Bright future in golf
HAVING PROGRESSED through the junior ranks,
two young players from Birstall Golf Club have been selected
for the County's senior sides.
Pic: Richard and Michael Reed
Brothers Richard and Michael Reed have been members
of Birstall Golf club since they were 11.
Richard (19) is assistant professional at Notts Golf Club, plays
off a handicap of 1 and is starting a PGA course to become a
full professional. He has been selected with seven others for
the County's First team.
Michael (16) has a handicap of 3 and hopes to secure a golf scholarship
in the USA after completing his A levels at Longslade College.
He has been selected for the County Second team.
The brothers say they have many people at Birstall Golf Club
to thank for their development over the years, including first
team members, junior organisers and ordinary club members who
have shown interest and support.
Spot the display
CHILDREN FROM the Rainbows Co-operative
Pre-school playgroup have created a display in Birstall library
about the popular character Spot the dog.
Darshna Naker from Birstall library said : "Come along to
Birstall library and have a look at this wonderful display which
will be up until beginning of June. Birstall library has always
worked closely with playgroups in the area and have promoted
learning through stories, rhymes and activities held in the library."
For storytelling session and inductions contact Darshna Naker
on 2658019.
Swimming club
LEICESTER MASTERS Swimming Club meets twice
a week at Birstall swimming pool and is looking for new members.
The club is for anyone over the age of 18 who is interested in
lane swimming and caters for most abilities of swimmers. The
main club night is on a Tuesday at Cossington Street with sessions
at Birstall on a Friday 6-7pm and Saturday 1.30-3.30pm. Club
Chairman Nick Cox said: "They are particularly suited to
swimmers from the Birstall area who are thinking about joining
a club and improving their swimming. We are a friendly club and
our coach, Tony, is on hand to help you along."
If anyone is interested and would like further information please
contact Nick Cox on 07980 941057 or you can visit the website
http://beehive.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/lmsc
Army field trip
STUDENTS FROM Longslade College's Princes
Trust XL programme enjoyed a demanding 3 day stay with an army
youth team.
Pic: (l-r) Charlie Robinson, Zoe
Armstrong & Rebecca James
Sixteen young people stayed at St Georges Barracks in North Luffenham
and were kept busy with map reading, an obstacle course, archery,
paint balling, a two mile run, stretcher runs and learning how
to live in the field and build a shelter.
Pic: The Longslade students with the army
team. Students are Rebecca James, Zoe Armstrong, Charlie Robinson,
Genna Turner, Jade Sharman, Tom Godleman, Paul Newstead, Paul
Coleman, James Green, James Atkins, Ben Pickering, Ethan Ricketts,
Christian Wood, Jack Swift and Gareth Allen
Longslade tutor Karen Norris said: "No-one knew what to
expect and for three days we followed a tightly packed schedule
that began at 6am and ended at 8.30pm. The final evening culminated
with an exciting challenge that was not over until both teams
had achieved their goals. Exhausted and tired but with a great
sense of achievement the teams returned to their barracks at
10.30pm."
She added: "Every single student made an important individual
journey and equally importantly they did it together. Some pulling
others through when it just got too much. They gave their very
best, they gave all they had to give and more. They were pushed
to their personal limits and beyond. Every single one was an
absolute credit to Longslade Community college and the Princes
Trust XL programme."
The students' final comment? - When do we get to go again?
Methodist Church news
Garden Trail
Passports are now on sale from all the usual sources in Birstall.
Don't forget it is cheaper to 'buy in advance' and accompanied
children are free.
The gardens this year are by kind permission of garden owners
in the Park Road area. The trail will be held each afternoon
on Saturday and Sunday June 16 & 17.
As our minister lives in Park Road there will be a short service
after the gardens have closed about 5.15ish on Sunday 17.
Please see full details elsewhere in this month's Birstall Post.
Off to Cameroon
Our minister Rev Edward Sakwe is from The Cameroon and mid-way
through his five years in Birstall he is returning there for
a break with his family during the summer school holidays. He
will return to The Cameroon again in November to celebrate 50
years of the Presbyterian church of The Cameroon. On that occasion
he will be joined by a party of about 16 folk from Birstall and
surrounding area.
