News

Keeping you up to date

This is where you’ll find the latest news or links to take you there.

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Recent News articles and links

• World Mental Health Day on 10th October. Call Open Mental Health ANY day for support
  The World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day on 10 October every year. This year’s theme set … Continued
• Mrs D of Taunton was in it, and she did win it!
  Mrs D OF Taunton WON! Because she bought a ticket WE WON too! Next time IT COULD BE … Continued
• Available now – the latest Age UK Somerset eNewsletter
  The latest issue of our eNewsletter has been published to coincide with International Older Persons Day (1st October). … Continued
• Job Vacancies – Toenail Cutting Assistants
  Do you have an interest in Health & Social Care and can work for around 8/10 hours per … Continued
• Have you heard of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST)? New sessions start soon!
  If you’ve recently received a diagnosis of dementia, or you know someone who has, it is worth finding … Continued
• Dianne Ramsay
  28th May 1970 – 18th September 2020 As you may know it was dear Di’s funeral this morning … Continued
• Age Friendly Tourism Business of the Year Award – Enter by 27th September
  Do know a business that goes out of their way to make sure older customers feel comfortable, safe, … Continued
• Ash House Office to close again and staff to work from home from 28th September
  In keeping with the Government’s latest guidance, we will be closing Ash House office again as from Monday … Continued
• New Social Distancing Guidelines from 14th September
  As you may have seen, the Government has issued updated guidance according to the new rules on safely … Continued
• Not sure how to Zoom? Online shopping not your bag? You need FREE One-to-One Covid secure IT/Technology support sessions for older people at The Engine Room, Bridgwater
  Are you aged over 50? Do you need help to set up Zoom so you can stay in … Continued
• Test and Trace Covid Test Telephone Scam
  We’ve been getting reports of people receiving “track and trace NHS” phone calls, saying “we need to send … Continued
• Balls for Boredom – some Knitters’ yarns!
  So far we have sent out over 220 balls of wool and more than a dozen charities have … Continued
• Amazon Scam – Be aware.
  Scammers posing as representatives of online retail giant Amazon are targeting the public via email and telephone in … Continued
• Update on Office Re-opening and our Services
  With services opening up slowly across the UK we wanted to keep you updated on where we are … Continued
• 200 Balls for Boredom sent!
  We’ve now sent over 200 balls of wool out to over 60’s across Somerset and North Somerset as … Continued
• Phased re-opening of Libraries
  This information has been taken from a Somerset West and Taunton Council update. Phased re-opening of Somerset Libraries … Continued
• Enjoy a sing-a-long online!
  If you are at home and isolated and love a good old fashioned singalong you should join a … Continued
• If you are in Taunton Deane or West Somerset, you could Win a B&Q Gift Card when you support us through the Somerset West Lottery
  The Somerset West Lottery was set up to help charities working across the Somerset West area (previously Taunton … Continued
• You could Win a B&Q Gift Card when you support us through the Shape Mendip Lottery
  Shape Mendip Lottery was set up to help charities working across Mendip. When you buy a ticket you … Continued
• Our ‘angels’ go above (and beyond) 150 food deliveries!
  Our team of staff and volunteer delivery drivers were out again yesterday (30th June) to give a friendly … Continued
• National Trading Standards offer free call blockers
  National Trading Standards have teamed up with Trucall to offer free call blockers to consumers to help combat … Continued
• Focus Group – Can you help Somerset Libraries by being part of a focus group?
  Or perhaps you have friends, family or neighbours that might be interested? The sessions will run for 30 … Continued
• GUESS HOW MANY PEA-PLE ARE AT THE PYRAMID STAGE TO WIN A RARE SIGNED GLASTONBURY 2019 POSTER!
  As Age UK Somerset is a Somerset charity, and as one of the most well known things in … Continued
• Fancy a treat? Free cream teas to be delivered to older people in North Somerset! Yum!
  Do you know anyone over 70 in Portishead, Easton-In-Gordano, Nailsea, Clevedon or Long Ashton, perhaps living alone or … Continued
• Richard Lennox Fundraising Concert….tonight!
  Tonight we were due to hold a fundraising concert featuring the marvellous Richard Lennox! Of course we’ve had … Continued
• “We are here for you day or night” – Marcus Trescothick introduces a short video about the emotional support offered through Mindline
