Hello everyone and welcome to the SDCVS Health and Wellbeing Bulletin. This bulletin is compiled as part of our Community Connector Initiative.
Community Connectors has a simple aim – to make sure important information gets to where it is most needed in our communities.
LEARN MORE SIGN UP HOME FROM HOSPITAL CELEBRATION EVENT
Wednesday 24th April at 10:00amPlease come along to learn about how this free service helps people leaving hospital & those who are at risk of being admitted.BOOK YOUR PLACE HERECOMMUNITY CONNECTORS: LIVE STRONGER FOR LONGER
Wednesday 17th April at 1:30pm Everyone is welcome! Please book your place and we will send you a Microsoft teams invite.BOOK YOUR PLACE HEREDERBYSHIRE BEFRIENDING LAUNCH
Wednesday 8th of May at 1pm
Fnd out more about this innovative and co-operative way of working, and to hear about the importance of befriending and what it means to people in Derbyshire, from those involved including volunteer befrienders and befriendees.BOOK YOUR PLACE HEREClick here to view our other upcoming events. Covid-19 and Flu Vaccination Research Survey:South Derbyshire CVS are undertaking a piece of work on behalf of public health to understand why there are lower levels of vaccine uptake in Stenson Fields, Swadlincote Woodlands and Woodville. As part of this work, we will be asking people to complete an online survey, however we wanted to make sure that everyone can participate and so will be giving people to option to request a paper copy or complete the survey over the phone.If you live in Stenson Fields, Swadlincote Woodlands or Woodville we want to hear your views about COVID-19 and Influenza vaccinations. Please help us by completing this short, anonymous survey using the button below. Alternatively, please call 01283 219761 to provide your answers by phone, or to request a postal questionnaire.TAKE THE SURVEY Stay Safe When Out and About:Have you heard about our keep safe cards? You can use them to get help at one of our Safe Places.A Safe Place is somewhere you can go if you need help, are lost or feel scared when out and about. They include libraries, shops, restaurants, pharmacies, visitor attractions, GP surgeries and more. Each venue has a sticker in their window so you can see that they are part of the scheme and know you can go in and ask for help if you need to.Anyone over the age of 11 can apply for a keep safe card. It has space for you to write your name, the name and phone number of a family member or carer and anything else a person might need to know about you.Find your nearest Safe Place by downloading the app:Download the Safe Places app: Safe Places on the App Store (apple.com)Download the Safe Places app: Safe Places – Apps on Google PlayFor more information: Derbyshire Safe Place Scheme – Derbyshire County CouncilDrive Safer for Longer:Are you a motorist aged 50 or over? We’re offering our popular ‘driving safer for longer’ information sessions to Derbyshire residents.Older motorists have a wealth of driving experience and driving offers freedom and independence, but as we get older our health and fitness, including eyesight and reaction times begin to decline.The ‘driving safer for longer’ information session offers attendees a chance to update their driving knowledge. The session aims to support residents to continue driving for as long as they choose, exploring potential difficulties which may affect driving ability along with possible solutions. For more information: Older drivers – Derbyshire County Council
Stress Awareness Month:Stress is something that we all experience at some point. Whether it’s a work deadline, financial worries or something more serious. Low-level stress can sometimes be helpful or motivational but equally too much stress can affect our mood, our body and even our relationships. There’s lots you can try to help reduce your stress levels.· plan ahead for stressful days or events – planning long journeys or making a list of things to remember can really help· use time-management techniques to help you take control· Try talking about your feelings to a friend, family member or health professionalYou can get help and advice around dealing with stress on the NHS website here: www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/understanding-stressIf you’re feeling stressed, worried or anxious then you can call the Derbyshire Mental Health Helpline for free, any time day or night, on 0800 028 0077. Find out more online here: www.derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk/services/helpline-and-support-serviceThere’s also lots of advice online at the Derby and Derbyshire Emotional Health and Wellbeing website here: Derby & Derbyshire – Emotional Health & Wellbeing (derbyandderbyshireemotionalhealthandwellbeing.uk)
Launch Of the New Falls Prevention Service For Derbyshire Called ‘Live Stronger For Longer’:The new service builds on the successes over the last 11 years of Strictly No Falling work and will continue to support the development and delivery of quality assured strength and balance exercise classes in the community and care settings with an exciting new service called ‘Strong and Steady.
For information about the new Live Stronger for Longer Service and the Strong and Steady programme visit the website: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/derbyandderbyshire/lsfl/Anyone (any professional or an individual older person) can make a referral to Live Stronger for Longer; it just takes a few minutes to start an older person on the journey to increased mobility, confidence and wellbeing.If you would like to join our FREE Community Connectors session to find out more you can book a place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/community-connectors-live-stronger-for-longer-strictly-no-falls-tickets-779369363747 The session will be in Teams on Wednesday the 17th April at 1:30pm.
MMR Vaccination:Millions of parents and carers in England are being urged to book their children in for their missed measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine as part of a major new NHS drive to protect children from becoming seriously unwell, as measles cases continue to rise across the country.
