Long for the days when live music involved real musicians and a great time out with friends? Then long no more – they are back! Saturday 16th June will see a Grand Jubilee Tea Dance at Churchdown Community Centre with a live 18-piece big band and an indoor street party atmosphere to celebrate the Jubilee. The event has been organised by Alzheimer's Society and is open to anyone with or without memory concerns, their family and friends. Following hot on the heels of Dementia Awareness Week it is hoped that many people will be able to come along with their families and enjoy an afternoon out together where the older members of the family take the lead and show the young ones what it's all about!
The event is being held between 2-4pm, and you don't even have to dance if you don't want to, just come along and soak up the atmosphere. Tickets are £5 for adults and £3 for children, to include an afternoon tea served at your table. Free parking is available at the centre with easy access for wheelchair users. For your tickets please call the Gloucestershire office of the Alzheimer's Society on 01452 525222.
If there is someone in your home who is younger than five, older than sixty or with an on-going medical condition, Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service are able to fit free alarms under the auspices of FireSAFE. This is a free service that involves the fitting of free smoke alarms plus a Home Fire Safety Check. Contact your local Village Agent or Community Agent and this will be arranged for you.
Free local sessions can help you to help them. The next set of seven sessions starts June 11th. at the Belle Vue Centre, Belle Vue Road, Cinderford, GL14 2AB. 10am – 1pm. Alternative care will be provided at Crossroads Day Centre, The Old Coach House, Foundry Road, Cinderford, Gl14 2JP. As well as learning more about the current week's topic, the structured sessions give you the opportunity to meet other carers and gain/share knowledge, information and experience.
To find out more about the Positive Caring Programme, or to book a place, please call 01452 500885 or 01452 426254.
Gloucestershire Village and Community Agents Scheme now covers the entire county. The scheme, which started life as a Department for Works and Pensions pilot in 2006, has gone from strength to strength and is now regarded as a national exemplar, with many counties coming to Gloucestershire to learn how to replicate it in their areas. This one stop shop alleviates the need for an older person to tell their story several times as the Agent will assess the holistic need and then send one gateway referral form to all the agencies and organisations needed to help and provide advice and assistance. GRCC manages 38 Village Agents and 5 BME Community Agents plus a team of specialist McMillan agents who provide a signposting service to cancer patients, over the age of 18, and their families. All Agents have internet access, are CRB checked and able to visit older people in their own homes, although they also regularly visit lunch clubs, social groups and other places where older people gather. They work part-time and can be contacted either through GRCC or directly via their Agent mobile number or email address.
From 2nd. July 2012, household refuse collection will be fortnightly, using a black wheeled bin which the Council will supply. A sack service will be available for those properties which cannot cope with a wheeled bin, but this must be with prior agreement with the Council. Assisted bin collections will remain available for householders with mobility or other problems which make it difficult for them to put out refuse sacks or wheeled bins at the roadside. If you would like to ask for this service, please contact the Forest of Dean District Council on (01594) 810000 or contact your Village Agent who will apply for a form on your behalf and give any help necessary with the form.
There will also be a weekly collection of food and kitchen waste. A 23 litre outside caddy and a 7 litre inside caddy will be supplied for this, together with 6 months supply of liners. After 6 months residents will need to either buy liners from local shops or via the internet, or newspaper can be used.
Dry recycling will continue every fortnight as now, involving glass, paper, tins and aerosols, plus from 2nd. July onwards, batteries.
Any questions or queries should be addressed to the Forest of Dean District Council on (01594) 810000.