Latest news

If you are aged 50 or over Age UK York’s FirstCall 50+ service is able to provide the following practical support during periods of extreme weather:

• Emergency shopping and pension collection
• Emergency prescription collection
• Pop in visits to monitor well-being and reduce levels of isolation
• Electric heater loans
• Practical support for customers experiencing problems e.g. boiler breakdowns, leaking pipes etc.

For more information call: 01904 634061 or  621020 or 627995, email: info@firstcall50plus.org.uk or visit firstcall50plus.org.uk

The Child Poverty Action Group have been contacted by a BBC News journalist making 3 short pieces about poverty.  She is looking for case studies to present of a welfare rights adviser working with a client who has children.  This is not a usual news item but a first person film and the people the journalist speaks to will tell their story in their own words. The journalist would like to spend some time with them and find out how they make ends meet on a day to day basis.

Have you seen the new campaign video from the British Heart Foundation?  It stars Vinnie Jones and explains how to give hands only CPR.

Visit the British Heart Foundation website and watch the video or find out more about the campaign.

If someone has suddenly collapsed, is not breathing normally and is unresponsive they are in cardiac arrest. Calling 999 and pushing hard and fast in the centre of their chest to the beat of Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees until an ambulance arrives could help save their life.

The Government is considering changing the way Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) is paid.  The SMI scheme helps unemployed people, including carers, by paying their mortgage interest. This benefit is currently paid indefinitely.

The minister for Welfare Reform is calling for evidence on whether new claimants on the scheme should, after a fixed period of time, only receive this help in exchange for a charge on their homes (which can be recouped when the house is sold).

There is a currently a consultation and you can find out more at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2011/support-for-mortgage-interest.shtml

Walking is a gentle and fun start to exercise, where you can enjoy the natural surroundings and meet new people.  York Health Walks offer local guided walks from 11 locations across the city by trained volunteers. The walks are suitable for all ages and abilities, everyone is welcome to come along. You don't have to book.

Download the York Health Walks in January, February and March 2012 leaflet

York Carers Centre are running free art workshops for carers at Room One at Burton Stone Lane Community Centre during January and February. 

The Welfare Reform Bill is the biggest change to the welfare state for sixty years. It contains proposals and benefit cuts. The House of Lords has just begun its Report Stage on the Bill. This is when crucial votes will happen on the most controversial parts of the Bill. The votes will continue into January. To win these votes, it's essential that  enough crossbench members of the Lords attend, listen to the debates and vote. If you want to contact a crossbench Lord please email them. 

>> More information about the bill and how to email Lord

You might find the "Caring Conversations" paper helpful.  It is all about caring, coping and mutual caring for older familiy carers of people with learning disabilties.

Read Caring Conversations on the ADASS website.
 

The deadline for feedback is 16 December 2011

City of York Council owns and operates nine elderly persons homes across the city. Visit www.york.gov.uk/health/Services_for_older_people/eph to download the report that presents options for the future provision of residential care to meet the higher standards and the increased expectations of older people in the immediate and long-term future.

In 2012/13, in order to balance the books City of York Council have to identify £12m of savings and set an appropriate level of Council Tax. Where do you think money might be saved? What are your service priorities? YouChoose is a website that will allow you to adjust levels of council spending and the level of Council Tax and see the effects of your decisions.

>>  http://youchoose.yougov.com/York