First Wednesday in February (no meeting in January) at West Dean Community Centre, Bream 2-3.30pm.
If you need medical help fast but it isn't a 999 emergency, you can call NHS 111. NHS 111 will assess you, provide advice and direct you straight away to the local service that can help you best. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Calls are free, including from mobiles. For further information visit www.nhs.uk/111
In the last couple of weeks, The Silver Line has been launched. Founded by Esther Rantzen, it is a confidential, free helpline for older people, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The idea is to help combat loneliness among older people – more than half of all over 75s live alone and one in ten suffers intense loneliness but is reluctant to ask for help. The staff in the call centre offer information, friendship and advice to callers, and offer to link callers to local groups and services. They can also offer regular befriending calls through Silver Line Friends or group calls on subjects that interest the caller through Silver Circles. The call centre staff are also trained to protect and support those suffering abuse and neglect. For further information Tel: 0800 4 70 80 90 or visit www.thesilverline.org.uk
Some elderly people are struggling to keep warm, with many choosing between eating and heating. Winter can be a long, cold and miserable season. If you don't really need your winter fuel payment, please donate it to AgeUK Surviving Winter appeal.
Are you an older person living in fuel poverty and need additional support to heat your home and eat properly in the cold weather? A Surviving Winter grant may help. You must live in Gloucestershire to apply. A grant of £125 could assist you with: paying your fuel bill; purchasing oil; purchasing an oil heater; purchase of coal; topping up your electricity; purchasing a pair of warm slippers and a blanket.
Depending on your circumstances you may be able to apply for additional support and we may also consider applications from other individuals in need who are disabled or suffering extreme hardship.If you would like to make an application please contact: Age UK Gloucestershire, Station Road, Gloucester (01452 422660) or Gloucester and District CAB, 81 Eastgate Street, Gloucester (01452 527202)
Level Playing Field and is a registered charity in England and Wales. LPF acts as a campaigning and advisory organisation to its membership and other parties across all sports. However you will also find information on disabled fans facilities at clubs and stadia, along with useful football, disability and access reports, guides, good practice documents and general disabled supporter information. You'll also find the latest news items and a back catalogue of the Level Playing Field e-newsletters and you can sign up to receive regular copies. Their web site is www.levelplayingfield.org.uk/
This service is provided by Arriva for people travelling to and from an appointment at a hospital or clinic, who are discharged from hospital or need to transfer between centres, and who, because of their medical condition cannot make their own way. Eligibility criteria is based on whether the patient's medical condition prevents them travelling by any other means. Patient may book their own transport, or it may be done by the hospital or clinic. The contact number is 0845 600 6068. Patients will need to have the following information to hand: date of birth; NHS number; full address and postal code; mobility needs, eg is the patient in a wheelchair Arriva's staff will collect patients from home and stay with them until they reach their unit or clinic, or are safely indoors at home. Only parents/carers of children under 16 and carers of patients assessed as vulnerable can accompany patients on their journey.