Priorswood Community Centre News
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
N O R T H T A U N T O N P AR T NE R S H I P April 2021
Priorswood Community Centre News
Manager’s Update
How nice it is to now be able to meet with family and friends especially in this
wonderful weather we have been having and how much better the sun makes you feel.
It makes you appreciate all those things we have been missing and how we can now
look to the future and how we can safely get back to some sort of normal.
Although many of us have already had our vaccinations we still need to take care to
protect ourselves and everyone around us, but things do look a little more positive.
We are hoping that we may be able to reopen in some way when the next round of
restrictions are lifted in May but this will all depend on a risk assessment being carried
out as the safety of staff, volunteers and also all of you who may be popping in for a
coffee and chat will be our main focus. The problem we have is the size of the building
and the lack of windows for ventilation and along with social distancing it makes it
difficult to provide a safe space so numbers will have to be restricted and groups held
off until at least the end of June when all restrictions are lifted in line with the
Government road map but we are gearing up to reopening and have been working hard
behind the scenes to make sure we can reopen safely and have been getting things in
place ready to be back with you, we can’t wait to see you all again.
Lesley
Don’t forget that you can always find out what is happening in the Community
Centre and around North Taunton by visiting our website,
www.priorswoodcommunitycentre.co.uk, or our Facebook Page
www.Facebook.com/PriorswoodCommunityCentre.
We include posters and news from other organisations as well as our own so
that we can help to spread the word about exciting events and valuable
services that are happening around our community.
Page 2 Cooking With Zing Somerset Zing have been running their Feed Bellies, not Bins campaign to encourage people to use up fruit and veg that is past its best instead of putting them in the bin. Here are a few ideas to use up bananas that have gone a bit too ripe.
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5 Age UK Somerset encourage a move towards “normality” with their “Let’s move together and improve together” campaign. The last year has been an unusual and difficult one for most but for many older people it has been particularly hard, with long periods of self-isolation impacting both mental and physical wellbeing. Research by Age UK has shown that many previously independent older adults have reported a loss of physical strength and capability, finding it harder to do daily activities such as going up stairs or walking the same distances they used to. Some have embraced modern technology, learning new skills and participating in online activities, helping them to maintain their existing levels of fitness but this has not been as rewarding as getting out and spending time with friends and family. Throughout the pandemic, Age UK Somerset have supported older people in the County. Because they help those who are most at risk from severe illness due to coronavirus, and those whose movements have been most restricted, they have been busier than ever. Despite some services being paused due to their physical nature, others sprung up to meet the new needs of this strange time, for example their telephone service called “Friendly Phone calls”, to help alleviate feelings of isolation and boredom. The charity’s Ageing Well team, who normally run and manage hundreds of community-based exercise classes, have held a wide range of online exercise sessions since last July. These classes have encouraged older people to maintain their current levels of fitness and given them a chance to see familiar, friendly faces. Full technical support has been given by the team and classes have included Tai Chi, yoga, pilates, general fitness and relaxation sessions. With plans to resume their community-based classes from the 17th May, Ageing Well have launched an inspiring “let’s move together and improve together” campaign. Whilst wanting to encourage older people to start coming to classes again, they are aware that many are nervous of doing so. They are putting in stringent measures to provide the greatest level of reassurance, reducing the number of participants allowed in each class and introducing a new booking system. Classes will be re-started over a number of weeks, so that the team can oversee and manage them safely and effectively. A variety of online sessions will continue to run for those who would prefer to stay at home for the time being. The charity’s “stay strong, stay steady” classes – falls prevention sessions run in conjunction with Somerset County Council and the NHS – will also be resuming and hope to have a positive impact on the strength and balance of vulnerable adults. If you would like to find out more about any of Age UK Somerset’s classes, please call 01823 345626 or email ageingwell@ageuksomerset.org.uk or visit www.ageuksomerset.org.uk
Page 6
Page 7 264,800 Help to Save accounts opened More than 264,000 individuals have opened a Help to Save account and could be earning money on their savings, statistics from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have revealed. Help to Save is the government backed savings scheme that allows individuals to earn a 50 pence bonus for every £1 saved over four years. The 50% bonus is payable at the end of the second and fourth year and is based on how much account holders have saved. Account holders can save up to £50 a month. If they save the maximum amount each month for four years, they could save £2,400 and earn £1,200 in bonus payments. More than 42,000 new Help to Save accounts were created between August 2020 and January 2021. Individuals can check the Help to Save eligibility criteria and find out how to apply via https://www.gov.uk/get-help-savings-low-income. Angela MacDonald, HMRC’s Deputy Chief Executive, said: “The Help to Save scheme has helped more than 264,000 individuals open a savings account. And regular savers can earn up to £1,200 in bonus payments, over four years. “It is easy to set up an account, just search ‘help to save’ on GOV.UK.”
