Issue 50

February 2010

Launch of Age UK 2Congratulations! 3Toenail Clipping 3Older people burningbooks to keep warm

4

Boiler ScrappageScheme

5

Jam today! 6The Home LibraryService

7

Heartless thieves stealcash

7

Anglia TV region toswitch to digital

8

Employing a reliabletradesperson

9

Social Tariffs 9Noticeboard 10Are we there yet? 12

In This Edition

Our BigGolden

50thEdition

A new decade -and a new charityto support olderpeople

This spring Age Concern England and Help the Aged will formallylaunch their new joint charity - Age UK.

It will then be one voice speaking on behalf of all older people and willhave taken on board the best of the two former national charities.

Age Concern Colchester, like all other Age Concerns up and down thecountry, remains an independent charity serving the needs of olderpeople locally.

Along with the other Age Concern organisations in this federation ofindependent charities, we will be considering how we work with AgeUK to best support older people in Colchester.

It is an exciting time for us and we are looking forward to developingexisting and new services for older people in Colchester.

ACCol NewsPage 2

The launch of Age UK

Plans are now well developed for introducing Age UK - the newcharity formed by the merging of Age Concern England and

Help the Aged - to the general public with a formal launch plannedfor May.Age UK will set out its vision for a world in which older people flourish and itsmission is to improve their lives. The charity feels that the voice of older peopleshould have a greater impact on today’s society and will be campaigning forolder people to have enough money for a secure and decent life and to haveaccess as consumers to the products and services they need at a price theycan afford. Access to the healthcare and social care that older people need willbe a key part of Age UK campaigning.

The AgeUK Agenda· Celebrating an ageing society and later life

· Providing better care and community engagement

· Supporting employment in later life

· Addressing ageism and lack of respect

· Supporting those isolated, vulnerable and living alone

· Helping to support cognitive decline and loss of independence

· Delivering better financial planning and benefits

· Addressing market failure with products and services

· Creating opportunity to contribute to wider society

Working together to improve the lives of older people

Agenda for later life

Forget aboutage, see usas people

Financial securityfor us all Freedom to

work for aslong as we

wantThe voiceof olderpeople

Homes andneighbourhoods

shaped by usThe bestsupportand carewhen weneed it

Opportunitiesto participate(volunteering& learning)

Issue Page 350

The Royal British Legion congratulatesAge Concern Colchester on the 50thedition of their newsletter “ACCol News”.The Royal British Legion and AgeConcern have been working inPartnership for the past year to deliver theHealth and Well Being project and duringthat time over 400 Legion beneficiarieshave been assisted with advice, advocacyand social activities. Best wishes for thefuture and it is hoped that many morepeople will be assisted throughout theremainder of 2010.

Lynnette FrancisCounty Manager RBL Essex

Age Concern Essex - Toenail Trimming

The Toenail Trimmers from Age Concern Essex will be visiting Age Concern Colchester on a regularbasis from February 2010 offering a toenail trimming service to anybody who is unable to trim their owntoenails. The trimmers will visit once every ten weeks and can cut your toenails as long as you do notsuffer with diabetes. There is a charge for this – currently £11 for a trim with a one off registration feeof £5 payable on your first visit only. If you would like to come and have your toenails trimmed you willneed to make an appointment or if you need further information about the service, please call Sandra

I along with many, many others believethat Age Concern has done a wonderfuljob for older people. The services youhave created and developed are abeacon of success.The lives of many people have been madefuller and safer with your help andintervention – Thank you.I wish you good luck with your newventure AgeUK and look forward toworking with you in the future.Best wishes

Cllr Anne BrownOlder Persons Champion for Essex

It is a pleasure to contribute my comments to the 50th edition of ‘ACCol News’.Congratulations on reaching this milestone.

For those of us ‘not as young as we were’ (who is, by the way?), it is good toknow that Age Concern is there. Both locally and nationally, Age Concernlooks after our interests, fights for us when necessary and tells us of all theservices that exist for us to use. I have found ‘ACCol News’ full of usefulinformation. There is a good chance that there is something in it you need toknow. So, read it carefully.

Vivien and I enjoyed our visit to Fordham Primary School in October for thelaunch of the World War 2 packs. The school staff, the catering team (wereWW2 meals always that good?) and the visiting seniors from Age Concernare all to be commended. History can be fun. It is better learned from thosewho experienced it than from a book.