160th Anniversary
On June 24 our church celebrates 160 years of Methodism in Birstall.
Rev Chris Gray (who was our previous minister) will return to
lead both services on that date. The evening service will be
preceded by a tea, at around 4pm in the hall to give folk an
opportunity to speak to Chris Gray.
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Club’s successful season
BIRSTALL UNITED Junior Football Club has
nearly completed a very successful 2006/07 season with seven
of the current 19 teams finishing as either winners or runners
up in their respective leagues.
Pic: Birstall Utd Juniors U12s
The under 11s won the Division 4 Central league in their first
season competing at 11 a-side following a campaign that saw them
losing just two matches and scoring 121 goals throughout the
season. With more than 50 goals from striker Matt Garner and
keeper Josh Beeching allowing only 13 goals in the back of the
net all season, these are records many premiership footballers
would envy. However the emphasis has been on team work and spirit
and without these the team would undoubtedly not be enjoying
their current success.
Manager Mick Joinson said: "I'm absolutely delighted to
have won the title this year. Success to me has always been to
have a happy and competitive team, but the passion the lads have
shown this season has been superb. "Every player should
congratulate themselves on their great performance and attitude
and I look forward to more success in the future."
Pic: Birstall Utd Jnrs U11s
The team will also bid a fond farewell to defender Jack Hirst
who is emigrating to Australia in July where no doubt the soccer
world won't know what's hit it!
The under 16s had a dramatic conclusion to their season in the
Leicester Youth League Division 1 (the tightest battle ever seen
in this league) by needing to win their final game of the season
against Westfield Wanderers by 4 clear goals to win the league.
This looked a near impossible task at half time when the score
was just 1-1. However, the team dug deep in the second half and
the league was finally won in the last minute of the game with
the first goal of the season for Jonathan Gaydon after a hat
trick from Liam Kinch. The team spirit has been excellent all
year and this has surely helped them to lose just one game throughout
the whole season.
Pic: Birstall Utd Jnr U12s
The players of both the under 11s and under 16s attended league
presentation ceremonies where each player was presented with
an individual trophy as well as the League Winners' Shield for
their team.
The club have also achieved success winning the under 12s Invitation
Cup Final and that team finished runners up in their League having
been unbeaten all season. The Vixens under 10 girls won a recent
national tournament at Brean Sands. At a recent tournament at
Skegness the under 10s achieved the high honour of winning the
'Fair Play' award. Congratulations to Connor Bott, Caleb Steele,
Joseph Ellison, Josh Moore, Josh Foxon, Josh Vaugne, Liam Cockridge,
Jordan Twigger and Ashley Jordan.
The club has recently held its annual Presentation evening at
the Walkers Stadium where trophies were presented to teams and
individuals for their achievements during the season. Special
awards were presented for completing 150 appearances for the
club to Daryl Glover Lewis Ballard, Aaron Headley and James Corbett.
From Birstall United JFC
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Your Say...
I would like to thank all the helpers, who delivered leaflets
and helpers with canvassing for the Birstall Conservatives.
We are very pleased with our results of two councillors. We would
have liked four, but who knows, next time! Our congratulations
go to Councillor Rick Astill for Birstall Watermead and to Councillor
Stuart Jones for Birstall Wanlip. They will both work with Birstall
at the front of their minds. Our commiserations go to Serinda
Shergill and Iain Bentley who were not elected.
Our biggest thanks though go to the people of Birstall for their
most important votes.
Mary Allen, Chairman of the Birstall Conservatives
The open evening on May 16 was a great success with a good
turnout of people of a range of ages. Hopefully everyone enjoyed
the displays, the short performances and the free food and drink.
It was a night of entertainment and nostalgia and we thank everyone
who came to support us.
We hope we have achieved our object of attracting new members
and we would like to thank the Birstall Post for helping us to
publicise the event. We need new blood to keep going and to keep
the group fresh and innovative.
For those who didn't come to see us, don't worry, you will still
be most welcome if you fancy getting involved with local amdram.
