Spring 2015
Buzy Little Bees and their BUGGS garden New Broadwater garden scheme keeps little fingers occupied! see pages 14 and 15
“What’s the BUZZ?”
Buzz
Welcome to the Spring issue of Broadwater BUZZ.
We hope you find it full of interesting and useful information. Remember this is your community magazine for Ramslye and Showfields, so if you have anything you want to include we’d love to hear from you! Contact us at magazine@tchg.org.uk
We hope to hear from you soon
P9
Pop
The Broadwater BUZZ Team
P4 The ‘Young at Heart’ Club
P5 P8
‘Skip it’ Day at Showfields
and
P6 Number One Pre-school officially ‘Good”! FREE Weight Loss Course
2 Broadwater BUZZ ‘What’s the BUZZ?’
P18
De
P10 – P13
p in to Café Refresh
Caring for an older relative
BUGGS P14 & 15
P16 & 17 Pet Corner
P22 & 23
8 – P20
ebt Advice
Healthy Living
Including
Spring 2015
P24
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Whats on? In the sunny summer months you can look forward to trips to the coast and local places of interest such as nearby public gardens! The Young at Heart Club meet every Thursday between 10am and 12 noon at Broadmead Church. After the mornings events a delicious lunch is provided at Café Refresh, which anyone who wants to can attend.
The ‘Young at Heart Club’ could be for you Are you over 50 and looking for something new to take up in 2015? The Young at Heart Club is a group for the over 50’s living in Ramslye and Showfields to meet likeminded people and get involved with different activities each week. These can range from quizzes, board games and bingo to guest talks and film showings.
How to join The club is open to everyone and to become a member, all you need is a desire to meet others and enjoy a lovely morning out! If you would like to join the group but have difficulty getting to-andfrom the meetings transport to the church can be arranged. For more details please leave your details in the post box in the foyer of the Community Centre.
We hope to see you soon!
Quiz Nights are creating a Buzz in Broadwater! The No1 Social Committee is delighted to announce dates for a new bi-monthly community quiz night at the Community Centre. A £6 entry price per person includes food with tea or coffee! The first quiz night was held in
January, with another planned for Saturday 9th May. Why not bring friends or family down to the centre for a fun evening out!
4 Broadwater BUZZ ‘What’s the BUZZ?’
‘Skip it’ Day! A team of Town & Country Housing staff recently held a ‘Skip-it Day’ and litter pick in Showfields, Tunbridge wells, to tackle the over flowing bins, untidy communal areas and removal of dog mess from the grassed areas.
Flytipping Report flytipped waste online at www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk/residents/report-it/ Report-Flytipping Report flytipped waste blocking a road Report it online or call our highways team on 03000 41 81 81. If you see someone flytipping Call the police on 999 if you see flytipping happening. In all cases, give as much detail as possible: the location, vehicle make, model and registration number, a description of the offender and a description of the rubbish. Remember Do not put yourself in any danger! Penalties Courts can fine people up to £50,000 and put them in prison for up to 5 years.
Spring 2015
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Community news
Number One pre-school officially a ‘good’ school! It was smiles all round as Ofsted awarded the Number One Community Pre-School its first ever ‘good’ grading following a surprise visit in October! Chairman of Trustees, Adrian Cory said, “This is an amazing achievement by the team, with an improved rating from ‘inadequate’ to ‘good’ in less than two years. We can see how happy and well the children are doing at school and the parents are happy too. This official report just confirms it.” Co-manager Michelle Kerwin added, “Since the last Ofsted, we tackled the areas it outlined for improvement and have been on training,
leadership and management courses. We are delighted with the latest Ofsted feedback.” The report praised Number One for its “stimulating and interesting learning environment” and its “good quality resources” children can benefit from. Well done to everyone involved! If you would like your child to attend the pre-school, please get in touch with one of the team at the centre, call 07747 052348 or email preschoolcommunity@gmail.com.
6 Broadwater BUZZ ‘What’s the BUZZ?’
St Mark’s School is rated ‘Outstanding!’
Training opportunities at Number One
Following their Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) St Mark’s school are delighted to announce that they have been judged as ‘outstanding’ in all areas!
Are you unemployed or a low earner and Interested in training for work or personal development? The Number One Community Trust is working with Kent Adult Education to provide free training to adults over the age of 19 on a wide range of subjects such as:
The inspector observed R.E. lessons, an act of worship, he spoke to many children, parents and governors and was very impressed with what he heard and saw. Congratulations, St Marks!