  Marcus Trescothick introduces this short video about how the NHS, Somerset County Council and local charities (including Age … Continued
• Weston General Hospital has “temporarily stopped accepting new patients”.
  As of yesterday (Monday 25 May 2020) at 8am Weston General Hospital temporarily stopped accepting new patients, including … Continued
• A little act of kindness can boost your Mental Health – Mental Health Awareness Week 18-24th May
  Mental Health Awareness Week is the UK’s national week to raise awareness of mental health and mental health … Continued
• Bishops Lydeard couple celebrate their 70th Wedding Anniversary during lockdown
  This clip of Margaret and Derek celebrating their 70th Anniversary appeared on BBC Radio Somerset’s feed on Twitter. … Continued
• Facemasks – how to wear & make your own
  Full advice on how to wear and to make your own cloth face covering can be found here: … Continued
• Hear about the services Age UK Somerset is offering
• Knock and run! Doorstep deliveries warmly received
  This week staff and volunteers from Age UK Somerset “knocked and ran” but in a good way as … Continued
• Scam Alert – Calls about face masks
  Trading Standards have just informed us of a scam related to face masks. In the latest scam, people … Continued
• Age UK Somerset staff deliver essentials and goodies to those most in need
  Today (Tuesday 5th May), a team of Age UK Somerset staff will be delivering bags of free food … Continued
• Article on how to access groceries if you’re vulnerable and ‘shielding’ due to coronavirus
  In this useful article from the MoneySavingExpert website they cover: – Registering as ‘extremely vulnerable’ on Gov.uk to … Continued
• Happy Birthday Captain Tom Moore!
  We held a Zoom meeting today so we could record a message to mark the 100th birthday of … Continued
• Banks – dedicated phonelines for over 70s
  Several of the major high street banks have contacted Age UK to share the measures they have put … Continued
• 99 year old finishes 100th lap having raised more than £12m!
  UPDATE: As of 20th April, Captain Tom Moore had raised over £25 million for the NHS! A 99-year-old … Continued
• A heart-warming hero – Capt. Tom Moore hits £5m!
  A 99-year-old army veteran who has raised more than £5m to help the NHS in the fight against … Continued
• Payout Now scheme makes it easier for older people to pay Volunteers without handing over PIN
  Anyone who cannot leave home may be able to ask a trusted friend or volunteer to withdraw cash … Continued
• Asda introduces Volunteer Shopping card
  For Volunteers who are shopping for someone else Asda has now introduced the Volunteer Shopping card. They say … Continued
• Find or offer help with Nextdoor Help Maps
  If you are registered with www.nextdoor.co.uk then you can click on the Help Map symbol which looks like … Continued
• Fact check Covid 19 with Full Fact
  Full Fact is an independent fact checking charity who There are lots of misleading claims about Coronavirus and … Continued
• Is your MOT due soon?
  Well, that’s one thing you don’t have to worry about. Drivers who have an MOT due from Monday … Continued
• Somerset Mental Health Alliance extends support in response to Coronavirus
  The Somerset Mental Health Alliance (of which Age UK Somerset is a part) has expanded its services to … Continued
• We are here to help
  Welcome to our new website. We’ve created this new website especially to help all of us through these … Continued
• Download the Age UK Coronavirus Information Guide
  What the guide is about These are uncertain times, and coronavirus (COVID-19) is affecting lives across the country. … Continued
• BBC offering free Digital radios to over 70s
  To get one of the radios you have to be nominated through your local radio station.
• Scam text issuing fine for people leaving the house
  A scam text has been sent telling people they are being given a £250 fine because they have … Continued
• Guidance from the Government
  Click here for the Coronavirus Guidance dated 30th March 2020. It covers: advice for those at greater risk … Continued
• First food parcels delivered to those most at risk in England
  The government is working with a partnership of the food industry, local government, local resilience and emergency partners, … Continued
• BBC ‘Fraud’ page
  For information/new on some of the latest scams please visit: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000gxqv/breakfast-28032020
• World Health Organisation wants to rename ‘Social Distancing’, ‘Physical Distancing’
  The World Health Organisation is changing the phrase ‘social distancing’ to recommend ‘physical distancing’. This is a nod … Continued