Best wishes to you all for 2010. Cllr Henry Spyvee – Mayor of Colchester

ACCol NewsPage 4

Older people burning books to keep warm?

With one of the coldest winters for some thirty years, both AgeConcern and Help the Aged are well aware of the plight of

more than seven million households - nearly twice as many as theofficial statistics show - where older people are struggling to paytheir fuel bills. Included in this total are approximately 2.5 millionolder people who have to make the unenviable choice betweeneating and heating.Financial help in the form of the winter fuel allowance of £250 or £400 perhousehold has helped to subsidise costly fuel bills which average £1,239 a yearbut despite the wholesale cost of gas and electricity dropping dramatically overthe past year, our fuel costs have barely dropped at all.

Ms Gibson said that there was a muchmore efficient way of ensuring olderpeople get the help they deservewhen they need it rather than a coldweather payment.

“We would prefer to see the winter fuelallowance that reaches everypensioner household increased to£500 and paid across the board.”

Meanwhile it has been alleged by acharity shop in Swansea that olderpeople are buying large books suchas encyclopaedias for a few pence sothat they can stay warm as they burnlonger instead of using costly coal orwood.

One assistant said: “Book burningseems terribly wrong but we have toget rid of unsold stock for pennies andsome of the pensioners say the booksmake ideal slow-burning fuel for firesand stoves.

A lot of them buy up large hardbackvolumes so they can stick them in thefire to last all night.”

A 500g book can sell for as little as 5p,while a 20kg bag of coal costs £5.

If this report is a reflection of what ishappening across the country then,for the fifth richest economy in theworld, this is both scandalous andvery sad.

The average price that domesticconsumers pay for a unit of gas morethan doubled between 1999 and2009, while the cost of electricity tohouseholds went up by more than 70per cent over the same period.

With the extremely cold weatherextending either side of Christmas andthe New Year, the Work and PensionsMinister Helen Goodman has tried toreassure older people by stating thathelp was ‘on the way’ in the form ofwinter fuel payments and that theyshould not worry about their heatingbills.

However, Dot Gibson, GeneralSecretary of the National PensionersConvention said that these winter fuelpayments were not automatic andwere only available to a ‘lucky few’

“You have to be on a means-testedbenefit to qualifyand this excludesthe vast majorityof older people,and you have toendure sevendays of freezingtemperaturesbefore being ableto receive apayment,” shesaid.

Issue Page 550

n Is it the main boiler to heat your home?n Does your boiler have a pilot light or do

you think it is more than fifteen years old?n Arrange for your nominated installer to

visit and to provide you with a quoten Contact the Energy Saving Trust on 0800

512 012. You will need the followinginformation to hand:

The big energy companiesare giving ‘special offers’but you may find that a localheating engineer will giveyou a better deal.!

Boiler Scrappage SchemeA boiler scrappage scheme giving households a £400 incentive to

install a new heating system has recently been launched. It isestimated that 125,000 households with G-rated boilers will be ableto get a £400 voucher from the Government towards having a newboiler installed.Compared to the car scrappage scheme, the number of people who canbenefit is limited as you must have a low efficiency G-rated boiler to qualify.These boilers are typically at least 15 years old and probably have a pilot light.They must also be replaced with one of the most efficient A-rated boilers.

How the scheme works is that you have to get a quotation from a qualifiedinstaller. Ideally, it is better to get more than one quote, since you will be payingthe greater part of the bill yourself so getting the best deal is vital. A new boilerwill cost you in the region of £2,500 to be supplied and installed.

What you need to knowYou must be switching from a G-rated to an A-rated boiler

• Your name• Your address where the voucher is being

claimed for• The make and name of the boiler being

scrapped• The details of the installer• The type of replacement boiler• Confirmation that you have a quotation or that

you have had the installer visit to carry outthe work.

You then provide the Energy SavingTrust with details of your old boiler anddetails of the one that will replace it(Your installer will probably be able tohelp you with these details). Inaddition the Energy Saving Trust willrequire proof that the installer hasvisited your home and given you aproper quote for the work.

Once everything is in place, a voucherworth £400 will be issued by theEnergy Saving Trust and when thework has been completed you willthen be able to claim your rebate of£400.