• • • • •
New Trustee for Number One!
•
The Number One Community Trust is delighted to welcome a new Trustee to its Board of Directors. Sam Sprigge was appointed in November last year to lead the vital work of raising essential funds which enables the charity to serve the local community. Sam brings over 20 years experience to the Community Trust. Most recently he worked with School-Home support - a national charity that works with schools to help families of disadvantaged children. Look out for a ‘Buzz Around Town’ interview with Sam in the near future!
Spring 2015
F ood hygiene, first aid, health and safety in the workplace Basic IT courses Volunteering skills Work preparation and self-employment skills Raising awareness of deafness, visual impairment and dementia Introduction courses in: working in catering, customer services, health and social care, gardening, business admin, working with older people, working with children etc.
To find out more, contact Jamie Johnson by leaving a message at the Number One Community Centre on 01892 545261 or email hazysavannah@aol.com.
Is your child in year 5? Would he/she benefit from free tuition to prepare for the 11+ exam? We are providing free local classes with a professional tutor. Staring April (5.15-6.45pm) term time and holiday sessions. Limited places so enquire now! For information when the tuition starts contact Zoë on 07932 740 171 or email zoebrowne@hotmail.com
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Community news Good and not so good news from Number One
Working for Showfields and Ramslye
The good news... The Trust has taken on three new paid staff at Café Refresh! Pop by for a freshly brewed coffee or to try one of our many tasty home-cooked meals! The not so good news... Unfortunately, the Big Lottery Fund has turned down our request for funding for our scheme to help people find work through volunteering and training at the Trust.
Free Weight Loss Course coming to Broadwater Diets tend to be something that you start then stop after a short period as often they’re not realistic long term. This often results in any weight loss going straight back on! The ‘Weight For It’ course is about realistic and longterm lifestyle changes - not short term fixes. This FREE, ten week weight loss programme is for adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) equal to or greater than 28. Each session covers a different topic and includes a presentation to the group with hand-outs, leaflets, recipes. This is also an opportunity to discuss any specific issues that members of the group may have.
When and where? Venues and times around the borough change every quarter. We’ll be starting 10-11.30am at Broadwater Library on Monday the 20th of April for 10 weeks. To book your place please call Stuart Smith on 01892 554201 or you can email him at stuart.smith@tunbridgewells.gov.uk. The courses are held on alternative days and at different venues to find out more go to: www. tunbridgewells.gov.uk/residents/ improving-health/choose-health
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Hungry? Why not pop in to Café Refresh At the heart of the Number One Community Centre you will find Paul and his team hard at work running the successful Café Refresh. Just three years ago, Paul took on the challenge to rebuild the café, (which had been closed for 18 months). “It was difficult at the start as the reputation of the last café was not good. Town & Country Housing helped us repaint and tidy up the space to offer local residents an opportunity to volunteer in the café.” Paul is very proud that they cook everything to order, “Nothing is pre-cooked so that the quality of the food keeps the locals coming back seven days a week.” An average day can see 60 to 80 people enjoying a bite to eat and with a freshly cooked roast dinner and dessert costing £5.50, it’s easy to see why.
Spring 2015
The Team from left: Jo Hayley, Ali, Shell, Paul and Kye
Over the last three years Paul has gradually been able to offer some of the local volunteers paid employment, and now has a team of 7 volunteers and 5 paid staff aged between 16 and 80 with Hayley being the new trainee chef. All staff have food hygiene certificates. For the past 2 years a 5 star Food Hygiene Rating has been achieved! Café Refresh based at Number 1 Community Centre, 1 Rowan Tree Road, Tunbridge Wells is open 7 days a week, Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm and 9am to 2pm Saturday and Sunday. Paul and his team look forward to seeing you!
Pictured left A regular customer enjoying some quiet time and a cuppa!
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Caring for an older relative
Mum having a fall, Dad having a stroke, Gran developing dementia… all events that suddenly make us leap into action so that we adapt to caring for an older relative. But how can families cope when they live a distance from their ageing relatives? Equally, when elderly relatives are living close by, we will still worry about them during the night, or during the day when they are alone. The specialist advice website myageingparent.com has published an online guide to the types of support and services which are now available to keep an eye on our loved ones – including the latest generation of support technologies that will help transform the way Britain looks
after its ageing population in the years to come.
Mobile phones Mobile phones can be a great help in everyone’s life, especially when going out, but we don’t all have the manual dexterity and eyesight needed to use them comfortably. Look out for phones such as the PhoneEasy by manufacturers Doro. These can have a small selection of important numbers, or an emergency button which contacts a list of people that you set up.