We start auditions for our 2007 panto in June, so why not come
along to Highclfife School, Greengate Lane any Wednesday from
7.30pm in term time and see what it's all about. If you want
to ask questions phone Rod on 2216019.
We look forward to seeing you.
Rod Atkins
On Sunday July 1 we are holding a charity fun run/walk in
aid of breast cancer around Watermead Park, Birstall and I am
looking for as many different designs of arrows to mark the route
out, all entries need to be about A4 size and stuck on to card
so we can then attach them to trees/fences etc on route. It can
be any design but nice and colourful please. There will be a
prize for 1st, 2nd and 3rd entries, so get the children colouring
and hand them into Unique hair salon in Birstall before Saturday
June 30. If you would like to join in the walk and see the finished
arrows or need any other information please contact Emma 07973958338
or Racheal 07989822173. Thank you.
Birstall Bags
Emma, Liz, Racheal, Helen, Jo.
A very big thank you to all those who supported and helped
Gillian to raise £265 on Saturday April 21 in aid of Marie
Curie, at the Methodist Coffee Shop in Birstall.
Gillian Bowler
If Dr McNeil takes the trouble to read and think about my
letter he will see I am on the side of those residents who live
north of Bentley Road.
An island at Hallam fields junction would have saved these residents
the need to travel up to the A6/A46 island to reach their homes
or the need for a manoeuvre in Hallam Fields. This manoeuvre
might be all right now, but what about the time when the houses,
flats and the industrial units are fully occupied with hordes
of traffic coming from Hallam Fields (hordes is Dr McNeil's word).
Don't exaggerate the size of the island needed, I quote your
words "swallow the Stonehill School playing fields in a
giant roundabout" a small portion would have been sufficient.
A normal size roundabout would have been adequate, especially
if sited more into Hallam Fields.
A bus lane would, I quote your words again "besiege my house
with bus lanes to prevent me using my own drive" a bus lane
is not a solid barrier, as you well know! If it was next to the
pavement, one bus every 10 minutes would be less traffic to negotiate
than the current lane of almost solid traffic, if car mirrors
are used correctly.
Les Briers
I would just like to say thank you to the gentleman who for
the last seven years that I know of, every weekend visits Birstall
School Lane playing fields and brings his own black bags and
picks up and takes away all the litter. This makes it look clean
for when our visiting teams come to play us at cricket and junior
football. Once again thanks to Les Gale.
Andy Corbett
My wife and I would like to say a very big thank you to the
unknown Samaritan who found her handbag outside Somerfields in
Birstall and handed it in.
As no contact details were left I thought you might like to know
that we have made a donation to Macmillan Nurses charity as a
reward.
Thank you again.
Jan & Don Davis
Birstall Quilters would like to thank all those who supported
their Coffee Morning on April 28. Winners of the Raffle were:
Mrs Merry, Mrs Roe, Mrs Gregory, Mr Sansome, Mrs Leach, Mr Kilby,
Mr Morris and Mrs Lubeck.
As the result of a very successful morning, we shall be donating
£500 to LOROS.
Christine Hewson, Secretary Birstall Quilters
May I through this paper convey my sincere thanks to my very
kind neighbours and the many friends who have sent so many cards
and good wishes for a speedy recovery to my wife Audrey during
her recent illness, also to my dear friends at Birstall Day Centre
for their kindness and help.
Raymond J Hunt
News from St James church
Your church needs you!
Everyone present in Birstall and Wanlip churches in the last
few weeks has received a leaflet with this dramatic heading:
God needs you! Your church needs you! Accompanied of course by
the famous picture of Lord Kitchener who in the first World War,
headlined posters encouraging young men to recruit in the British
army. No-one is suggesting that the sort of volunteers the church
needs will be required to fight in the trenches! But although
church communities are smaller these days, the population is
ageing, and there is still a huge demand for the care, support,
fellowship, visiting and prayer which the church has always supplied
and would wish to continue to supply. What is needed is more
volunteers.