Finally, when you get your quoteensure that the engineer checks theentire system. You do not want toend up with a further expensive bill forreplacing other parts of your heatingsystem due to a new boiler. Get a fulland final price for all the work needed.

Note: your voucher is only valid for 12 weeks fromtime of issue

ACCol NewsPage 6

Age Concern Colchester was pleasedto receive donations of home-madejams, chutnies and lavender bags fromthe Inner Wheel of Colchester RotaryForum. Rosemary Ireland, president ofthe Inner Wheel group, said that theyhad been busy preparing the produceas an annual initiative to mark thegroup`s formation in 1976.

Rachel Fahie, Chief Officer of AgeConcern Colchester, thanked theInner Wheel for their generousdonation.

The produce has been distributedto day centres and social groups.

The Big Knit 2009

Thank you once again to allcontributors for your splendidefforts this year.

Knitted items were sent in fromfar and wide again, including theWomen`s Institute from Burnhamon Crouch who contributedmany colourful andimaginative items.

Issue Page 750

HEARTLESS thieves stole a Haiti collection from a charityshop.

Staff in the Age Concern shop, in Crouch Street, Colches-ter, had put the box on the counter to raise money for thevictims of the Caribbean earthquake.

It was stolen between 9am and 3.10pm on Thursday 21January, and is believed to have contained between £30and £50.

Mandy Lythgo, from Age Concern, said: “We were collect-ing money to send to Haiti. I can’t understand why some-one would do this.

“How can they watch the news on television and not feelguilty?

“If you saw anything or know where the box is now, pleasecome into the shop and let us know or contact the police.”

Anyone with any details is urged to call PC Simon Polley atColchester police station on 0300 3334444 or to callCrimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Heartless thieves steal cash

Mandy Lythgo - manager of the Age Concern shop inColchester

The Home Library Service atColchester Library

This is a question that must run through the minds of many people who owing toage, disability or caring responsibilities feel that their days of using the library serviceare over. We are pleased to say that this is definitely not the case. The Home Libraryservice is there for people who fall into this category.

There are various ways in which this can be done:

n The Home Library individual service is where a neighbour, friend or familymember can choose and collect material on people`s behalf. The person requir-ing the service makes an arrangement for someone to visit the library for them.

n The Home Library service via volunteers is where a library will take the contactdetails and pass to the local Home Library service contact, who will arrange avisit in their own home by appointment, to discuss their needs, the services wecan offer, and the type of materials to be delivered. Once this information hasbeen taken arrangements will be made for volunteers to visit on a regular basis(usually monthly).

n The Home Library service for residents of some sheltered housing, residential ornursing homes. A selection of material is delivered and left on the premises for aperiod of time (usually twelve weeks).

n RNIB Talking Book Service. A member of staff will visit by appointment to fill in aform which is then passed to the RNIB who arrange for talking books to bedelivered by the post.

As you can see there is a Home Library service from Essex Libraries to ensure thatyou can keep on reading or listening to the type of books you love or maybesomething completely different.

If this is this the service for you then all you need to do is give us a call for moreinformation on 0845 603 7628.

Eamonn GrayColchester Library

ACCol NewsPage 8

Anglia TV region to switch to digital next year

Interactiveservices

Radiochannels

Subtitling

Plus

Channels are subject to change.

What is the digital switchover?TV in the UK is going digital. The existing analogue TV signal will be switched offand replaced with a new stronger digital TV signal. This means that Freeviewcoverage will be extended to those who can’t currently get it.

What is ?Digital UK is the not-for-profit company responsible for leading the UK’s digital TVswitchover. We’re independent, which means that all the advice and informationwe provide is impartial and unbiased.

What channels and services will you get?With digital TV, you can enjoy the five or six traditional TV channels, plus lots more.Most households will be able to receive more than 40 Freeview channels with allareas getting around 20 of the most popular services, such as ITV2, E4 and BBCThree.

If you’d like a greater choice of channels, you should consider freesat or Freesatfrom Sky, or subscribe to a service like Sky TV, Virgin Media, BT Vision, Tiscali orTop Up TV.

You’ll be able to receive radio channels and programme subtitles directly throughyour TV. Some equipment also provides audio

Need more help?The Switchover Help Scheme is run by the BBC, under an agreement with theGovernment, to help older and disabled people make the change to digital TV.

