'Great Expectations' at Greengate Sure Start Centre

Autism Unite event - November 30th

Keeping Warm and Well This Winter - Top Tips

Heat your Home Well

Ideally the temperature in your home should be 18-21°C. Keep it insulated by having doors and windows closed; use draught excluders and thick curtains;

let the sunlight in during the day and shut up unused rooms.

For more information and advice on how to keep your home warm, see

Affordable Warmth for You on the following website link:

www.cumbriaaction.org.uk/ResourcesPublications/RuralBriefings

or call 01228 817224.

The free Home Heat Helpline advises people worried about paying their

energy bills and keeping warm during the winter. It also gives advice to low income

households in urgent need of heating help and advice.

Call 0800 33 66 99 or visit

www.homeheathelpline.org.uk for more information.

Eat Well, Keep Active and Look After Yourself

It is advisable to keep active - this will get your circulation going and make you

feel warmer. You should also make sure that you dress warmly - ideally with

several layers of thin clothing. Ensure you have regular hot meals and drinks

to give you warmth and energy.

For information on community meals in Cumbria contact NCI Helpline on

0844 9671885 or by email at info@ncip.org.uk.

Get Financial Support

If you were born on or before 5 July 1952 you can claim the Winter Fuel

payment. You may be entitled to other benefits and grants. Citizens Advice

can offer advice on benefits, debt, and other issues.

Find contact details for your local Citizens Advice Bureau at:

www.citizensadvice.org.uk or call 03444 111444.

The Winter Warmth Fund through Cumbria Community Foundation helps

older people in Cumbria stay warm and healthy.

You can apply for the fund if you are over 60, live in Cumbria, and receive

• State pension and/or Pension Credit, or

• Struggle to maintain a basic acceptable standard of living during the winter

due to the cost of heating your home and the restrictions of cold weather

The normal grant is £125 or £250 in exceptional circumstances.

If you would like to apply to this fund please contact one of the following:

• Age UK South Lakeland: Dave Thomson 01539 728180

• The Oaklea Trust (Barrow): Rebekah Beavis 01539 735025

For more about the Winter Warmth Fund please contact Annalee Holliday at the Cumbria Community Foundation on 01900 825760 or annalee@cumbriafoundation.org or www.cumbriafoundation.org

Stay in Touch Through Library Service

The Home Delivery Service is for people who are unable to visit the library

because of mobility problems or ill health and who have no one who can go

to the library on their behalf. Contact your local library.

www.cumbria.gov.uk/libraries/specialservices/sscontacts.asp

Disability Information Day - January 2016

Furness College advice session Wednesday 22 April 5.30pm

Disability Information Day at the Forum

POLICE LAUNCH NEW SCHEME TO BE MORE VISIBLE IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Cumbria Police will launch a new initiative on Wednesday which will see officers at a set location each week offering local people advice and information.

In each Neighbourhood Policing Team area in Cumbria a location in the community has been chosen, from supermarkets to community centres, where one day a week a police officer or police community support officer will be available to speak to local people.

Police are encouraging people to come visit a Police Desk to:

·         Tell us of a crime or road traffic collision

·         Arrange to make a statement

·         Get some crime prevention advice

·         Get some personal safety advice

·         Find out more about your local policing team

·         Find out details of partner organisations that could help you

·         Let us know what you think of policing in your area and what concerns you

DCC Jeremy Graham, from Cumbria Constabulary said:

"I think these Police Desks will be a brilliant way of engaging with local people as they go about their daily lives. People often don't have time to pop into a police station to ask a simple question, or are not aware of some simple steps they can take to help prevent themselves becoming a victim of crime.

"Having a Police Desk in the same location at the same time will allow people to become familiar with local officers, and rely on them as a regular point of contact."

Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Richard Rhodes said:

“I am delighted to see the launch of this initiative.  One of the issued raised with me most frequently when I meet people is that they want to see more visible policing in their communities, and this will go some way to addressing this need.  I would urge people to make full use of the facility in their area.”

  

To find out where your local Police Desk will be and when please visit: www.cumbria.police.uk/policedesks

British Legion - Advice Days start 1 April

Disability Advice and Benefits Exhibition

Barrow & District Disability Association are holding a Disability Advice and Benefits Exhibition at The Forum on Friday 31^st January from 10.30am to 3.00pm.

They have invited a whole host of organisations who will be on hand to offer expert advice and information to anyone affected by a disability or illness, their families and carers.

There will be a selection of organisations offering advice to those currently receiving disability benefits and are concerned about how ‘Welfare Reform’ will affect them, as well as those who offer actual support for people to remain independent and safe and improve the lives of disabled/ill people and their carers/families.

There will also be a wide range of other service providers and organisations, including care agencies, independent living advisers, disability specific support groups, Trading Standards, Victim Support, The Fire Service and providers of mobility & personal care aids. Wiltshire Farm Foods will be attending and offering taste samples of latest menu and many other charitable and statutory organisations offering help to disabled people, their families and carers.

There will also be displays from craft classes, opportunities for blood pressure checks, short demonstrations of armchair exercises and demonstrations of CPR techniques and how to use a defibrillator, given by Heartstart.

If anyone would like any further information regarding the event or if you are an organisation that would like to exhibit, please contact June Pryor or Julia Everett at  Barrow and District Disability Association on 01229 432599 or drop in to 71-77 School St, Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 1EJ (The Willow Tree Café).

British Legion 'Advice Day at Barrow Library

Winter safety advice from Cumbria Police

Storytots at Barrow Library

Guidance on community action during severe weather conditions