Family News Stockport Family info Link’s Newsletter for Parents and Carers ISSUE No. 8 Winter 2012
FAMILY INFORMATION SERVICE
Winter 2012
Contents Page 2
GOV.UK
Page 3
Stockport Women’s Centre
Nursery and Primary Applications
Page 4
Healthy Stockport
Meningitis Trust
Change4life
Don’t forget you can now follow us on
Page 5
Parent Partnership
Facebook and Twitter.
Doing Sport Differently
Search for us ‘@familyinfolink’ on www.twitter.com or
Page 6
Christmas Health Information
‘Like’ us on Facebook ‘Family info Link’.
Page 8
Dates for your Diary
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our newsletters. Family info Link works closely with many organisations in Stockport and we can help put families in touch with services across the borough. In this edition we highlight the support offered by three local organisations: Foodbank (page 2); Stockport Women’s Centre (page 3) and Parent Partnership (page 5). The newsletter also contains a range of health information including details of a new website ‘Healthy Stockport’ and the Christmas opening times of your local health services (page 6 & 7).
Foodbank Advice Services Opening Hours
Home Fire Safety Check
Wishing you a happy and healthy Christmas and New Year.
Family News Stockport is published by Family info Link, Stockport Family Information Service. 23 High Street, Stockport SK1 1EG. Freephone: 0808 800 0606. Email: info@familyinfolink.co.uk Website: www.familyinfolink.co.uk Family info Link provides free, impartial information on childcare and family services.
Foodbank Stockport South foodbank helps feed local people in crisis. They receive food donations of non-perishable, in-date food from schools, churches, businesses and individuals. All food given out by foodbanks is donated. One of the main ways that food is collected is through ‘Supermarket Collections’ and you may see volunteers in your local supermarket handing out lists asking for people to buy a couple of items for local people in crisis. Frontline care professionals identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher. The voucher can then be used at their local foodbank to receive 3 days worth of food. The volunteers can also signpost people onto other agencies for long term help. There are lots of ways to get involved. You can give a regular or one off donation of in date, non-perishable food items. Any food donations need to be brought to the foodbank during opening hours. The service also welcomes volunteers to help sort food, work in the foodbank centre giving food out or help out at supermarket collections. For more information please contact the foodbank on 0161 487 3370 Monday - Friday, office hours only, email them at foodbank@hgbc.org.uk or visit their website: www.stockportsouth.foodbank.org.uk Food Distribution Centres Hazel Grove Baptist Church, SK7 4EX, Mondays 12.30 - 2.30 and Fridays 11.30 - 2.30 (other times by arrangement) Chelwood Baptist Church, SK8 5QA, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10.30 - 12.00
Advice Services opening hours Cheadle & Marple CAB close from 24th December until 2nd January CAB telephone advice closed from 24th December until 2nd January
GOV.UK New Government Website
Christmas Eve Citizens Advice (Fred Perry house), close at 11.00am All Council Direct Local Centres, and Stockport Advice close at 12.00 midday. All advice services closed Christmas day and Boxing day. 27th – 28th December open as normal
GOV.UK is the new place to find government services and information. The website aims to be simpler, clearer and faster for people to use, and is the first step towards a single website for most of government. GOV.UK replaces Directgov and Business Link and has information on a large range of topics including Benefits, Housing, Education, and Employment.
31st December Citizens Advice (Fred Perry house) close at 1.00pm All Council Direct Local Centres, and Stockport Advice close at 3.30pm
Find out more at www.gov.uk
Remember people need a voucher to attend the Foodbank and these are available through Advice Services above.
Page 2
For details of the nearest centres to go to phone: 0161 217 6009 Foodbank The Foodbank is open apart from Christmas day, Boxing day and New Year’s day.
Stockport Women’s Centre is on the move After almost 10 years at Kithera House, The Women’s Centre is in the process of moving to a new home. Kithera House at 19 –21 Greek Street has provided an environment for the charity that has allowed them to grow and flourish but unfortunately they have now outgrown the building. Staying at Kithera House would have seriously limited their abilities to provide more services for the women who use the charity. For this reason the Centre Manager has been looking for suitable premises for the charity to move into. They are very pleased to have found a bigger and more suitable building to move to. They will remain on Greek Street with a new address of 39 Greek Street which was actually formerly used by the Citizens Advice Bureau as it’s town centre location. The new building is both more spacious as well as better maintained and decorated, it also has much improved car parking facilities. Because funding is never guaranteed they have taken on a 2-3 year lease but hope to have many more successful years in their new home. The Women’s Centre offers a counselling and psychotherapy service, domestic abuse surgery, complementary therapies, personal development courses and much more. For more info on what’s available or to contact the Women’s Centre phone 0161 355 4455 or email: admin@stockportwomenscentre.co.uk. Reg. Charity 1119969
Primary School and Nursery places for September 2013 If you are applying for a September 2013 place for your child at a council nursery or primary school you only have a few weeks left to complete your application. • Primary School application closing date 15th January 2013 • Council Nursery application closing date 31st March 2013
Home Fire Safety Check Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service are committed to reducing fire deaths by ensuring that every home in the county has a working smoke alarm. To make certain this happens, Firefighters now carry out FREE Home Fire Safety Checks and fit FREE smoke alarms. For more information and to book a Free Home Fire Safety Check visit the website www.manchesterfire.gov.uk or phone 0800 555 815.
All applications must now be done online at www.stockport. gov.uk. You can use the internet free of charge at any library in Stockport. If you need any support with your online application you can contact Family info Link on Freephone 0808 800 0606.
Page 3
Healthy Stockport Healthy Stockport is a new website with lots of information and advice to help you make positive changes to your health and lifestyle. There are a range of topics including Healthy Eating, Move More and Mental Wellbeing. Take a look at www.healthystockport.co.uk.
Want to know about meningitis? Get a free app or signs and symptoms card
“Every day the UK sees as many as 20 cases of meningitis. The Meningitis Trust is there to support each and every one of these people.” Meningitis is a disease which can strike quickly and kill within hours. There are many more cases of viral meningitis which, whilst less serious, can still make people seriously ill. Babies and children under five are most at risk of meningitis, with over half of all cases occurring in this age group. However, it can affect anyone, of any age, at any time. The symptoms of meningitis include fever with cold hands and feet, vomiting, headache, stiff neck, dislike of bright light, joint or muscle pain, pale blotchy skin, drowsiness, confusion, convulsions and in babies, a dislike of being handled, an unusual cry, rapid breathing and bulging fontanelle. Both adults and children may also have a rash that does not fade under pressure. Symptoms can appear in any order and some may not appear at all. Advice is to always seek urgent medical attention. The Trust is asking people to familiarise themselves with the symptoms of the disease and trust their instincts. A free symptoms download for iPhone and Android is available at www.meningitisapp.co.uk. To request free credit card sized signs and symptoms cards, simply call it’s freephone 24-hour nurse-led helpline on 0808 80 10 388, or visit the website at www.meningitis-trust.org.
Change4life Change4Life are planning an exciting healthy eating campaign that will launch in January - just in time to help with all those New Year resolutions to get fit and healthy! Change4Life will provide a range of tools to help you start to plan meals to avoid expense, complication, and hidden nasties. For more information visit the Change4life website at www.nhs.uk/Change4Life or contact them on 0300 123 4567
Page 4
Stockport Parent Partnership Stockport Parent Partnership Service is a confidential service which provides impartial information, advice and support to all parents and carers of children with special educational needs/disabilities. They provide practical help covering a 0-19 years age range. This might include: attending meetings in school, letter/report writing, explaining the Statutory Assessment process as well as individual support to discuss concerns at any stage. They can put parents in touch with support groups and other appropriate services. Stockport Parent Partnership aims to enable parents and carers to take an active role in the education of children with special educational needs and to ensure that their views are taken into account in planning for their children’s needs. Discussion of issues of concern to parents/carers is promoted through home visits, meetings and in communication with the Local Authority. As well as face to face contact, they keep in touch with parents by phone, email and parents Facebook site ‘For all parents of disabled children in Stockport’. Tel: 0161 286 4230 Email: parentpartnership@togethertrust.org.uk Website: www.togethertrust.org.uk
Doing Sport Differently The London 2012 Paralympic Games were a great success, and it is hoped that these games will inspire more children and young people to take up sports. In order to promote this there is a new resource out called Doing Sport Differently written by and for people with lived experience of disability or health conditions. This guide hopes to inspire disabled people to get active by demonstrating how to overcome barriers to participation and get involved with sports locally. Doing Sport Differently shows the varying ways in which disabled people can engage in sport, be it playing, coaching or watching. It may help inspire you and your children into trying a new sport in the coming weeks. This resource is part of the Doing Life Differently series produced by Disability Rights UK and is free to download at www.radar.org.uk/publications/doing-sport-differently/ Contact Family info Link on 0808 800 0606 if you do not have internet access and would like to receive a copy of this in the post.