There’s a Help Scheme for those who need the most assistance to switch todigital. We can help you to convert a set to digital, check your aerial and show youwhat to do if you:• are aged 75 or over, or• have lived in a care home for 6 months or more, or

get (or could get):– disability living allowance, or– attendance or constant attendance allowance, or– mobility supplement, or

• are registered blind or partially sighted.It costs , but if you’re eligible and on certain income-relatedbenefits, it’s

Please note that you must have a valid TV licence (free if you’reover 75) to get the help.If you’re eligible for the Switchover Help Scheme, we’ll write toyou in plenty of time to ask if you want our help.

For more informationcall 0800 40 85 900

Issue Page 950

Employing a reliable tradesperson

I’m sure we have all heard horror stories of people who haveemployed tradespeople only to discover that the end product has

not been what they expected or hoped for.At Age Concern Colchester we get a significant number of people who havehad problems - it may be a flat roof that is leaking or a new shower room thatdoes not met the expectations of the customer.

For a number of years we have been running our Homes Services Directorywhich provides names of local tradespeople that have been recommended tous as being reliable, honest and charging a fair price for the work they do.

Our Home Services Directory continues but it is also worth noting that TradingStandards have come up with ‘Buy with Confidence’ where you can go onlineto find a tradesperson which has been vetted to the stringent requirements ofthat organisation.

The website for Buy with Confidence is

Meanwhile, you can still phone us on 01206 368420 to get the names ofreliable local tradespeople from our own Home Services Directory.

Buy with Confidenceis a new scheme being

set up byTrading Standards

Social Tariffs from Energy Suppliers

You may not be aware that all energy providers have to offersocial tariffs to help their most vulnerable customers cope with

the high costs of gas and electricity. And according to new Ofgemrules, all social tariffs must equal the supplier’s cheapest deals.Naturally, although obliged to offer a social tariff, the energy suppliers often givethem little publicity so here are the scheme names:

Energy Supplier Name of Social Tariff Scheme

British Gas Essentials

E.ON Stay Warm

EDF Energy Energy Assist

Npower Spreading Warmth

Scottish Power Carefree Plus

Scottish & Southern EnergyPlus Care

Rules for being on a social tariff varies from supplier to supplier but basically ifyou spend more that 10% of your income on gas and electricity, or your annualincome is less £13,500, or you are disabled or suffering from a chronic illnessthen you may be eligible. Your energy supplier would be able to advise you.

ACCol NewsPage 10

Memory Corner

February 1944 - Hollington’s Factory destroyed byGerman bombers. Do you remember this ? If soplease write or telephone Age Concern Colchester

with your memories.

Toenail Cutting Service

Good news! Age Concern Essex` Toenail

Cutting Service has added the Age Concern

Colchester offices at George Street as one of

its Colchester venues. The first session will be

on Thursday 18 February. This service is

available to people who are unable to cut their

own toenails. Concessions may apply.

Please note that the service is unable to help

people with diabetes or in-growing toenails.

For these conditions you should seek help

from a Podiatrist /Chiropodist registered with

The Health Professions Council.

Please ring for an appointment or to join the

waiting list on 01245 423333.

Spring is coming……. let`s geton down and use the Over 60sFree Swimming Concession atColchester Leisure World whilewe have it!I`m looking for a small groupof swimmers to attend LeisureWorld on a regular basis as agroup. There is a possibility oftransport if numbers aresufficient. A Free SwimmingCard needs to be applied forfrom Leisure World. We havesome application forms in theoffice.Contact Lin on 01206368420

Come on in - it’s lovely

Issue Page 1150

To all Coffee Club membersThank you for your special

collection on Friday 15 January

for the Haiti Earthquake Appeal.You raised £45.25.

!Urgent!Age UK Tiptree Book

Shop needs goodquality books now!Ring the shop on

01621 814341or handbooks in at GlobeHouse, Colchester.

Places now available atour Day Centres at

Winstree Court andGrymes Dyke (Stanway)

and Tiptree.

Why not come and seewhat we do?

Private day rate is £20.

Are you interested in joining afriendly group to read bookstogether and discuss them?THE READING CIRCLE ISSTARTING SOON AT AGECONCERN COLCHESTER

Globe House6 George StreetColchesterCO1 1TP

Phone: 01206 368420Fax: 01206 500984Email: info@ageconcerncolchester.org.ukWeb: www.ageconcerncolchester.org.uk

Working for all older people in theBorough of Colchester