Forest of Dean Citizens Advice Bureau is running a special project to help clients deal with ever increasing energy prices. This is designed to help keep down the cost of electricity and gas bills and to help clients get the best possible deal in insulating their homes and saving on energy use. For more information or to make an appointment, ring 01594 823937. Prior to the appointment collect copies of old gas and electricity bills and bring these with you. Interviews will last about 30 minutes and specially trained staff will do their best to help you save money on your energy bills.
To find out if or when the Mobile Library Unit visits your village, call 0845 230 5420 or visit www.libraries.gloucestershire.gov.uk to see the routes and timetables. You can also renew your books out of hours by phone or online.
UK Hand Knitting Association website (www.ukhandknitting.com) needs knitters for charities. On the Community Page is a list of charities which would like you to knit for them e.g. Oxfam, West Wales Dog Rescue, Siblings Together, Knit for Newlife. Patterns are available via the links to the different charities' websites.
The rationale of the Foodbank is a) to provide emergency food for the customer and his/her dependants, b) to help customers identify organisations who should be able to offer additional and longer-term help and c) to seek ways of making the customers feel better about themselves and their situations by befriending them, developing a rapport, and raising their self-confidence and self-worth (if this is possible).
Depression affects 1 in 4 in Britain and men traditionally suffer in silence and remain undiagnosed. Mental health experts are asking women to look out for signs in their husbands and partners. It is incredibly distressing to deal with anyone suffering from depression or anxiety disorder, especially if they are unable or unwilling to talk. Based on her own experience Caroline Carr, a clinical hypnotherapist, has written a book and founded a website, www.mypartnerisdepressed.com, to help others in the same position.
A number of people, predominantly elderly, have received telephone calls from an English-sounding person, purporting to be from the Local Council advising that the resident is due a Council Tax refund. This is a scam. Do not to divulge any personal information such as full name, date of birth, address or telephone numbers to cold callers, even on the telephone.