Trafalgar Court: Older people living alone in the community urged to take extra care in the cold weather

anchor

PRESS RELEASE
January 2016

OLDER PEOPLE LIVING ALONE URGED TO TAKE CARE IN COLD WEATHER

A retirement housing scheme in Whalley Range is today urging older people living alone in the community to take extra care in the cold weather.
Following a level-2 cold weather alert from the Met Office, Katrina Dempster Scheme Manager from Anchor Trafalgar Court on Withington Road will be taking extra steps to ensure that her residents stay warm and safe this winter.
Katrina has warned that risks of falling among older people are high in the cold weather.
She said: “Anchor is urging the wider community to keep a close eye on elderly neighbours and their older relatives who may live alone and are more vulnerable in the cold weather.
“We recommend older people have regular hot drinks and eat at least one hot meal a day if possible. Eating regularly helps to keep up energy levels up during winter.
“Wrap up warm and wear several light layers of warm clothes. Wear footwear with a good grip if you need to go outside on cold days, take extra care if you go out.”
For more information on Trafalgar Court, call 0800 731 2020 or visit www.anchor.org.uk.
Ends

Notes to editors:

About Anchor
Anchor is a charity and England largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care to older people, serving 40,000 customers across the country. Formed in 1968 as Help the Aged (Oxford) Housing Association, it adopted the name Anchor in 1975 and opened its first care home seven years later. Today, it provides retirement housing to rent and to buy, retirement villages and residential care homes, including specialist dementia care, from more than 1,000 locations across England.

Age UK: Winter wrapped up

Preparing for winter

Two ladies wrapped up warm on the sofa

Cold weather can be a worry for those of us in later life. As we get older, our bodies respond differently and this can leave us more vulnerable in cold weather.

But with a little preparation, and by following some simple suggestions, we can help ourselves to stay healthy, safe and as comfortable as possible in winter. More suggestions can be found in our Winter Wrapped Up guide.

Keeping warm both inside and outside your home can help reduce your risk of serious health problems that are more common in the colder months, such as chest infections, heart attacks and strokes.

Getting ready for the cold weather – which can start as early as October – means that youre more likely to keep warm and well.

Download the guide 

Here are some things you can do to stay safe and ward off the winter chills:

  • Get your heating system serviced every year by a qualified engineer to ensure it’s running safely and efficiently.
  • Never block air vents and if you have wood-burning, coal or gas heaters make sure there adequate ventilation.
  • If water pipes freeze they can burst. Make sure you know where the main stopcock is and check that it’s easy to turn so you can turn off the water if you need to.
  • Have your electric blanket serviced at least every three years.
  • Make sure your smoke alarm is working. You can ask your local fire service to check your home for fire safety. It free and you may be eligible to get free smoke alarms fitted.
  • Install an audible carbon monoxide alarm in each room that has a gas appliance.
  • Make sure you claim all the financial support you can to help with heating bills.
  • Dress in plenty of layers and make sure you have warm shoes or boots with non-slip soles.
  • Keep a mixture of salt and sand handy to put on steps or paths in icy weather.
  • Consider fitting a grab rail if you have steps at your front or back door.
  • Keep simple cold, flu and sore throat remedies in the house.
  • Follow up your GP invitation to have a flu jab.
  • Order repeat prescriptions in plenty of time, particularly if bad weather is forecast.
  • Ask your local pharmacy if they offer a prescription pick-up and delivery service.
  • Keep basic food items in the cupboard or freezer in case it too cold to go shopping. You could also do your food shopping online and get it delivered to your door.
  • Eat healthily and keep as active as possible.
  • Ask your family, neighbours or friends if they could call or visit you more often.
  • Keep a battery-operated radio, torch and spare batteries handy in case there a power cut. Keep your mobile phone, laptop or tablet fully charged so you can use the battery power if there no electricity.
  • Keep a list of emergency numbers, such as your utility companies, by your phone.

For more information about how to prepare for winter, download our free information guide Winter wrapped up.

Download the guide 

Age UK have also produced some free winter health resources which you can download or order.

Did Muslim soldiers really fight for Britain in WW1?

Press Release

15th January 2016

For Immediate Release

Did Muslim soldiers really fight for Britain in WW1?

2016 sees the official opening of the Stories of Sacrifice exhibition, dedicated to the bravery and sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of Muslim soldiers who fought for Britain in World War One (WW1).

From recruitment to burial, the exhibition developed by the British Muslim Heritage Centre (BMHC) and part funded by the Community Covenant, gives an insight into the selfless sacrifice of Muslim soldiers, who valiantly fought for the freedoms and privileges that we take for granted in Great Britain today.

Greater Manchester Lord Lieutenant Warren Smith will officially launch the exhibition during the exclusive Annual Gala Dinner at the British Muslim Heritage Centre, in Whalley Range, Manchester, on 15th January 2016.

Master of Ceremonies is set to be BBC Radio leading light Talat Awan, who will be joined by a host of dignitaries, including the interim Mayor of Greater Manchester Tony Lloyd.

Complete with a virtual library, lesson plans and a toolkit for schools, this exhibition is the first long-term exhibition of its kind, devoted solely to exemplifying the Muslim community contribution and sacrifices during WW1.

Located in the heart of a diverse and developing Manchester, it will provide a stimulating platform from which to discuss and celebrate Muslim identity, belonging and contribution, not only to the region, but to the United Kingdom as a whole.