The NHS campaign will see all parents of children aged from six to 11 years contacted encouraging them to make an appointment with their child’s GP practice for their missed MMR vaccine.
NHS figures show more than 3.4 million* children under the age of 16 years are either unprotected or not fully protected and at risk of catching these serious and completely preventable diseases.
Last year the NHS sent two million, texts, emails and letters to parents and carers of 1-5 year olds who were unvaccinated and thanks to those efforts, 165,000 doses of MMR vaccine were delivered.
The NHS campaign will target areas with low uptake of the vaccine with the health service contacting just over one million people aged 11 to 25 years-old in London and the West Midlands to invite them to catch up on their missed MMR vaccinations.
Health Minister Maria Caulfield said: “Measles is a serious but entirely preventable disease.
“The MMR vaccine is proven to be safe for youngsters and offers lifelong protection.
“I’m urging everyone whose child is not yet fully vaccinated to come forward and get them protected as soon as possible”.
Parents and carers can find out more about the different vaccines their child should have and when by visiting www.nhs.uk and searching for ‘NHS vaccinations and when to have them’.
For more information and how to book click here: MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Whooping Cough Infections Rise:New data has been published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) showing there has been a continued increase in pertussis (whooping cough) cases at the start of this year, with 553 confirmed in England in January, compared with 858 cases for the whole of last year (2023).In response to increasing case numbers, the UKHSA is reminding mums-to-be to get protected against whooping cough so that their young baby has protection from birth against this serious disease and to ask their midwife if they are unsure. UKHSA is also urging parents to check that their children are vaccinated against whooping cough, which is offered to all infants at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age (as part of the 6-in-1 combination vaccine) with an additional dose included in the pre-school booster vaccine.This reminder is part of the UKHSA’s new Childhood Immunisation Campaign urging parents to check the vaccination status of their children against measles and other serious diseases, which went live across a range of media channels at the start of this week. Parents are being asked to respond to invites from the NHS or to book an appointment with their GP practice if their child has not received all their routine vaccines.
Bowel Cancer Awareness MonthApril is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, a fantastic annual opportunity to raise awareness of bowel cancer and funds to support vital research.
The earlier bowel cancer is spotted, the more treatable it’s likely to be. In fact, more than 9 in 10 people survive bowel cancer when it is diagnosed at the earliest stage. However, this drops significantly when diagnosed at the latest stage. Learn more about the possible symptoms of the disease: https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-cancer/symptoms/
Why not test your knowledge about the disease at https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/support-us/bowel-cancer-awareness-month/quiz/
Why not get involved this April and help spread the word:take the bowel cancer quiz, and then share it with your friends and familyattend an online awareness talk given by a volunteer with real life experience of bowel cancerfollow Bowel Cancer UK on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn then tag, share and encourage others to get involvedFor more information about bowel cancer and details of how to get involved during Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, visit Bowel Cancer Awareness Month | Bowel Cancer UK
World Immunisation Week24th to 30th April is World Immunisation Week. World Immunization Week, celebrated in the last week of April, aims to highlight the collective action needed and to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease.Through its convening power, WHO works with countries across the globe to raise awareness of the value of vaccines and immunization and ensures that governments obtain the necessary guidance and technical support to implement high quality immunization programmes.The ultimate goal of World Immunization Week is for more people – and their communities – to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.Find out more online at the World Health Organisations website here: www.who.int/campaigns/world-immunization-week
Scarlet Fever:If you think you or your child are showing signs of Scarlet Fever, it’s important to contact your GP. The first signs of scarlet fever can be flu-like symptoms, including a high temperature, a sore throat and swollen neck glands (a large lump on the side of your neck). A rash appears 12 to 48 hours later. It looks like small, raised bumps and starts on the chest and tummy, then spreads. The rash makes your skin feel rough, like sandpaper.Stay away from nursery, school or work for 24 hours after taking the 1st dose of antibiotics to protect others.Find out more about Scarlet Fever here: Scarlet fever – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Spring COVID-19 Vaccination Programme:The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) announced its advice to Government for the COVID-19 vaccine programme in spring this year, which includes updated eligibility criteria. This advice has been accepted by Minister Caulfield. JCVI advises the following groups to be offered a COVID-19 vaccine this spring:· Adults aged 75 years and over.· Residents in a care home for older adults.· Individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed (as defined in tables 3 or 4 in the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book).NHS England will confirm details on how and when eligible people can access the spring vaccine in due course.
  Cost of Living:
The legacy of the rising cost of living is still being felt by many people.
While some pressures are easing, for instance fuel prices falling and summer meaning less reliance on heating for some, there are still many Derbyshire households who are feeling the impacts.