Smartphones and tablets Encouraging older people to start using email, Facebook, Skype etc offers enormous benefits, but patience may be needed if the person has no previous computer
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experience. Focus on one thing at time over a reasonable period to re-enforce the operation(s). Grandchildren may well be more successful than you in introducing new technology, and tablets are generally easier for older people to use as they’re more intuitive.
Telephone monitoring Call services from companies like “3rings”, will get in touch with your relative on a regular basis during the course of each day to check the person is OK – sending you text or email updates or alerts.
Personal alarm monitors These are excellent for those who are prone to falls. A pendant or wrist strap is worn which has a red button that can be pressed in an emergency. This is linked to a call centre and, who will contact emergency services if necessary. Clever new products are now being added all the time, which can monitor the home (for CO2, room temperature, fire or water) or the person’s vital signs (body temperature, movement or heart rate) and let the carer or care service know.
Fall detectors An increasing number of devices and apps will send out alerts if a fall happens – either in or outside the home, providing alerts and GPS positioning.
Spring 2015
GPS monitoring For families concerned about someone with dementia, GPS trackers can have boundaries set and alerts sent should your loved ones go outside the house or garden for instance. Whilst there have been concerns expressed about the “Big Brother” aspect of this, many families will welcome the peace of mind these provide. For more information check out www.myageingparent.com
Good neighbours helping the elderly Good Neighbours aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people aged over 65 in Tunbridge Wells, enabling the elderly and often socially isolated to stay independent. The team works alongside Social Services, GPs and other professional agencies and offers additional and complementary help such as a befriending scheme, including a home visiting service for those who are unable to leave their home without assistance.
For more information Call 01892 510200 or email info@ goodneighbourproject.org.uk.
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Caring for an older relative Helping elderly to take their medication safely Many older people do not know how to take medicines safely and can often get confused. Here are a few handy tips to help:
Keep a list Keep a list of medicines your older relative is given and what they are for. We all have medicines in our cupboards, which we cannot remember the uses for and this can be dangerous. It also helps to keep a list in case your relative is taken into hospital or has to see an emergency doctor. Include any supplements taken in this list as well, as they can affect medication. Use this list to record any allergies, your relative’s blood type and any contraindications to certain drugs, such as penicillin.
Take medicine as prescribed It is really important to follow the dosage prescribed by the doctor. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget if you’ve taken a tablet. Pill dispensers (such as pictured below) can be very handy for this purpose and will remind your relative when and how many tablets to take. You can pre-load these for them. It can also help to write larger labels and to colour code medicines as helpful reminders of how and when to take them.
If a dose is missed If your relative misses a dose, they should take it as soon as they remember.
12 Broadwater BUZZ ‘What’s the BUZZ?’
Clear out expired medicine from cabinets or drawers It is very important to throw out expired medicine, so do a quarterly check.
Store medicine correctly Make sure medicines are stored at the specified temperature and refrigerated if necessary.
Try to use the same pharmacy If you use the same pharmacy, the pharmacist will know your elderly relatives requirements and prescriptions. It takes away a great deal of hassle and it’s good for an older person to feel they can go somewhere where they will be recognised and someone understands their problems.
Renewing prescriptions Many older people need repeat prescriptions of drugs, so keep an eye on how many they have left so they do not need to get more as an emergency, which may mean they go without key medication, if they cannot see the doctor that day. If you are ever concerned about your elderly relative’s medication, call their GP or pharmacist or contact NHS Direct.
For more information Visit www.myageingparent.com
Spring 2015
It is a good idea for elderly relatives to use the same pharmasist, as they will know their individual requirements and prescriptions. This also reassures them that they can go somewhere they will be recognised and someone will understands their needs and problems.
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BUGGS Have you caught the BUGGS? BUGGS (Broadwater Urban Garden Giving Scheme) is a new gardening project. Our aim? To make Broadwater more beautiful with flower power. The first BUGGS action day was in November last year at Broadwater Primary School where the pupils joined the BUGGS to start creating their ‘serenity zone’ in the school grounds. The day started with an assembly talking about the BUGGS and playing a flower pollination game. We then went to the outdoor classroom and cleared an area of brambles where we hope to see bluebells and snowdrops peeping out this spring! The children plan to make this into an area for quiet reflection with hammocks and comfy cushions.
