PAWS April – Child’s Play to radio host

Rachel Sloane
Our speaker for April was Rachel Sloane, a well-known radio presenter for Radio Suffolk.

Rachel started her working career as a nursery nurse on a children’s ward in Ipswich and was then asked by Radio Orwell to do a weekly feature on children.  For the next 4 years she did a 15-minute slot called ‘Childs Play’.  She was so successful at this that she was then asked to present a two-hour programme in the early morning, which dealt with current affairs and involved phone-in spots.  The phone calls were vetted by a team of telephonists, who then advise as to who should be put through to the live programme.  Inevitably some people who phone in are abusive or just boring, so Rachel quickly learnt how to terminate the call.  After 9 years with Radio Orwell, Rachel joined BBC Radio Suffolk and presented ‘Talk About’, which was a magazine programme, and later ‘Public Eye’, which was a consumer programme.  After 23 years as a radio presenter and producer she set up her own company with the help of her retired policeman husband, called Rachel Sloane Partnerships Ltd.  The company trains people in public speaking, hosts conferences and provides keynote speakers for various events.

During her career Rachel has interviewed a variety of people and groups and has had some very funny and embarrassing moments, and has occasionally had to ad lib to save inappropriate language and behaviour on live programmes.  She now steps in to host the morning programme on Radio Suffolk when she is not helping on cruises or organising events.

Rachel stayed to talk to members in the refreshment break.

Our next get together is on 27th May when P. Parker will be our speaker with the subject of “Wheelchair to Windsurfer”.  Currently membership is full but visitors are very welcome at the cost of £3.50 which includes refreshments.

Details of all our meetings and speakers can be found on the diary of the home page of this website.  If you would like further information about P.A.W.S please ring one of the following committee members: Alice Holmes 01206 735510, Jane Banks 01206 735004 or Jane Anderson 01206 735505.

 

 

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Green Open Homes

green open homesSave £££ and win – visit Green Open Homes during May

On Saturdays and Sundays / weekends from 3 – 15 May, 20 local householders will be opening their homes to the public as part of Colchester’s Green Open Homes.  Find out how easy it is to cut hundreds of pounds from your energy bills by installing energy saving measures, from low cost to bigger investments. Plus win shopping vouchers just by visiting one of the Green Open Homes. The event will be a great opportunity for visitors to see first-hand how various environmental and renewable technologies work, such as solar panels and air source heat pumps.  See the technologies in use in real homes discuss with the householders the practicalities and benefits for them.

  • How much did the installation cost and how simple was it?
  • What effect has it had on their fuel bills?
  • Are the sales claims realistic?

Visit www.colchester.greenopenhomes.net or contact the organizers, en-form, on 01206 367776 or [email protected] for locations and opening details.

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CBC Delivery of Black Bags

Black sacksIn an earlier news update we advised that a roll of 52 black bags should be delivered to every household by the end of May.  We have now heard that because CBC have been let down by their bag suppliers the dates are going back. Instead of deliveries in Winstred Hundred happening in w/c 6th May it will now be w/c 27th May.  The date for complaining yours haven’t come goes back from 20th June to 11th July.

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Making Connections in the Wigoroughs

St Stephen’s Church, Great Wigborough, is hosting a series of events between May 16th – 18th to encourage local residents to get to know each other.  

Friday 16th May – Meet Your Neighbours

Meet over drinks and canapés – tower opens 6:30 – 8:30pm.

Saturday 17th May – Puppets come to Tea

This family oriented activity is a family event for all ages starting at 3pm – free tickets are available from Louise – call 735136.

Sunday 18th May – Café-style service

Faith stories from local ministers at 4pm.

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NHS NE Essex Care Strategy

ne-essex-ccgThe NE Essex CCG have recently published a new strategy for caring for adults, their families and carers who are facing conditions with limited life expectancy.  This is part of a whole series of initiatives designed to customise NHS Service Provision for NE Essex’s needs – more can be found on their website at www.neessexccg.nhs.uk.

Part of the introduction of this end-of-life strategy document makes clear its objectives:

This document is a 5 year strategy detailing the future commissioning of end of life services across the health and social care economy. The document identifies the importance of raising the profile of achieving ‘a good death’ and putting mechanisms in place to achieve this.

The Department of Health End of Life Care Strategy acknowledges that there are many challenges to be overcome to ensure that everyone attains ‘a ‘good death’ irrespective of their background. The focus for the North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group End of Life Strategy is to ensure that all patients achieve ‘a good death’ and their families and carers feel supported.

The full document can be downloaded here – NE Essex CCG End of life strategy 2014.

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Cancer Drop-In Day

We Are Macmillan Cancer SupportFree Health And Wellbeing Event For People Living With And Beyond Cancer

Colchester’s Mayor Cllr Colin Sykes, and his wife Cllr Laura Sykes, will open the event at 10.30am

For the first time in North Essex and surrounding areas cancer patients and their families who are living with and beyond cancer are being invited to a free health and wellbeing drop in cancer information day taking place on Saturday 26 April at the St John’s Community Centre, St John’s Close, Colchester, CO4 OHP between 10.30am and 3.30pm to find out about all there is available for those affected by cancer.  There will be free parking and refreshments. Macmillan Cancer Support and Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust have joined forces to host this major cancer event to provide people, who have undergone or completed treatment for cancer, no matter how long ago or for what type of cancer, with the opportunity to find out about what support, information, advice and facilities are available, to help them adjust to life with, and beyond, cancer. This event is linked to a new Self-Managed After Care service launched on the 1st April by the Trust and Macmillan Cancer that will provide one of the most comprehensive support and information services to cancer patients and their families in the UK. The event is funded by Macmillan Cancer and supported by more than 20 local organisations such as Macmillan Welfare Benefits, CHAPS – Men’s Health, Age UK, Breast Care, St Helena Hospice, Health Professionals, Equipment Suppliers, Cancer Support Groups, Marie Curie, St John’s Church Community Centre, Essex Carer Support and many more. The day will include four 45 minute presentations and question times on Benefits Advice, Counselling, Men’s Health, Physiotherapy & Exercise.

