizens Advice Bureau's opening hours at www.southgloscab.org.uk/. We have offices in Yate, Staple Hill, Thornbury and Bradley Stoke."

Alternatively please call 08444 111 444, Monday - Friday, 10am - 2pm."

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

cab.socialpolicy@gmail.com

Things going on...

There is a wide variety of activities that take place at various venues in Downend and Bromley Heath. Some of the places you might want to check out are:-

Lincombe Barn http://www.downendfolkhouse.org.uk

Downend Library http://www.southglos.gov.uk/LeisureCulture/Libraries/

Badminton Road Methodist Church www.badmintonroadmethodist.org.uk

Downend Baptist Church www.downendbaptist.co.uk

Christ Church, Downend www.christchurchdownend.com

St Augustine of Canterbury www.staugustinesbristol.com

Downend Christadelphians http://www.downendchristadelphians.org.uk

For other local information and services, visit www.standbrook-guides.com

For other useful sources of information, visit the Open Directory Project or the South Gloucestershire Information webpage.

South Gloucestershire Local Involvement Network endeavour to engage with the whole of South Gloucestershire, to enable the community to have a say in health and social care in the area. To find out more, visit www.linksouthglos.org.uk

National Blood Service

The National Blood Service (NBS) - part of NHS Blood and Transplant - is asking people to spare an hour of their time in 2010 to donate blood.

A single donation can be broken into three component parts (red cells, plasma and platelets) which means that your one donation can help save or improve the lives of up to three people.

Blood stocks are used up in a matter of days so the NBS counts on people continuing to step forward to donate blood. Certain blood products only have a shelf life of five days so the NBS need to constantly renew their stocks.

The NBS needs to collect 7,000 donations of blood each day to supply hospitals in England and north Wales with the blood products needed to treat patients. Blood is used for a wide-range of medical procedures including cancer care, general surgery, in maternity care and for accident and emergency situations.

Anyone aged between 17-65, weighing more than 50 kg (7 stone 12lbs) and in general good health could potentially start saving lives by becoming a blood donor. There is no upper age limit for donors who have donated in the last two years.

To book an appointment call the Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk