16 minute read
Community matters
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www.melbourncambridge.co.uk
Practical Solutions Group
Melbourn Practical Solutions Group is a group of representatives dedicated to improving life in Melbourn with a special focus on support for young people. We are comprised of Parish, District and County Council officers and councillors, Melbourn Village College staff and students, Police Community Support Officers, and representatives of Melbourn Magazine and Website, Melbourn Area Youth Development (MAYD) and the Melbourn Village Plan steering group. The group meets several times a year and regularly invites along people who have something different to offer to the community.
If we are approached about a problem then we try and help by bringing people together, which in itself is often the first step toward finding solutions.
At our October meeting the PSG heard from Claire Nunes, CEO of Relate Cambridge, a counselling service offering family support; and also Bryony Graham, Arts Development Manager at Melbourn Village College who coordinates the European Union funding grant for the college, ‘A Common Territory,’ which involves themes of citizenship and community.
At every meeting we receive a police report. This gives us a picture of problems and concerns. In October, problems related mainly to minor incidents, apart from burglaries at the post office and golf club. The PSG was concerned that some of the minor reports specify when an incident has involved young people, but doesn’t do the same when adults are involved – creating perhaps a misleading impression of young people causing a greater share of the problems than is actually the case. No other demographic profile is singled out.
Also at every meeting we have the chance to hear from Melbourn Village College students about recent college activities. In October we heard from the Head Girl and Head Boy on the recent college Open Day and the confidence required to speak to a large audience, and also how the college promotes older students mentoring younger ones.
If you have any issues which you think the PSG should give attention to, please let us know.
Our team has been very busy this autumn meeting with local groups, responding to issues, helping to report on local community events and making your ShapeYourPlace website even more interesting and easy to use. I would like to thank everyone who got in touch with us this autumn to raise issues, ask questions and tell us about all the great activities and events going on in your community I would also like to use this opportunity to share our answers to some of the frequently asked questions about ShapeYourPlace. How do I report an issue?
It is easy to report an issue online – all you need to do is to fill in our simple online form in the ‘Have Your Say’ section.
Are there any examples of how ShapeYourPlace helped local communities in other districts?
ShapeYourPlace has some real success stories to tell. Some of the successes are where local people have alerted local services to some of the issues they face. For example, the site has helped with getting pot holes filled, clearing up fly tipping, alerting police to dangerous driving on the A141 and helping local people in Chatteris to work with local councillors to improve public transport. Following a recent online discussion between some local residents and a GP surgery in Chatteris, a better appointment system is now in place at the surgery. In Whittlesey there have been some lively online discussions concerning a proposed housing development at Showfield Site. These debates have helped to inform the decision-making process and have resulted in the planning application being refused. What happens to issues and ideas after they are submitted?
Issues and ideas posted on the website are passed to the local agency who is best placed to respond. Within 10 working days a response will be posted by Cambridgeshire County Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, Cambridgeshire Constabulary or Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service. If an issue or idea can be dealt with, it will be tackled as quickly as possible. All issues and ideas are also forwarded to the local County Councillor, District Councillor and Town / Parish Clerk inviting them to join in the conversation. ShapeYourPlace is a website designed to help you improve your neighbourhood. Join South Cambridgeshire’s conversations on: http://southcambridgeshire.shapeyourplace.org/ Please get in touch with me if you have other questions about ShapeYourPlace. Anna@ShapeYourPlace, 07769304132 Anna.allen@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Homecare workers required Many people require homecare to enable them to feel safe, happy and independent.
To achieve this we are recruiting compassionate and caring people to start their career in care through our unique apprenticeship programme.
Our apprenticeship programme will enable you to “earn while you learn” by supporting you to get a job with a local homecare provider whilst being paid the standard rate of a carer worker. You will be guaranteed: • Minimum 30 hours work per week • Pay at the same level as any other care worker • Nationally recognised qualifications in adult social care • Paid study time every week • The chance to apply for a permanent position.
Your age and background doesn’t matter. Somewhere in your community there’s a job that you can do to help others. If you are looking for a career in care and want to make a positive difference to people’s lives then our apprenticeship offers a worthwhile job that can turn into a rewarding, long term career. Sounds great – What next?
To register your interest please contact Emma Laskey-MacRae our Apprenticeship Project Coordinator at Emma.Laskey@ cambridgeshire.gov.uk or on 07917 615360 for an initial commitment free chat. www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Cambridgeshire County Council needs you to help change the lives of local children and young people.
Foster Carers provide a stable family support network for local children and young people when they are unable to live with their own family. Every year we have over 425 children and young people looked after by Cambridgeshire County Council.
The shortage of Foster Carers means that children and young people are placed with independent foster carers or residential units (some outside of Cambridgeshire) they may also be looked after within the county children’s homes. We need to recruit more Foster Carers in order to give them the best possible future.
Foster Carer’s come from all different kinds of backgrounds. It may be that you have your own children or you may have worked with children before. You may have no experience of children or possibly considering a career change?
Every child is different so we need different Foster Carers, if you can offer stability, security and the positive experience of a loving family then we want to hear from you. You might be: • Married, in a civil partnership, single or living with a partner • From an ethnic background • In a same sex relationship • In work, unemployed or retired
Recruiting local people will mean that children and young people can live in their own community, continue to attend the same school and maintain contact with their family and friends. We offer generous allowances including a start up package, 24 hr support and full training. Call our freephone number on 0800 052 0078 or email fanda@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Local residents reminded to Choose Well this winter
Residents in Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire are being reminded to find the right health service for their illness or injury this winter.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) who commission health services in the area are asking local residents to familiarise themselves with the range of local health services and which illnesses and injuries they can treat. Last year local people using A&E when they didn’t need to cost the local NHS £2million, this could have treated 500 heart attack patients or bought 250 hip replacements. Here’s a reminder of what local NHS services can treat • Pharmacies can help with bugs and viruses, skin conditions, allergies, pregnancy testing and help with stopping smoking. • GPs can help with back ache, ear aches, painful coughs, mental health conditions and any illness or injury that won’t go away. Make sure that you have your doctor’s number to hand. There’s also an out of hours GP service which can be accessed by calling your normal doctor’s number - you will be put straight through or hear a message with the out of hours service number. • Walk-in centre or minor illness or injury unit – these can help with minor burns and scalds, bites and stings, strains and sprains and minor eye or ear problems. • Or you can look after colds, coughs, sore throats, hangovers, tummy upsets, grazes can all be treated at home with a wellstocked medicine cabinet.
Dr Arnold Fertig GP in Cambridge and from CamHealth Local Commissioning Group said, “Winter brings more coughs, colds and flu so it is a good idea to be prepared and to make sure you have a supply of remedies at home to help care for you and your family over the holiday period. If you need a regular prescription for a long term condition, please check now to make sure that you have enough to last you over the holiday season, and go to your GP or pharmacist to collect any prescriptions in good time before Christmas and New Year holidays.”
Remember if somebody is unwell and you are not sure as to the best course of action, it is often best to call first for advice. For more information please visit www.cambridgeshireandpeterboroughccg.nhs.uk/choose-well
Plagued by nuisance calls?
Recent figures released by the Communications Regulator, OFCOM, show that around 10,000 unsolicited marketing calls and 3,000 silent calls are received by UK consumers every
month. The majority of these calls are made between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday.
As well as interrupting whatever you are doing at the time, many such callers use pressure selling to persuade you to agree to something without giving you the chance to consider it properly.
What can you do to reduce the number of nuisance calls you receive?
Firstly, register with the Telephone Preference Service. The service is free and can reduce the number of unsolicited marketing calls you receive from UK companies. You can register by calling 08450 700707 or by visiting www.tpsonline.org.uk.
Secondly, speak to your telephone service provider to ask what call blocking technology they would recommend. Three Scottish Trading Standards authorities have recently tested some of the latest call blocking devices and found them to be very effective in reducing such nuisance calls. Some telephone providers also offer their own call blocking facilities. There may be a charge involved for such a device.
Thirdly, if you need to give your phone number to a business, make sure you opt out of receiving promotional information from them and third parties by ticking the relevant box on their website or clearly stating this if you are dealing with them on the telephone.
Fourthly, become ex-directory as some businesses use phone directories to compile marketing call lists.
Finally, many nuisance calls originate from overseas so ask your telephone provider to block international calls to your number (although be aware there may be a charge for this service).
Never divulge personal details such as your bank details to a cold caller, regardless of who they claim to be (Police, your bank etc) and never agree to any loans or credit over the phone.
Dealing with cold callers
When it comes to dealing with pressure selling on the telephone, remember that it is likely they are using this technique because their prices are uncompetitive – they don’t want you to have time to compare their prices with other companies. False claims that this is a ‘one day only’ offer or that the price is hugely discounted are common tactics.
Tell the caller you are not interested and ask them not to contact you again. If they ignore your request, report them to the Information Commissioner (ICO) online at www.ico.org.uk or by phone 0303 1231113. You can also report automated pre-recorded calls to ICO. If possible make a note of the business name, the number they called from, the date and time they called and what they were trying to ‘sell’ eg. PPI, accident claim, credit. You should also make the ICO aware of any distress, damage or loss you suffered as a result of these calls.
If you need advice on anything you have bought or agreed to as a result of such a cold call, contact our advice partner, the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline, on 0845 4040506. Did we get it right?
The Cambridgeshire Health and wellbeing board has been reviewing local pharmaceutical services – services that help you get and use medicines or medical equipment safely. Our views about these services are written up in the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment.
We want to know if you agree with what we have written.
We are asking for your feedback during 4th December 2013 – 14th February 2014. You can give us your thoughts by completing a questionnaire, either at your local pharmacy, dispensing doctor surgery, or online at www.cambridgeshireinsight.org.uk/JSNA/PNA Stay independent, safe and well this winter
If you or someone you care for needs advice about keeping independent, safe and well this winter, the County Council’s adult social care websites Your Life, Your Choice www. yourlifeyourchoice.org.uk and AskSARA online advice and equipment guide www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/asksara provide information about keeping warm, preventing falls and the help that may be available to older and vulnerable people if they are unable to get out and about. If you are unable to access the Internet staff and volunteers in the library can help you to find the information you need or you can contact adult social care customer services on 0345 045 5202.
