NEWS LETTER

Welcome

I know it’s been a while since we produced one of our newsletters and I hope you’ll like that we’re reinstating this.  We plan to do regular (4 a year) newsletters in the Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.  Watch out for these free newsletters in your inbox, in the post or at your local GP surgery.

This year has been hectic with the new General Data Protection Regulations 2018 affecting us all.  I’m sure by now you’ve heard all about this because of all the letters from banks, charities and others that have been asking your permission to store your data etc.  However, it’s a great new regulationwhich puts ownership of your data right back into your hands!   So, if you’re reading this and want your own copy of this newsletter emailed to you every quarter, please get in touch.  Also, if you decide you don’t want us to email you a copy of this newsletter just let us know.

In fact, we’d love you to tell us what you want to see in this newsletter and we’ll do our best to include it. 

For now, I wish you a warm and healthy Autumn.

 

Ann Dymock, Chief Officer

Spotlight on Money

 Attendance Allowance.  A lot of people mix this up with carers allowance.  However, AA (as we like to call it) is a benefit that is paid to the person who needs the care so they can pay others to help.  This benefit is not means tested and is given purely on a need basis. 

Have you been finding it a little harder than usual to do the things you once did.  This might mean that mobility or your general health is becoming an issue.  

It’s worth you getting in touch with Bethan or Alison to have a welfare benefit health check.  These ladies will ask you a few questions about your general health to help them decide if you might qualify for AA.  If they think you do (based on government criteria) then they’ll arrange for you to have help to complete the form. 

It’s worth getting in touch with us about welfare benefits then at least you’ll know exactly what’s available to you. Ring 01554 784080 or email info@agecymrusirgar.org.uk

Age Cymru Helpline 08000 223 444

 Spotlight on scams

 One of the latest scams to be doing the rounds is a telephone scam, allegedly from HMRC.

“Today I received a phone call from HMRC on our house phone telling me I’m under investigation and if I do not respond today, a warrant will be issued and criminal charges will be brought against me! I was told to ringa specific number. “Quote from one of our clients.

This is one of many kinds of phone scams that appear from time to time.

Don’t panic! If you’ve received a call like this, check if it’s real with trading standards on their helpline, 03454 04 05 06or with us, before you do anything.  

If it’s your bank, phone your bank on YOUR usual number. Never phone a number they give you.

To find out what Wales is doing to prevent scams:  #The Wales Against Scams Partnership (WASP)

 

Cybercrime

With more and more of us embracing technology to book holidays, do our banking, shopping or stay in touch, we need to think about keeping ourselves safe from online scams.

For a free internet security booklet which tells you how to spot a scam, from visit www.agecymru.org.uk, emailinfo@agecymrusirgar.org.ukor ring 01554 784080.

If you want to build your confidence in using the internet on your laptop, Ipad or phone then the charity runs a home tutor and support service.  This is a charged for service where volunteers visit you at your home and provide one to one support.  For more information, get in touch as above.

Putting the fun in Fundraising

The Big Knit is back in town!

Knitters of all ages wanted.

Smoothies and Sainsburys are working with us to help us fundraise for work we do to help keep people warm and well during the winter.

If you have spare wool and want to make some of these cute little hats for keeping the little bottles cosy in the chill cabinet take a look at all the fabulous patterns available on

http://www.thebigknit.co.uk/knitting-patterns – if you prefer a paper copy of a pattern get in touch with us.

Please tell us how many hats you think you can make us in time for Christmas and help us smash last year’s total of 2,000 cute little hats. Every hat you make for us, Innocent and Sainsburys collectively donate 25p to the charity.

Campaigns

 Winter wrapped up!

Get a free home energy health check.  Our volunteers will do an inspection of your home giving you hints and tips on reducing your energy usage and fit free energy reduction tools such as lightbulbs, nightlights, radiator reflectors and more.  We can fit energy reducing equipment to help you lower those energy costs this winter. Specific criteria applies. Ring or email us to find out more or have an assessment – 01554 784080, email info@agecymrusirgar.org.uk

Also speak to Bethan to find out if you qualify for a Warm Home Discount from your energy supplier.

We’ve also got a couple of handy booklets. These are Save Energy Pay Less and Winter Wrapped Up which are guides to reducing your energy costs and keeping warm and well in the winter.  The Winter Wrapped Up guide comes with a free thermometer.  We can post these out to you free of charge. Alternatively visit our website for more information on all sorts of welfare benefits or other topics.

www.agecymru.org.uk/sirgar

Getting in touch

 Tell us how we can help you.  Get in touch by phone on 01554 784080,write to us at Age Cymru Sir Gâr, units 5 – 11, 100 Trostre Road,

Llanelli, SA15 2EA, or email us on info@agecymrusirgar.org.uk.

 

Keeping active this Autumn/Winter

 Calling all Mature Movers! Do you want to try a fun new exercise and have fun with your friends and even make new ones.

Mature Movers is a session of gentle exercise to music with fun games which will suit all abilities.

Come along to the Gwenllian Community Centre, in Kidwelly on 9 November 2018 at 10.30am to 12.30pm. Admission is £2 which includes refreshments.

Spotlight on our volunteers

 Harvey, pictured below talking with a client, volunteers for the charity in a couple of ways, firstly as a trustee, with a team of other trustees ensuring the charity is working in a way that supports older people throughout the county and also as one of our wonderful team of volunteer admin receptionists who answer the phone to our clients on a daily basis. 

“Volunteering” – the word volunteering is seen as a way of being kind or making a difference, and for others it’s a fun hobby, a way of keeping active, a way of using those skills you’ve learnt through life (whatever your age) and for some it’s simply getting out of the house, making new friends or just having something to do.

Whatever you think of volunteering, and whatever your motivation to volunteer, without volunteers, charities such as ours would not be able to help almost 3,000 people in Carmarthenshire a year to get the help they need when they need it. 

We have a team of 51 volunteers at the moment who help out in the office and at the homes of our clients. These volunteers have a huge range of skills and use them to help us to help others.  If you think you’d like to volunteer, we’ve got opportunities for various types of volunteering roles.  Two are highlighted below.

If you are handy at home maintenance we’re looking for new volunteer handypersons to help older people maintain their homes and live independently for longer.  If you think you’d enjoy this, give Peter McIlroy a call. 

We’re also looking for people to help us fill out forms on behalf of older people.  Full training on form filling is provided.

Mileage is paid and guidance and support are provided.  The charity holds the Investing in Volunteers award which means we do the best for all our volunteers.  

If you’ve thought about volunteering but are unsure how you can or what skills you’ve got that could be used, get in touch with us.

 If you want to join our team ring us on 01554 784080 or email info@agecymrusirgar.org.uk a volunteer pack with all volunteering options will be sent to you.