Page 5
Christmas Health Information 2012 Self-care Self care is the best choice to treat illnesses and injuries. Make sure you have a well stocked medicine cabinet at home.
NHS Direct
Call 0845 46 47 or visit www.nhsdirect. nhs.uk NHS Direct is available all day, every day of the year for confidential advice if you are ill, or have health concerns about someone close to you.
Pharmacy (Chemist)
Pharmacists are highly trained and can provide advice on common illnesses and the best medicines to treat them all without an appointment. For details of what you can expect from your pharmacy go to www.askyourpharmacist. co.uk
GP (Doctor) If you have an illness or injury that will not go away, make an appointment with your GP.
A&E or 999
A&E at Stepping Hill Hospital is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year for people in a critical or life-threatening situation. If you are unsure whether to go to A&E, please call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 and ask for advice.
Christmas and New Year Opening Hours GP (Doctor) GP practices in Stockport will be closed on the following days: Tuesday 25 December
Wednesday 26 December
Tuesday 1 January
If you need urgent help and advice that cannot wait until your surgery is open, the GP out of hours service will be available by phoning your usual GP and following the instructions.
Pharmacy (Chemist) Most pharmacies will be open as usual except for bank holidays. If your local pharmacy is closed, services can be obtained from the following pharmacies: Lloyds Pharmacy 236 Wellington Rd South Tel: 0161 480 3371 Christmas Day, Boxing Day & New Years Day: 10am - 10pm
Sainsburys Pharmacy London Rd, Hazel Grove Tel: 0161 483 3016 Xmas Day: CLOSED Boxing Day & New Years Day: 10am - 5pm
Sainsburys Pharmacy Wilmslow Rd, Cheadle Tel: 0161 428 9862 Xmas Day: CLOSED Boxing Day & New Years Day: 10am - 5pm
Asda Pharmacy Warren St, Stockport Tel: 0161 429 3718 Xmas Day: CLOSED Boxing Day: 9am - 5pm New Years Day: 10am - 4pm
Boots Pharmacy Merseyway, Stockport Tel: 0161 480 5424 Xmas Day: CLOSED Boxing Day: 8.30am - 6pm New Years Day: 10.30am - 4.30pm
Medichem Pharmacy 34/35 Woodley Precinct Tel: 0161 406 6060 Xmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day: 10am - 3pm
Brinnington Pharmacy Brinnington Health Centre Tel: 0161 494 1114 Xmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day: 9am - 6pm
(Emergency contraception is available at this pharmacy) CASH Contraception & Sexual Health Services
Page 6
Dentist Most dental problems can wait until your usual dentist is open. Your dentist’s answer phone should tell you when they will be open. If you do not have a dentist you can call the Dental Helpline on 0161 476 9649 who can help you. If you have an urgent dental problem during the evening, weekend or bank holiday you can call the out of hours emergency line on 0161 230 6029. Urgent dental care costs £17.50. Please make sure you have this amount of money or your exemption certificate if you attend the emergency clinic.
CASH Contraception & Sexual Health Services Contraception and Sexual Health (CASH) clinics will be closed from: 19th December 2012 – 1st January 2013 (inclusive). Our town centre clinic (The Choices Centre) will be closed for the same period but will provide a clinic for emergency contraception and sexual health issues on: Friday 28th December 9.30am - 11.30am (Emergency clinic, no appointment needed) The Choices Centre, 1, High Bank Side, Stockport SK1 1HG Telephone 0161 426 9677 Appointment booking line number 0161 426 5599 (weekdays 10am -12noon and 1-4pm, closed Bank Holidays, 27, 28 & 31 Dec 10am- 12noon) REMEMBER: The quicker that emergency contraception is taken after sex the more reliable it is. You have 72 hours to get emergency contraceptive tablets or 5 days to get an IUD coil as emergency contraception after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure. Most pharmacies sell emergency contraception (to over 16’s only) at a cost of around £25. Central Youth 1 St Peter’s Square, Stockport, SK1 1NZ Tel. 0161 426 9696 (Young person’s service) This is usually a service for young people, however over Christmas they will see people of any age for emergency contraception services. The opening times over Christmas and New Year are: Mon 17 Dec 12noon-5pm, Tues 18 Dec 1pm-5pm, Wed 19 Dec 1pm-5pm, Thurs 20 Dec 1pm-5pm, Fri 21 Dec 12noon-4.30pm, Sat 22 Dec CLOSED, Sun 23 Dec CLOSED, Mon 24 Dec 10am-2pm, Tues 25 Dec CLOSED, Wed 26 Dec CLOSED, Thurs 27 Dec 1pm-5pm, Fri 28 Dec 12noon - 4.30pm, Sat 29 Dec CLOSED, Sun 30 Jan CLOSED, Mon 31 Jan 10am-2pm, Tue 1 Jan CLOSED. The emergency contraceptive pill is available at all sessions.