Then there is the matter of maintaining two large buildings (which
are there for everyone in the local community) - and anyone who
has their own property to maintain knows how expensive that can
be - and providing help with the technology we use in services
and for communication and publicity. The list on our leaflet
contains over 50 different ways in which help would be welcomed,
ranging from cleaning or making coffee, to helping with children
and young people, from bell-ringing to keeping in touch with
the charities and missions we support, from plumbing to befriending
elderly people. If you feel you have a skill or just willingness
to help, the Rector James Shakespeare tel: 0116 2674517 or one
of the churchwardens on 2674680 would love to hear from you.
Fundraising for the glass screen at St James
The good news is that the fund established to install a glass
screen at the back of the church to give the building more versatility
of use, has reached over £11,000 in three months, as a
result of many events and donations, for which the church is
very grateful. The bad news is that we have roughly £20,000
more still to find, so we continue to welcome ideas for helping
to raise the total.
Social events
The coach outing to Worcester on Saturday June 9 may still have
a few seats available at £11. Please contact Gill on 2675086
if you are interested. If you fancy taking an evening picnic
to Beaumanor Hall, Old Woodhouse, on Saturday July 14 for open-air
entertainment with bands and singing, plus a firework display,
organised by the Quorn branch of the British Legion, tickets
cost £16.50 from 0116 2674913 (own transport needed but
one or two lifts available).
From Beryl McHugh
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A6 plans
THE COUNTY Council exhibition of its plans
for the A6 held on May 10 was well attended by the public.
The main focus of the exhibition was to discuss and explain the
new road layout of Loughborough Road (A6) and the relationship
between the new traffic lights and the proposed banned u-turns.
Comment forms were issued at the exhibition. Senior Technician
Jason Peel said: "The responses that have been received
so far have raised several issues that will be investigated.
Residents are encouraged to provide any comments to the County
Council by the end of June 2007. Copies of the plans that were
displayed at the exhibition have been passed to the Birstall
Parish Council so that people can view them at their convenience."
The County Council will review all the comments received from
the exhibition during June 2007. Mr Peel said: "It is hoped
that some suggestions can be accommodated into the overall scheme."
If members of the public wish to make any further comments on
the proposals or have any further queries please contact Jason
Peel, Senior Technician 0116 265 7211.
Bowling club
BIRSTALL LADIES Bowling Club is celebrating
its Golden Jubilee year.
As part of the celebration the club will be playing a match against
the Leicestershire Ladies County Executive team. It takes place
at the club on School Lane Playing Fields on Sunday June 10 at
2.30pm and spectators are welcome.
For more information about the club, ladies can contact Jan on
2122578 or Diane on 2675457, while men can call Grahame on 2677994
or Andy on 2677100. You can also visit the Birstall Bowling Club
website, the address is www.birstallbowling.co.uk
Rugby club’s fun day
BIRSTALL RUGBY Club's Presidents Day on
the Stonehill School playing field has raised £2000 for
the Matt Hampson trust.
A car boot sale, beer tent, hot dogs and programme sales boosted
the fundraising before a large crowd enjoyed two games of rugby
: Birstall Vets v Syston Vets and Birstall XV v Andy Reed MP's
Presidents XV
The Birstall Vets were comprehensively beaten but Andy Reed's
side were defeated. Birstall XV Player/Coach Rupert Bedder said:
"It was one of our better performances of the season, we
really pulled it together."
He added: "The weather held out for us and it was a fantastic
day, great to see families and kids having fun and good rugby
played. Credit goes to the principal organiser of the day, Adrian
Knight, for working so hard to make it a success."
Tigers coach Scott Clarke was a special guest and led a training
session for young people aged 8-15.
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Cubs build bird boxes
BIRSTALL'S MONDAY Cub pack spent two weeks
building bird boxes as part of the work towards their Global
Conservation Badge.
Pic: Cubs look on as Watermead
ranger Dale Osbourne fixes bird boxes to trees. Cubs (l-r): Christopher
Simpson, Bradley Rumball, Harry Clarke, Oliver Hodgeson, Matthew
Wright, Cameron Graham, Matthew Dickenson, Reece Grewcock, David
Johnstone, William Bryan
Dads were called upon to bring along their work-mates and tool
boxes and the cubs were soon busy sawing and hammering, raising
the decibel level in the scout hut to a new high.
Building to RSPB specifications the cubs made 11 boxes altogether,
designed to attract a variety of birds from blue and great tits
through to nut hatches and sparrows.