BUGGS have had three more Flying Squad action days so far this year. If you walk past the butterfly garden at Willow Tree Road you can see the difference we made with some weeding and a few extra plants. We also helped out some Broadwater neighbours by raking up leaves, weeding and pruning for an older lady who was finding it increasingly difficult to keep her front garden neat and tidy, as well as a resident who loves taking care of the garden but had broken her foot and was finding it hard to walk. It’s great to be part of something bigger; helping your neighbours and being a part of your community makes you feel GOOD! Inspired? You could join in on the next BUGGS action day where we will be helping more locals including working in the Number One Pre-School garden.
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Next action days: Saturday’s 18 April and 16 May from 11am to 2pm and Wednesday 3 June 10am to 3pm. Meet outside the Number One Community Centre or call me Sarah Tree at the Kent High Weald Partnership on 07786 191 312 to find out where we are!
We hope to see you there!
Spring 2015
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Pet corner Does you pet drink like a fish? Increased drinking can be an early warning sign of a range of diseases, so if you are filling up your pets water bowl more frequently, it is time to make an appointment with your local vet for a general check-up. Excessive thirst can indicate diseases ranging from liver or kidney diseases, to diabetes and other hormonal conditions (including Cushing’s disease in dogs and hyperthyroidism in cats). Infections can also cause increased drinking, particularly pyometra (a womb infection in an unsprayed bitch) which also causes signs of illness and lethargy. As well as giving your pet a thorough clinical examination your vet may suggest urine and blood tests as they are very helpful in making a diagnosis. The good news is that with treatment, the symptoms of many of the conditions mentioned above will ease, hopefully preventing or slowing the progression of the disease. If you are at all worried about your pet it is best to get professional advice from your local vet.
Pet insurance
are you covered? Pet insurance is so important and for a small amount per month you will have piece of mind that your pet can receive treatment in its hour of need. Here are a couple of examples of treatments types and their costs: A common injury in medium to large dog breeds is rupture of the cruciate (knee) ligament with surgical treatment costing anything upwards of £1500. In cats, treatment is often needed for an overactive thyroid gland, ranging from life long medication to radioactive iodine treatment – which can cost in excess of £2000! Having pet insurance enables you to make any treatment decision on a need rather than cost basis don’t take any chances get them insured today!
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Regularly grooming your pet - the benefits
It is a good idea to perform some form of routine grooming yourself. Get your pet used to you giving them a general check-over by examining their ears, eyes, teeth, and feet. By doing this you can better detect at an early stage any potential health problems. If you find anything of concern consult your local vet immediatley.
Parasites For most pet owners these need no introduction but here are the two main culprits to look out for: Fleas: As well as looking for these tiny pests, keep and eye out for signs of brown flea ‘dirt’ which also indicates their presence. Fleas are a major cause of skin problems in pets and can also bite humans! Ticks: can transfer disease to your pet when they latch on to feed on their blood, namely Lyme disease (this can affect both pets and humans). Regular groom and remove ticks with a ‘tick hook’ then follow with a treatment product to kill or repel the ticks - keeping up this regime will prevent tick borne diseases in our pets.
Spring 2015
Grass seeds These are easily trapped in the coats of pets, especially dogs. They often migrate and become lodged in a variety of places including the ears, eyes and between the toes. Regular grooming – especially after walks, is helpful in preventing problems with grass seeds.
Lumps and swellings If you find a skin lump on your pet, there are several possible underlying causes – these include abscesses, hernias and tumours. Tumours can be benign (often slow growing, remaining in one place) or potentially cancerous – which invade the surrounding tissues and may also spread to other parts of the body. If you find any lumps or swellings have them investigated by your local vet as soon as possible. Timing is everything and delay in appropriate treatment can be the difference between a small treatable mass and one that is far more difficult to treat. So remember to groom your pet regulalry and maintain your guard against fleas and ticks and grass seeds!
With thanks to Dacre House Veterinary Clinic for the helpful advice and information contained within these articles.
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Debt advice Are your finances getting out of hand? If you find yourself struggling or worried about finances, take the time to review your bank balance, set budgets and get your finances in order.
“ The Christmas festivities may be over but are you still paying?”