Social Care If you need help from social care services over the festive period, please use the following numbers to get in touch: Adults 0161 217 6029 Children & families 0161 217 6028 In an emergency outside opening hours, please contact the Out of Hours service on 0161 718 2118. Mon 24 Dec Open until 12 noon, Tues 25 – Wed 26 Dec CLOSED, Thurs 27 - Fri 28 Dec Open as normal, Mon 31 Dec Open until 3.30pm, Tues 1 Dec CLOSED
Early Pregnancy Unit
5th floor, Women’s Unit, Stepping Hill Hospital. The unit can be contacted on 0161 419 4721 and will be open as follows: Mon 24 Dec 8am-4.30 pm, Tues 25 - Wed 26 Dec CLOSED, Thurs 27 Dec 8am-4.30 pm, Fri 28 Dec 8am-4.30pm, Sat 29 Dec CLOSED, Sun 30 Dec Urgent access only 8-8.30 am Mon 31 Dec 8am-4.30 pm, Tues 1Jan CLOSED We would like to thank Stockport People (Stockport NHS) for their kind permission to reproduce this information.
Page 7
Dates for your Diary Aladdin, Friday 7th December to Sunday 6th January 2013. Plaza, Mersey Square, Stockport
Christmas just isn’t Christmas without a magical carpet ride to the Plaza family pantomime Aladdin starring John Altman known to millions as nasty Nick Cotton, Dave Benson Phillips, Gary Damer and a fantastic supporting cast...this is a yuletide must for the entire family...oh yes it is! Telephone: 0161 477 7779 (booking line) Website: www.stockportplaza.co.uk
Saturday 15th December. Merseyway, Stockport Elves Workshop ‘Elf Yourself’ plus Puppet Show and Stage Acts.
Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th December. The Hatworks, Christmas Baubles at the Hat Works Come to this popular craft session and make some stunning Christmas decorations for your tree. Suitable for ages 5 – 11, 10.30am – 12 noon and 1pm – 2.30pm, £3.50, Leisure Key £3, Booking Essential. Tel: 0161 474 2400
Sunday 16th December. A Christmas Cracker With Santa, Bramhall Park, Bramhall, Stockport
A Christmas Cracker with Santa! A very special event – magicians, jugglers, bell ringers and many more entertainers around the House. A day filled with the spirit of a traditional Christmas. Tickets to Santa Claus will be limited and timed to avoid overcrowding and long queues. This is suitable for all ages, Prices to be confirmed, 11am - 4 pm. Booking Essential
Saturday 22nd December. Merseyway, Stockport Snowglobe Ice Pixies plus Stage Acts
Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th December. The Hatworks, Drop in Hat Making
Make and decorate your own hat. Pick up your materials from reception and get creative on the gallery floor! Suitable for all ages. Saturday 10am till 4pm and Sunday 11am till 4pm. For these free sessions just drop in. Tel: 0161 474 2400
Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th December. The Hatworks, Story Time at Hat Works Listen to stories in the Yurt told by demonstrator Sue Lea. Suitable for ages 3 – 11 years Starts at 12 noon. Just drop in for these free sessions. Tel: 0161 474 2400
Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th December. Stockport Air Raid Shelters, Children’s Tours
Step back in time as the story of ‘Nat the Hatter’ unfolds. Discover how hats were made, experience the noisy machinery floor and learn what it was like to be a hatter’s apprentice! Suitable for ages 5 – 11 years. 2.30pm – 3.30pm. £2.50 per child, accompanying adults £1.50. Booking Essential. Tel: 0161 474 2400 Feedback: We welcome your feedback on this edition of Family News Stockport. Please contact us with any comments or suggestions for future editions on 0808 800 0606 or Email: info@familyinfolink.co.uk If you would like this publication in large print, Braille, on audio tape or disk, please Tel: 0808 800 0606 or Email: info@familyinfolink.co.uk Although every effort is made to ensure information in Family News Stockport is accurate, Family info Link cannot accept responsibility for errors arising from information we have been given. Views expressed in the newsletter are not necessarily those of Family info Link staff and parents and carers are advised to carry out their own checks of services.
Page 8
FAMILY INFORMATION SERVICE
Family info Link is a service of Family Link Stockport Registered Charity No. 1079948 Registered Company No. 3896754