During the Easter break we arranged to meet Dale Osbourne, a
ranger at Watermead Park. With the cubs helping out by carrying
his ladder and tools from tree to tree, Dale showed the cubs
the best places to fit the bird boxes to catch the early morning
sun, also explaining the type of birds that will use them as
well as what they eat. The boys had a great afternoon with the
ranger and finished off playing games in the park followed by
much needed refreshments of pop and biscuits that they had cooked
and decorated themselves.
Cubs have been keeping a close watch on the boxes and have reported
that some of them are already in use by nesting birds.
Also this week I am happy to congratulate Ben Harrison on the
completion of his Chief Scout Silver Award. To achieve this award
he has taken part in camping, global and creative challenges
as well as a personal challenge in which he learned to play golf.
He also helped to run a cub pack night. Well done to all the
cubs!
From Ged Sessions (Akela)
Sale for RSPCA
SIX PEOPLE from Longslade's Skills for
Life Learners raised money for the RSPCA by organising a sale
of bric a brac.
Our picture shows Sue Marsh (left) firm the group, which is based
at Longslade's Adult Learning Centre, presenting the £17.58
raised to the manager of Birstall's RSPCA shop, Mrs Lesley Redford.
Corbett’s cricket corner
THE NEW cricket season is well underway
and Birstall's first team have made a steady start being unbeaten
in their 1st three games.
Pic: Josh Saye
In the first game of the season Birstall played newly promoted
Twycross and many records were broken on the day. Birstall Village
CC have records and pictures that are believed to be 140 years
old, and a new highest team score of 348-3 was made and the highest
individual score of 152 was made by Australian overseas player,
Josh Saye. Josh (26) from Lismore in New South Wales, has been
teaching PE and maths at Castle Rock High School in Coalville
and is in his 2nd season playing at Birstall.
The 2nd team are struggling playing against other clubs 1st teams
but Captain Steve Findley and a lot of the club's youngster are
still enjoying the experience.
Pic: Jamie Drake, Monty Panesar, Ben Drake,
John Lee
Over the May Bank Holiday Birstall were invited to enter a senior
6 a-side tournament at Queniborough CC and Coach Andy Corbett
decided to enter a team of youngsters from the Junior section
to compete against other adult teams. The lads won their group
but lost in the semis to eventual winners Winchester Cricket
Club, although the lads were disappointed they won a lot of respect
from the other teams and very nice comments were made to me about
the sportsmanship and the spirit in which they played the game.
Junior Cricketers Jamie and Ben Drake and John Lee enjoyed a
holiday of a lifetime. They went to Antigua to see the cricket
world cup and watched England play Sri Lanka and Australia. They
stayed in a hotel next to the England and Sri Lankan teams and
met many players whilst on the beach, including England's latest
cult hero, Monty Panesar.
The under 10 kwik cricket team managed by Chris Hopkins are training
on the park every Thursday (weather permitting) 5-6.30pm, but
all other age groups have stopped outdoor training until further
notice.
The club are expecting a large crowd on Monday June 4 to see
Birstall take on Leicestershire Foxes as part of Paul Nixon's
Benefit Year. There will be music, an outdoor bar, hog roast
and BBQ. It should be a very enjoyable evening. The match will
start at 5pm, get there early to get a seat near the pavilion.
I have arranged a trip to see Nottinghamshire Outlaws v Leicestershire
Foxes at Trent Bridge on Monday June 25 in a 20/20 match, the
coach leaves the School Lane Playing Fields at 4pm and returns
approx 9.15pm. The trip costs £6 per person and includes
travel and tickets. The trip will be on a first come, first paid
basis and under 13s must be accompanied by an adult. Contact
Andy Corbett on 0116 2693936 for details and payment.
Age Concern Info
Factsheets - in Birstall, all the Factsheets produced by Age
Concern, England, which give detailed information on many subjects,
are in two folders in Birstall Library. Apparently some people
have been under the impression that they are able to take home,
for a period, individual factsheets or even a whole folder. This
is not the case as the folders have to remain at the library
so that anyone may read them there. However up to a maximum of
five factsheets may be ordered free of charge from Age Concern,
England. The information in a factsheet may also be received
in large print.