Page 8
Almost 217,000 individuals have made a deposit to their Help to Save account. Of those
depositing into their savings account, the average monthly deposit per person is £48, as
at 31 January 2021. The total deposits to the scheme in the six-month period, August
2020 to January 2021, exceeded £40 million. This is the highest recorded amount saved
in a six-month period since the scheme began in September 2018.
Individuals can open a Help to Save account if any of the following applies.
They are:
• receiving Working Tax Credit
• entitled to Working Tax Credit and receiving Child Tax Credit
• claiming Universal Credit and they (with their partner, if it’s a joint claim) earned
£604.56 or more from paid work in their last monthly assessment period.
Eligible individuals can set up a Help to Save savings account at any time until
September 2023. Accounts are open for four years and individuals can make deposits
as many times as they like, without going over the monthly saving limit of £50.
Individuals can also withdraw money at any time, although this may affect their 50%
bonus payments.
The first bonus payment has already been paid out to thousands of individuals, who
opened accounts between 12 September 2018 and February 2019.
If you do not have access to the internet you can still apply. Call HMRC on 0300 322
7093 to speak to an adviser who can help set it up
Volunteers Needed
Following its successful launch last month, the local Pantry at
Rowbarton is looking for some extra volunteers to help out on
Tuesday afternoons between 2pm and 4pm. There are a variety
of roles and Gillian Flick, who co-ordinates the project, can
discuss how any support can be best utilised, even a couple of
hours once or twice a month would help.
Her contact details are Rowbartonpantry@gmail.com or tel 07814 201915
Page 9
Spring Quiz
1. According to the UK Met Office, on what day does Spring commence?
2. The song entitled "The Flowers That Bloom in the Spring" comes from which
Gilbert and Sullivan work?
3. Who is the Roman Goddess of Spring?
4. Who is the Greek Goddess of Springtime, Flowers and Vegetation?
5. In British horse racing which two races make up the Spring Double?
6. What do we in the UK call the vegetables known as scallions in the US?
7. The appearance of which animal's shadow in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania is
supposed to indicate the beginning of spring?
8. What name is given to the first day of spring when the night and day are the same
length?
9. Who painted the large tempera painting known as "Primavera" (Spring)?
10. Popular in SE Asia, what do we call the filled pastry appetiser of meat or
vegetables?
11. What type of animal is the Spring Peeper (Pseudacris Crucifer)?
12. Which town in central Australia takes its name from the wife of an ex-Postmaster
General of South Australia?
13. The song "Younger Than Springtime" features in which Rodgers and Hammerstein
musical?
14. In which of Shakespeare's plays is the poem "Spring" performed in the closing
scene?
15. Who wrote the music for the ballet "The Rite of Spring"?
Answers on page 11.Page 10
We need your input.
Throughout this pandemic we have been supporting our local community in many ways,
some with just offering the free book service, others with Christmas boxes, signposting
and some with more support but we now need your help by completing a short survey
which will form part of a report to our funders.
We have been lucky enough to have received grants throughout the pandemic which
have enabled us to carry on and support residents of North Taunton also in paying
overheads on the community centre such as utilities and wage costs even through our
staff have been placed on furlough at various times throughout the pandemic.
These grants have secured the future of the community centre so please put a little
back by completing the survey and also ask family and friends to do the same.
https://impact.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/priorswood-community-centre-survey
The survey runs from the 26th April to the 29th of May.
Support the Priorswood Community Centre
Asda have chosen us as one of their Green Token charities and will soon be advertising
how you can support us, this will be an online vote so if you shop at Asda please keep us
in mind and vote to increase our chances of receiving a donation from Asda.
Thursday Zoom TalksPage 11 Here are some useful numbers should you need help. Keep safe: Somerset County Council Covid-19 Support Line 0300 790 6275 Mindline Emotional Support Helpline 01823 276 892 www.mindinsomerset.org.uk/our-services/adult-one-to-one-support/ mindline/ Bereavement Support 01823 276 892 Somerset West & Taunton Council 0300 304 8000 SW&T Benefits Officer 07464 987738 (Email: d.bradley@somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk) Priorswood Good Neighbours 01823 212007 (For prescription collection, shopping or a chat) Lesley, Priorswood Community Centre 07510 332874 lesleycouncill@priorswoodcommunitycentre.co.uk Taunton Area Debt Advice 07921 526087 www.tada.org.uk Quiz Answers 1. 1st March 9. Botticelli 2. The Mikado 10. Spring Roll 3. Flora 11. Frog 4. Persephone 12. Alice Springs 5. Lincoln Handicap and the Grand National. 13. South Pacific 6. Spring Onion 14. Love’s Labours Lost 7. Groundhog 15. Stravinsky 8. Spring or Vernal Equinox
You can also read