Some highlights from BBC News
The NHS prescription charge in England will increase by around 3%, 25p to £9.90 an item from Wednesday 1st of May, the Government has confirmed. The cost of prepayment certificates, which give you unlimited prescriptions for either three months or a year, will also rise – so if you regularly pay for prescriptions, check if you can save by buying a certificate now.Most broadband and mobile phone providers are currently introducing mid-contract price rises of up to 8.8%. This is generally based on the inflation rate last December, plus an additional charge.
While this is allowed under current rules, the approach is expected to be banned by regulators later in the year.
The average annual water and sewerage bill will rise by 6% in England and Wales, up £27 to £473. Actual individual bills can differ significantly owing to regional variations and usage levels for those on a meter.
Council tax will rise in most areas. Local authorities collect the tax to pay for services such as rubbish collection, street lighting and libraries. Authorities in England with social care duties can raise council tax by up to 4.99%, without triggering a referendum. Others can increase it by up to 2.99%. Some can increase bills by more than 5%, with government permission. In general, some households – such as people living alone, those with disabilities, or student properties – can receive discounts.
TV licence fee which will go up by 6.6% to £169.50, after being frozen for two years.
It is free for any household where someone is aged over 75 and also receives the means-tested pension credit. Anyone who is registered blind can get a 50% discount.
Vehicle tax is also rising, with the annual flat rate for a car registered on or after 1st of April 2017 going up by £10. The amount due depends on the type of vehicle, when it was registered, and which type of fuel is used.
NHS dental charges in England will increase by 4%, which means a standard check-up will cost £1 more, at £26.80. Some people are eligible for free dental care, such as when pregnant.
The annual energy bill for a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity will fall to £1,690, which is the lowest for two years.
Regulator Ofgem’s new price cap takes effect on 1st of April and means a drop of £238 a year, or around £20 a month, on that typical bill. The regulator’s price cap affects 29 million households in England, Wales and Scotland. Rules are different in Northern Ireland, where prices are also falling.
The cap sets the maximum amount suppliers can charge for each unit of gas and electricity but not the total bill – so if you use more, you will pay more. But the fixed standing charges element of the bill is rising, and the fee varies depending on the region where you live.Call DerbyshireCold weather is especially dangerous for young children, older people or people with serious illnesses. If you are concerned about anyone you can Call Derbyshire on 01629 533190.Call Derbyshire is open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday and from 9.30am to 4pm Saturdays.
Looking to start or join a group?
If you have an idea for a new group, or are looking for a group to join one, then contact us at South Derbyshire CVS and we can get you the information you need. We also support existing groups.
01283 219761
development@sdcvs.org.uk |
The Vision Derbyshire Business Start-Up Support Scheme can help. A team of local expert business advisers offers free, one-to-one impartial support and advice covering a wide range of topics tailored to your needs. Grant funding is also available if you meet the eligibility criteria.Talking to a business adviser can be invaluable in helping you to make important decisions about your business idea and to put plans in place.The team has supported more than 1,000 residents across Derbyshire to build plans to start their own business. Several of these are now employing more people and going from strength to strength, including Suzanne Lloyd, of Virtue Virtual Assistance, Chesterfield. She said: “Working with a business adviser has helped me challenge my own perceptions of what opportunities may be available. Doors have opened that I didn’t know would be possible. The support I’ve received has been invaluable.” This scheme is running in the Amber Valley, Chesterfield, Derbyshire Dales, High Peak, North East Derbyshire and South Derbyshire local authority areas. Funding has been received through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to continue until at least March 2025.
On Thursday (11 April), councillors will be asked to agree to seek people’s views on plans to redesign the way we provide day opportunities and short breaks.Following a previous consultation, we transformed services to create new day opportunities to help people with learning disabilities and/or autism lead safe and fulfilling lives in their community.This work has shown that they want to be as independent as possible with equal access to opportunities and services such as housing, leisure activities, jobs, health and transport.To help us get the best value for money for our services, at a time of increasing financial pressures for councils nationally, we need to review how people’s assessed care needs are met and to what extent we provide those services ourselves.
Then take a look at our updated 
The shop will stock good quality items collected at the county’s recycling centres and sell them at low cost to give them a new lease of life.Items like:FurnitureCrockery, pots, cutlery, kitchen goodsBooks, CD’s Records, DVD’s – all should be originals and not copiesOrnamentsPictures, picture frames and pieces of artGarden furniture, garden tools, garden ornamentsPremium clothing and footwear – donated directly to the shopToys and board gamesThe shop will be open in tandem with the recycling centre and will be run by contractors H W Martin who operate eight household waste recycling centres for us.Proceeds from sales at the re-use shop will go towards running costs of the shop and any profits will be shared equally between the county council, H W Martin and charitable causes.The county council’s share of any profits will be put back into its waste management budget which pays for services like the running of household waste recycling centres.If the shop proves popular then we will consider opening further stores at other household waste recycling centres across the county.Purchases can be made using cash or electronically.Re-use is even better for the environment than recycling as it means items can be put to good use without having to use energy to re-process them and turn them into something new.Pic: Louise Bradley with some nearly-new roller skates on sale at the re-use shop.