Tel: 0800 00 99 66 (free call) or write to Age Concern FREEPOST
(SWB 30375), Ashburton, Devon TQ13 7ZZ. For people with hearing
loss who have access to a textphone, calls can be made by Typetalk,
which relays conversations between text and voice via an operator.
Age Concern's series of over 40 factsheets is available as a
subscription service to those whose work involves older people.
For details please call 020 8765 7200 (national rate call) and
ask for our factsheet subscription leaflet.
Age Concern provides factsheets free to older people, their families
and people who work with them. If you would like to make a donation
to our work, you can send a cheque or postal order (made payable
to Age Concern England) to the Personal Fundraising Department
ACE Freepost CN1794, London SW16 4BR.
Find out more about Age Concern England online at: www.ageconcern.org.uk.
All factsheets may be downloaded.
Please note that the inclusion of named agencies, companies,
products, services or publications in any factsheet does not
constitute a recommendation or endorsement by Age Concern.
Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, Age concern cannot
be held responsible for errors or omissions.
No factsheet can every be a complete guide to the law, which
also changes from time to time. Therefore please ensure that
you have an up to date factsheet and that it clearly applies
to your situation. Legal advice should always be taken if you
are in doubt. (Age Concern England does not give legal or financial
advice.)
Index to Factsheets
Community Care
6 Finding help at home
10 Local authority charging procedures for care homes
20 Continuing NHS health care, NHS funded registered nursing
care and intermediate care
24 Direct Payments from social services
29 Finding care home accommodation
32 Disability and ageing: your rights to social services
37 Hospital discharge arrangements
38 Treatment of the former home as capital for people in care
homes
39 Paying for care in a care home if you have a partner
40 Transfer of assets and paying for care in a care home
41 Local authority assessment for community care services
46 Paying for care and support at home
Consumer
3 Television licence concessions
7 Making your will
14 Dealing with someone's estate
22 Legal arrangements for managing your finances
27 Planning for a funeral
33 Crime prevention for older people
43 Getting legal advice
Health
5 Dental care
23 Help with continence
44 NHS services
45 Staying healthy in later life
Housing
1 Help with heating
2 Buying retirement housing
8 Looking for rented housing
9 Noise and neighbour nuisance - what you can do
12 Raising income or capital from your home
13 Older home owners: financial help with repairs and adaptations
35 Tenants' rights
42 Disability equipment and how to get it
50 Housing options
Income and benefits
15 Income Tax
17 Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit
18 A brief guide to money benefits
19 The State Pension
21 The Council Tax
34 Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance
48 Pension Credit
49 The Social Fund and other sources of financial help
Leisure, Learning and Work
4 Your rights at work
11 Help with looking for work or starting your own business
26 Travel and transport
30 Leisure and learning
Signal Bus Project
The Signal Bus has now taken to the road and will be travelling
the county to develop awareness of aids to help people live a
safer life in their own home.
Operated as a partnership between Age Concern Leicestershire
& Rutland, Leicestershire County Council, District Councils
and the Red Cross, the project aims to raise awareness and promote
the use of aids and equipment that can support older people with
dementia at home. The Signal vehicle is specially adapted to
resemble a small flat so that older people, carers and professionals
can see what is available and try things out. The aids and equipment
include reminders to take medication, alarms which sound if taps
are left running and lights that come on automatically so that
people can move around safely at night. The vehicle is also connected
to the Community Alarm Service and can demonstrate how items
such as pressure mats and door sensors can be linked to the alarm
service and provide support to older people and their carers.
For more information on the project or to request the presence
of the vehicle at an event please contact Alan Pausey on 0116
2237363 or email: alanpausey@ageconcernleics.com
Pension Credit Take-up Estimates for 2005-06
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published estimates
of take-up for the year 2005-06. These show that between 1.2
and 1.7 million older people were missing out on pension credit
and the overall amount unclaimed was between £1.6 and £2.5
billion. Figures are broken down to show take-up by type of household
(single women, single men and couples) and by the different elements
of Pension Credit.