400,000 Muslim Soldiers from India fought for Britain in WW1, in addition to a further 280,000 Algerians, Moroccans and Tunisians who fought for the allies. At least 89,000 Muslims were recorded as having given their lives for this country.

It is a little known fact that 20% of British Empire recruits were actually Muslims. What an unbelievable commitment and sacrifice. We British owe a lot to these forgotten heroes.

BMHC Chairman, Nasar Mahmood has commended his staff on an excellent achievement, stating that This is not the complete or final exhibition, it is simply the start of a journey of education and enlightenment. Ultimately towards a more cohesive society, founded on mutual respect and collaboration.

At a time when the Muslim Community is continually in the media spotlight, with some in society calling into question their loyalty to British values and to the British way of life, this initiative will go a long way to finding some tough but common ground.


(Muslim soldiers praying at Woking Mosque November 1915)


Indian Army troops reading English Newspaper on the way to

Mesopotamia

ENDS

For further information, contact: Ashraf Ali, BMHC Project Manager, College Road, Whalley Range, Manchester, M16 8BP, email: ashraf.ali@bmhc.org.uk , 0161 881 8062, 07545853126.

www.bmhc.org.uk

www.storiesofsacrifice.org.uk

Deaf Black Minority Ethnic Project

DEAF Project

The team are also seeking a speaker for this event!

Please get in touch if you can help!

New_DEAF_Logo_small_2014

Deaf Education Advocacy Fellowship (DEAF) is very excited to announce the launch of the Deaf Black Minority Ethnic Project.

This project aims to provide an opportunity for the BME communities of Trafford and the wider Greater Manchester area to engage and receive accessible information on core issues in the area. The project hopes to raise awareness of services and facilities that can improve the lives of deaf and black ethnic minorities who live in the area.

Do you live in the Trafford or Greater Manchester area?

Would you like to be part of a network of people supporting BME issues?

The sessions will offer a unique opportunity to access information; meet other people and watch presentations by brilliant guest speakers whom we have organised.

Different topics will be discussed at each session and those attending will decide what is on the agenda for each session.

For example, housing issues, domestic violence, social care, disability services, learning disability support, hate crime, family support, counselling, isolation and social activities.  The session will also be able to sign post you to find the right services within Trafford/Greater Manchester.

Deaf BME individuals and communities traditionally have faced many barriers preventing access to information and services, in-part due to communication needs not being met. In working with multi-cultural groups, we aim to break down and remove these barriers, providing more knowledge and awareness. We are an organisation that strongly believes that Deaf people from diverse and different cultures should have access to information without feeling isolated or ignored.

Our BME service has a well established three year track record of running projects which provide services and events on a monthly basis. We also provide services for Education, Employment, Benefits, and Welfare to Work.

Please click on the link below which explains all about the BME project and you can see the British Sign Language Video with audio:

http://www.deaf-fellowship.org/trafford-deaf-bme-project/

Hosting our session on Friday 22nd January 2016, 2.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. at Harry Lord House, Humphrey Road, Stretford, Manchester M16 9DF.

Please email or text 07544 310 458 with any queries or concerns and to reserve your place.

Junior Adminstrator

Abdullah Patel

E-mail: Abdullah@deaf-fellowship.org
Web: www.Deaf-fellowship.org
Phone: 0161 945 6058

A Handbook for Cultural Engagement with Older Men

culturemen

The presence of older men within activities at the Whitworth, or lack of, has been apparent for some time.

Despite being in Manchester, a city known nationally and internationally for its Age Friendly credentials, older men still fall into a minority within such activities at the gallery.

Through conversations with fellow programmers from other cultural organisations, big and small, it became clear this was not just a problem in Manchester.

http://documents.manchester.ac.uk/display.aspx?DocID=24251

http://www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/learn/adults/agefriendly/

CSG Women Heritage Project

Community Heritage Project Flyer

HERITAGE COMMUNITY PROJECT – TRADITIONAL BEST TIMES OF SOUTH ASIAN WOMEN

This project will help to recapture, recreate and then retain the hobbies and past times of South Asian Women.  It will also provide the opportunity for other people to learn about South Asian Heritage.

To find out more then come to:

CSG Women Heritage Project – Access & Registration Meeting on:

 

TUESDAY 15th DECEMBER 2015 at 10am to 3pm

 

Venue: Manley Park Community Centre

York Avenue

Whalley Range

Manchester, M16 0AS

                        

Heritage Project Workshops to start in January 2016

EVERY TUESDAY – 10am to 3pm

Come and learn about South Asian traditions, heritage and past times and recreate Arts & Crafts, Games & Sports, Food & Recipes

This is a Women Only Project

For further information please contact Community on Solid Ground and ask for Nusrat or emailn.ahmed@yosg.org.uk

Contact Details

Office: 0161 862 0955  /  0161 881 4631

admin@yosg.org.uk

Website: www.yosg.org.uk

 

F /COMMUNITYONSOLIDGROUND

T @COSG_UK

 

Best Regards

Nusrat Ahmed
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Nusrat Ahmed | Development Officer | T: 0161 862 0955 | E: n.ahmed@yosg.org.uk
COMMUNITY ON SOLID GROUND – PLAY | DEVELOP | INSPIRE | www.yosg.org.uk