You can now ‘AskSARA’ about daily living advice for disabled children too!
Since it launched in February last year, AskSARA Cambridgeshire’s online guide to advice and equipment has been visited by nearly 4,500 people looking for information and advice to enable them, or someone they care for, to remain independent in their own homes for as long as possible.
After the success of AskSARA for adults, a children’s version has recently been launched. AskSARA for children is a quick online guide for finding information about products and services to help children with daily activities in the home and when they are out and about. Information and advice about funding, equipment and carer support is also provided. To visit the children’s site, use the link at the top of the web page at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/asksara
Mencap
Would you like to make a difference to the life of a child or young person with learning disabilities in your area?
Cambridgeshire Mencap is looking for volunteers for its Befriending & Family Support Schemes.
Our Befriending scheme matches volunteers young people with learning disabilities, to enable them to socialise, doing fun things like bowling or going to the cinema. It only takes a few hours of your time and it really does change lives.
Our Family Support scheme provides extra help for parents and carers when and where they need it most by providing a
trained volunteer to regularly visit the child or young person and provide practical help to the family.
We think our volunteers are exceptional and you could be too!
We give training and support, but it’s the young people who make it all worthwhile. Rob said “I’m so glad I got in touch about volunteering. If you’re thinking about volunteering; just do it, you’ll never regret it.” Like to know more? Contact Marika Newman on 01223 883 141 or email volunteer@cambridgeshiremencap.co.uk
A Five Star Approach To Volunteering
Royston & District Volunteer Centre covers the SG8 postcode area and is working for your community by providing advice, support and guidance to individuals wanting to volunteer
New Social and Business Hub created by Melbourn
Cambridgeshire based Mark Graddage of Beacon Wealth Management Ltd, Independent Financial Advisers would like to say a huge congratulations to Melbourn in creating a social and business Hub at 30 High Street for a scheduled opening on 25th January 2014. This has opened up a new opportunity for professionals to give advice to the community on a free and weekly basis.
Mark Graddage of Beacon Wealth Management Ltd and John Gibson of Giddings Lane Will Consultancy, members of the Society of Will Writers have taken this opportunity to hold a joint Financial Services clinic every Tuesday between 10am and 2pm. During these sessions anybody can drop in and ask them about any financial issues, there are separate meeting rooms if the matter is particularly personal and they can also make arrangements to visit you in the comfort of your own home for a complementary initial meeting.
For example, popular issues such as Inheritance Tax can be discussed as there is much confusion about what can be done to avoid losing 40% of your estate in tax to the Government. Mark Graddage explains that the personal Inheritance Tax Allowance is currently £325,000, which sounds like a rather a lot of money but in fact in this region alone many people’s homes are worth this much on their own, not including other parts of your estate such as cars, investments and personal belongings.
If you feel the matter is urgent and would like to arrange a complementary meeting before the opening contact Mark tel: 07752 887332 or email: mgraddage@ beaconwealth.co.uk or John tel: 07775 594861 or email: john@giddingslane.co.uk with the details. and our local voluntary organisations, community groups and sports clubs, so that they can successfully involve and support volunteers. Volunteering not only enables the delivery of vital local services, it can also change the lives of individuals who find themselves unemployed, recovering from illness, in need of confidence building, or looking to meet new people.
Volunteering is a great way to get involved in your local community, have fun, learn new skills and make friends, so if you’re not doing it – why not? Volunteering is open to all members of the community and whatever your skills, interests or availability, we can help you find something suitable.
We are proud to announce the launch of a new initiative which benefits both volunteers and those who involve them.
The Five Star Focus is a sign-up scheme for all volunteer involving organisations, community groups and sport clubs, that endorses excellence in Volunteer Management to help successfully recruit, retain and value volunteers and is a Cambridgeshire wide initiative. There are five sections: Planning for volunteer involvement; Recruitment and Induction; Support and safety; Training and Personal Development Involving, Rewarding and Recognising Volunteers.
Want to get involved? Then just call the Volunteer Centre on 01763 243020 or email us at info@roystonvolunteer.org.uk for advice. Or you can browse our local volunteering opportunities at www.do-it.org.uk.
Poetry
I wanna be your…
I wanna be your hair comb Untangling all your knots I wanna be your fluffy socks Keeping you snug and warm I wanna be your chap stick Laying upon your lips You call the shots I wanna be yours I wanna be your fairytale Ensuring you get your happy ever after I wanna be your bed covers Holding you at night Let me be your tissues To wipe away your tears I don’t care I wanna be yours I wanna be your sunlight Brightening up your day I wanna be your remedy To all your aches and pains I wanna be your paradise The one you dream about I wanna be yours By Jessica Maskell