When you do get money in you must make sure you deal with any urgent debts first. Some debts are more urgent than others because the consequences of not paying them can be more serious. These debts are called priority debts and include things like mortgage, rent and council tax. As well as priority debts, you may have other nonpriority debts. These include: • benefits overpayments
If you have a problem with debt, it’s important not to panic but don’t ignore it either – it won’t go away! To deal with a debt problem, you will need to:•
s ort out how much money you owe
•
ork out which are the w most urgent debts for you to pay off
•
ork out if you’ve got any w money to pay your debts off and, if so, how much
•
eal with the most urgent d debts as a matter of priority
•
l ook at your options for dealing with the less urgent debts and work out how to pay them off
• m oney borrowed from friends or family
•
ontact your creditors c and make arrangements to pay back what you owe
• parking penalties issued by local authorities
•
ork out your options if w you don’t have enough money to pay off all your debts.
• c redit debts eg overdrafts, loans, HP, credit card accounts and catalogues
• student loans
18 Broadwater BUZZ ‘What’s the BUZZ?’
TOP TIPS for getting back on track Forget takeaway and ready made meals By cooking meals from scratch you can save a huge amount on your weekly shopping bill. Instead of takeaway pizza try buying pizza bases, tomato puree, cheese and a selection of fresh veg for a healthy and cheaper alternative.
Save money and get fit Walk instead of taking the bus or parking in the car park, you’ll save money and be fitter in the process.
Buy a water bottle Try not to buy drinks when you are out and about, take a water bottle or flask out with you instead. Canned and bottled drinks may only cost a few pounds but how much could you save over a week, month or year?
Make lunch Some people spend around £5 a day on lunch and over the course of a year that could add up to £1200. By making your own sandwich and using a refillable bottle you could save up to £1000.
Cut the cost of fuel bills. Shop around for the best deal on your gas and electric. if you think the price is good you can opt to fix for several years to help you budget.
Spring 2015
Install a water meter A water meter allows you to only pay for the water you use. If you have a big home with few occupants you may be surprised to learn you could halve your annual bill.
Cut your phone bills If you have a phone at home there are many cheaper alternatives that package your telephone, television and broadband access, some that offer low-cost alternatives using your existing BT line. When your mobile phone contract comes to an end, instead of upgrading to the latest model keep your existing phone and choose a cheaper monthly package. Alternatively you can buy phones for less than £10 and top up with a pay- as-you-go voucher.
Make a shopping list Plan what food and household items you need before you go shopping. Supermarkets are designed to encourage the shopper to spend more with their special offers. Food shopping online is a great way to see how much you are spending and work out if you really need to buy all the things you have put in the basket before you check out!
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Debt advice TOP TIPS for getting back on track Sell your clutter
Shop around for cheaper insurance Before you automatically renew your car, house or building insurance take a look at other providers. Use a comparison site to check out the deals. You will be surprised how much you can save by switching.
‘One man’s trash is another man’s treasure’. Take this quick test: Open a cupboard. Look inside. If it’s full of clothes you haven’t worn, or haven’t used for three years you don’t need them. Why not sell them to someone else who does? ebay is quite well-known and popular now, give it a try!
Learn to say ‘No’ Just one more drink in the pub, just one more packets of sweets for the kids, just one more takeaway this week, all these little items can add up over the course of a month. Try saying ‘No’ a few times and see how much you can save.
Understanding Universal Credit Universal Credit is replacing certain benefits in parts of the UK and you may be able to claim if you’re on a low income or out of work. It is paid differently from current benefits – once a month, usually into your bank or building society account. Contact the Money Advice Service for help budgeting and planning for Universal Credit at www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk. If you find your debt over whelming you can get debt advice from:
West Kent Debt Advice 01732 300425 www.wkda.org.uk Citizens Advice Bureau 08444 111 444 www.adviceguide.org.uk National Debt Line 0808 808 4000 www.nationaldebtline.org Step Change Freephone 0800 138 1111 www.stepchange.org Town & Country Housing (residents) 01892 501480 www.tchg.org.uk
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What’s the BUZZ? We want YOUR input
Broadwater Buzz
If you have any ideas for articles in future issues of or have a community event you would like to tell us about then please contact us by email at magazine@tchg.org.uk
Indoor Sports activities at Showfields Hall We are hoping to arrange some indoor sports activities which will be held in the Showfields Hall. Please email onecommunity@btconnect.com if you would like to play badminton (all ages), or participate in boxing or soft football (these are both youth activites).
Ramslye’s new play area is opening! Don’t miss the opening of the new play area on 16th April 12noon - 2pm. FREE BBQ, refreshments and entertainment.
Spring 2015
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Healthy Living What’s in Season There are a number of good reasons to eat more local, seasonal food: •
•
t o avoid paying a premium for food that is scarcer or has travelled a long way uts down on carbon emissions c caused by transporting food.