Handyman goes from strength to strength
When Age Concern Leicestershire & Rutland's Handyman Service
passed its first birthday in the summer of 2006 it coincided
with completion of its 1000th job - proof if proof were needed
of the gap which the service is filling for local older people.
The great demand in the summer months prompted the local charity
to appoint extra staff to cope with the huge workload for this
competitively priced service which (with a few exceptions) carries
out most basic maintenance tasks within the home, gardening and
minor decorating jobs.
The charity is currently able to respond very quickly if someone
needs them - indeed several sons and daughters have already taken
the opportunity to treat their parents to a couple of hours of
the handyman's time as a present!
Anthony Donovan, Executive Director says "Everyone knows
how difficult it can be to secure the services of someone whom
they trust, willing to undertake those small one-off jobs around
the house or garden. The Age concern brand gives that comfort
and security to a sometimes vulnerable group. Often these jobs
which an older person can no longer do themselves are a cause
of considerable distress and we are pleased to be able to fill
the gap. We hope that they will be prompted to give us a call".
Contact number for enquiries is 0116 2992254
Residential care charges 2007
The Department of Health has confirmed that the capital limits
for residential care (and for 'Fairer Charging' purposes) are
£13,000 and £21,500; the personal expenses allowance
is £20.45; and the savings disregards have increased to
£5.25 (single) and £7.85 (couple). The Department
reminds local authorities not to apply the 'liable relative rules'
in the run up to them being repealed.
The circular is accompanied by an updated version of the Charges
for Residential Accommodation Guide (CRAG) with the changes highlighted.
Charges for Residential Accommodation - LAC (2007)4
Charging for Residential Accommodation Guide (CRAG), April 2007.
Tel: 0870 155 5455 (Department of Health publications)
Health Survey for England 2005: Health of Older People
The Health Survey for England (HSE) is part of a programme of
annual surveys commissioned by the Information Centre for health
and social care. It provides regular information on a range of
aspects concerning the public's health and factors that affect
health.
As part of the 2005 Health Survey for England, and for the first
time since 2000, people aged 65 and over were asked questions
on general health; health behaviour; use of health, dental and
social care services; chronic diseases and quality of care; disabilities;
and mental health. The findings provide a valuable insight into
the state of health of the older population.
Four out of ten respondents over 65 were found to have functional
limitations, most commonly mobility. This confirms the importance
of promoting physical activity to older people, as highlighted
in the '30 a day' campaign recently launched by the British Heart
Foundation.
Blood pressure was measured, revealing a worrying level of untreated
hypertension. Prevalence varied substantially by region with
the highest in the North East, where a third of respondents had
untreated hypertension. This is of concern considering that respondents
visited their GP on average seven times a year, and each visit
would have presented an opportunity for a blood pressure check.
For the first time assessments of geriatric depression were carried
out. Some 12% of women and 9% of men reported low levels of psychosocial
wellbeing. Age Concern urges GPs to recognise that depression
is a condition which warrants diagnosis and treatment at any
age.
Health Survey for England 2005: Health of Older People (Full
report and summary) Tel: 0845 300 6016 (NHS Information Centre)
www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/health-andlifestyles/health-survey-for-england
Patients' Views on Privacy and Dignity in the NHS: National
Survey
The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH)
has published the results of a national survey of patients' views
of privacy and dignity in the NHS. The overwhelming majority
of patients who responded felt that they were treated with dignity
and respect during their stay in hospital, although there were
high percentages of people who were disturbed during the night,
who had to share a ward or bay with members of the opposite sex,
or who did not know how to make a formal complaint.
Care Watch: National Survey of Patients; Views on Privacy and
Dignity in the NHS Tel: 0845 120 7115 (CPPIH) www.cppih.org/about_new.html
Flexible Working : ACAS Booklet
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) has
published a booklet to help employers and employees understand
how flexible working (including part-time, flexitime, overtime,
home-working, job-sharing and shift work) can be of benefit to
them. Appendices provide a 'suitability' questionnaire and explain
the legal rights for working parents and carers.
Flexible working and work-life balance
Tel: 0870 242 9090 (ACAS publications)
www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=803
Jex Woods
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