Peter Carrington, Lead Volunteer at the Macmillan Cancer Support, Drop-In & Information Centre, based at Essex County Hospital, said:

 We are encouraging people and their families affected by cancer to come along to the event, so they are better informed about how they can make a positive difference to their every-day life. No one with cancer should have to face it alone; they should have easy access to high quality care, treatment, information and support, to meet their medical, practical, emotional and financial needs. Research has shown how important health and wellbeing is to the recovery and long-term health of cancer patients. For more information please phone 01206 744401.

Debbie Farthing, Macmillan Information & Support Manager said:

The cancer journey can be a particularly difficult time for many patients and their families and they need to know there is a robust safety net of support throughout diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, rehabilitation and beyond enabling them to return to everyday life and activities. This event will empower people to live more independently knowing our support and help is always available no matter when on how they need our help. We meet or talk to approximately 5,000 people, families and health professional per year and give out 18,000 plus information booklets with 309 patients and their families receiving on-going daily support from our volunteers with fast track access to health professionals where needed.

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East of England Ambulance Request

nhs-ambulance-feedbackThe East of England AMbulance Service are inviting feedback, if you have any comments (good or bad) to offer them, for example, on subjects such as:

  • Staff attitude,
  • Accidents,
  • Waiting times,
  • Damage to property.

Then either

Phone : 0800 028 3382

Email : [email protected]

Write : Patient Services Team, East of England Ambulance Service, Bedford Office,
Hammond Road, Bedford, MK41 0RG

 

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Run a stall at Peldon Festival 2014?

This year’s Peldon Festival is on Saturday 14th June. As usual we have Punch & Judy, animals, food, stalls, games etc.

We have also booked some craft stalls but are looking for local people who may want a stall and wonder if you know of anyone?  Maybe a couple of people want to share a stall?

Could you please put anyone in touch with me on this email [email protected] or 01206 735505 Or Kate on [email protected] or 01206 736043.

It would be nice to get local people involved. We are always needing help on the day, so if you fancy a day out let me know!

Jane Anderson

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Job Vacancy – Community Agents

Community Agents Essex

Four Voluntary and Community Sector organisations have come together and formed a partnership to deliver a new and targeted service to help older people in Essex. The “Community Agents Essex” service will create a countywide network of agents and volunteers who will support older people and informal carers to find and develop independent living solutions from within their local community.

Community Agent (24 posts)

  • Salary £8.26 per hour plus travelling expenses
  • Flexible working hours between 10 and 20 hours per week (Minimum 10 hours)

We are looking for Community Agents to operate in all parts of Essex. Full training and support will be provided but you will need to know your own locality well.  Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they can proactively engage with and support older people in the community often on a one to one basis. Working as part of a team you must have excellent spoken and written communication skills and possess the ability to solve problems. You must have good IT skills, a full driving licence and use of your own car.

All appointments will be subject to a DBS check.

Interviews for these posts will be held on 12th and 13th May 2014

The closing date for all applications is: 2nd May 2014.

For more information about how to apply for one of these posts please visit www.communityagentsessex.org.uk.

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BBC1 Homes & CBC tenants news

There seems to have been a little flurry of news themed around Homes of late, and this news update is a distillation of it:

BBC TV Programme

BBC One are looking for people who live in interesting homes in across Essex and would be happy to try a home swap holiday for a new TV series.  

Do you live in an interesting home you’d be happy to swap with someone elsewhere in the UK for a short break?  Would you like the chance to have a new experience and discover local cuisine, sight-seeing that goes beyond the guide book, and an authentic place to stay?

Do you:

 

  • Live in an interesting property such as a conversion, a charming cottage, a super-modern apartment, a historic building, a period house or have an unbelievable view?
  • Want a short UK break and chance to discover a new area?
  • Like the idea of a house swap holiday, but have never tried it?

 

IF SO THEN GET IN TOUCH NOW!

For an application form please email [email protected] with your contact details.

Please also see the link to the show’s page at the BBC:http://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/beonashow/home_swap_holidays.

Colchester Borough Homes

Do you know a Council tenant or leaseholder who:

  • takes an active interest in their community,
  • makes a positive difference where they live,
  • is always looking to make things better,

… then they could be just the person we’re looking for to join our Board! Tenant Board Members serve for a period of three years and bring a resident’s perspective to decisions about the future of the Company.

More information about the role and an application pack will shortly be available on our website: www.cbhomes.org.uk/joinboard.

If you would like us to send out information in the post to you or an interested tenant or leaseholder, please emai l[email protected] with details.

Thank you for your time! J

Berkeley Young
Board Assurance Officer
(Working days: Mon-Thu)

Colchester Borough Homes
1st Floor, Rowan House
33 Sheepen Road

Colchester CO3 3WG
Tel:  (01206) 282518
Fax: (01206) 506924 
(Typetalk users dial 18001 followed by the full number that you wish to call)

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