•
to support the local economy
•
ating with the seasons has e many health benefits
Most importantly ... seasonal food is fresher and so tends to be tastier and more nutritious!
In Spring An abundance of tasty vegetables are available – here are a few examples, have a look to see what’s on sale at your local green grocer.
Beetroot
Broccoli
Cabbage
Brussel sprouts
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celeriac
Celery
Garlic
Leeks
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Onions Pumpkin
Parsnip
Potatoes
Red Cabbage
Squash Swede Pomegranate
Clementines Cranberries Satsumas
Kale
Spinach Apples Pears Tangerines
Ingredients l 50g butter l 1 tbsp olive oil l 1 large onion, peeled and chopped l 750g beetroot, cut into small pieces l 750ml vegetable or chicken stock l Sea Salt l Freshly ground pepper
Recipe Beetroot Soup Serves 6 people for under £2.00 Prep: 15 minutes Cooking: 45 minutes
Method Soften onion in butter and oil, adding the cumin seeds. Add beetroot chunks and then the stock. Simmer for 30 minutes, or until the beetroot is tender. Puree, return to the pan and season. Serve with a swirl of crème fraîche or yogurt and a few toasted cumin seeds.
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How to choose your beetroot The beetroot should be firm, smooth, and a bright red-purple, not soft, wrinkled or dull. Fresh beets with the greens attached can be stored for 3-4 days in the fridge, but if the greens are removed can be stored in the fridge for a longer period 2-4 weeks.
Nutritional highlights
The Beetroot
Beetroot has amazing nutritional content, especially the greens (which can be cooked up and enjoyed in the same way as spinach) as they are rich in calcium, iron and vitamins A and C. Beets are an excellent source of folic acid, fibre, manganese and potassium.
How to cook Wash the beets gently, making sure that you don’t tear the skins, then place in a pan of warm water, bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer until tender – around 20–30 minutes. Alternatively, you can steam whole beetroot or bake them in the oven for 2–3 hours at 150°C/gas mark 2.
How to juice gently under Tip: Wash beets er, taking cool running wat the skin. care not to tear ter layer It is this tough ou most of the that helps keep ents inside beetroot’s pigm The leaves the vegetable. lightly to can be steamed tional quality. retain their nutri etroot, leave When boiling be eir root the beets with th ch of stem ends and one in don’t peel attached and cooking since them until after stain your skin. beet juice can
Spring 2015
Juicing one small raw beetroot with the skin on, one green apple and two carrots makes a wonderful healthy drink. Why not freeze the juice as lollies for the children as a healthy and tasty alternative. Safety: For some people, eating beetroot may induce beeturia; a red or pink colour in the urine or stool. It is totally harmless! Beet greens and, to a lesser extent, the roots contain high levels of oxolate. those with a history of oxalate-containing kidney stones should avoid eating large amounts of beetroot.
Tip: If your hands become stained during preparation and , cooking beetroot rub some lemon juice over them to help remove the colour.
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Buzz around town For this issue we meet up with Leo, a lovely lady who works for a charity organisation at the heart of our community that has just celebrated its 75th birthday… That’s right, Leo volunteers at the local Citizens Advice Bureau!
BB Could you tell us what kind of issues people can come to you for help with? Leo
eople come to us with P many different issues, which may vary from debt, to helping with benefits, housing, consumer problems and more. As a general adviser from an organisation like the CAB I like to think that if we do not have the information, there will always be someone we can refer to for help.
BB How did the CAB celebrate its 75th year as a charity? Leo The CAB recently celebrated its 75th year, but like many others it is battling for funding and this year we have had many well-attended fundraising events organised by our loyal volunteers, including a
Charity Fair held at the Adult Education Centre. Without fundraising events it would be very difficult to continue the service we currently give. This said, we are still going strong after 75 years and that is not a bad record. BB You’ve been working with the CAB for 10 years now, what aspect of your role do you enjoy most? Leo I find my regular visits to places like the Number One Community Centre so rewarding as it allows me to have some continuity with my clients - as we don’t have to explain the issues over again. Not to mention how lovely it is to hear how things are going especially if we have helped in some small way.
Would you like to know more? To meet Leo for free, confidential advice, simply stop by the Number One Community Centre every other Wednesday (check our events page) 10am to 12 noon. Alternatively you can call 01892 533880 or email at advice@twcab.cabnet.org.uk for help.
24 Broadwater BUZZ ‘What’s the BUZZ?’