11 March 2022 InfoNOW News

What’s coming up in March podcast

InformationNOW

We have recorded a “What’s coming up in March” podcast. It covers events and activities that are coming up locally, awareness days where you might like to support the campaign and opportunities to take action on something that you care about or interests you. Visit our news section and click on listen

Get in touch if you have something to share for April informationnow@newcastle.gov.uk

New look InfoNOW News

You may have noticed that we have updated our colour scheme for InfoNOW News. We now have a InfoNOW News logo which matches the colours that we use in our News section on InformationNOW.

We hope you like it. Please let us know your thoughts. Email us at InformationNOW@Newcastle.org.uk

Digital Healthcare records

From April 2022, NHS Digital will automatically give patients with an online account access to their prospective full GP record, including free text, results and documents. So, if you haven’t downloaded the NHS app, then this might be an incentive to do so.

World Social Work Day, 15th March

World Social Work Day recognises the hard work and dedication of social workers across the UK.

Social Work England are running a programme of events from the 14th to the 18th March 2022. This year the focus is Social Work and me and will encourage everyone to reflect on the significant events, challenges, and successes of the profession in 2021

Please show you appreciation by retweeting Newcastle City Council’s tweets next week.

Support for Hong Kong nationals

Have you recently moved to the North East from Hong Kong? Welcome. Citizen’s Advice Newcastle can help you with: housing, employment, health care, schools and other support. Their advice is free, confidential and independent.

Newcastle Patient, Public and Carer Forum

Monday 14 March, 10am to 12pm

Please join Newcastle Gateshead Clinical Commissioning Group’s Newcastle Patient, Public and Carer Forum on Monday 14 March, 10am to 12pm on Teams to hear about how you can get involved in shaping local healthcare services. The discussion will explore shaping North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) engagement, North East Ambulance Trust (NEAS) engagement work, and how NIHR Local Clinical Networks are looking to widen participation in their work.

There is also an opportunity to hear updates from Newcastle Hospitals Trust and Newcastle Gateshead CCG about their involvement work.

Are you eligible for Pension Credit?

Pension Credit tops up weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level of £182.60 a week for single pensioners or £278.70 for couples (after April 11th this year). It could be more than that depending on your circumstances. It is a tax-free payment for those who

have reached State Pension age, and
live in Great Britain

Some quick facts:

you don’t have to have paid National Insurance contributions to qualify
you can have some savings and other incomes
owning your own home doesn’t stop you claiming
couples both have to be of State Pension age

Find out your State Pension age

InformationNOW has information on Pension Credit which includes a Pension Credit Calculator which will help you find out how much Pension Credit someone could get – without giving any personal details.

There are a number of ways of applying for Pension Credit, including by telephone, a simple online form or paper claim form. Further details on how to apply

There are also organisations that can help you.

Citizens Advice Newcastle give advice to anyone in Newcastle. Ring 0191 229 2750
Your Homes Newcastle (YHN) can give their tenants benefit and debt advice. Phone: 0191 278 8600 or make a referral online
Karbon Homes customers can contact the Money Matters team on 0808 164 0111, email moneymatters@karbonhomes.co.uk or complete an online self-referral
Newcastle Welfare Rights Service give advice to people in priority groups including those over 65. They have self help material on their website. Ring 0191 277 2627

There is also a Pension Credit Helpline which includes Text Relay and BSL services 0800 991 234 Text Relay 18001 then 0800 99 1234

Read more on InformationNOW about pensions and National Insurance

Help shape the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System

Engagement and Involvement Strategy

North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Integrated Care System (ICS) is a partnership bringing together the NHS, councils, combined authorities, voluntary and partner organisations from right across our region. This structure replaces Clinical Commissioning Groups which will cease to exist from July 2022. It offers the opportunity for organisations to look at new and different ways to work to improve the overall health of the three million people living in this area.

NENC ICS would like your help with shaping their Engagement and Involvement Strategy to ensure that:

They hear the voice of communities when setting priorities and making decisions
Communities know about the issues facing the NHS and partners
They explore the potential impact of a range of regional approaches to join up conversations.

Please answer the following questions:

What you think currently works well about the way local NHS involvement connects you into conversations?
What could work better about how local NHS involvement connect you into conversations?
Do you have any concerns about connecting into regional conversations?
What would good involvement look like?

Please send any responses to lauren@involvene.org.uk by Thursday 14^th April 2022.

Reducing traffic in Fenham

Safe Fenham Trials – Making changes in your area to create safer, cleaner and greener neighbourhoods

Newcastle City Council are trialling some changes that will reduce the amount of traffic cutting through Fenham. Some of these measures are already in place. The Public consultation on these changes runs from 7 March 2022 until 11 September 2022.

Take part in the consultation online

For more information or to request this information in another format or language contact neighbourhoods@newcastle.gov.uk phone 0191 278 2767.
You can to leave a message or request one of the team calls you back.

Write to them at: Transport Team, Newcastle City Council, 10th Floor, Civic Centre, Newcastle, NE1 8PR.

Outer West Leisure Centre Consultation

Second phase of consultation starts 14th March

The Outer West of Newcastle is to get a new multi-million-pound leisure centre. Newcastle City Council listened to your views on the proposals, and would like to talk to you about what happens next.

When it opens in 2024, the building will offer a sports hall, gym, café, library, community space and swimming pool. They consulted on this during January to February 2022. They had over 500 responses from people giving their views. Subject to planning approval, work is expected to start on the centre in the winter of 2022, and open in spring 2024; you can see a video about this here: Outer West Leisure Centre Video.

They want to hear what local people and community groups think about the next steps, so they’re holding events both online and in person to discuss them. Visit Let’s Talk Newcastle for more on dates, times, venues of the sessions and how to book.

If you have questions, or need this information in another format, such as large print, please contact outerwestleisurecentre@newcastle.gov.uk

Find more information about leisure centres in Newcastle on InformationNOW

Brain Tumour Awareness month

Every two hours, someone is diagnosed with a brain tumour in England. In the UK, 16,000 people each year are diagnosed with a brain tumour and only 12% of brain tumour patients survive beyond five years of their diagnosis, whereas over 70% of breast cancer and over 40% of leukaemia patients survive beyond five years.

Brain tumours continue to kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.

Brain Tumour Research are asking you to support their awareness campaign and increased investment in research.

Read more on InformationNOW about cancer and support groups.

Young Carers Action Day, 16th March

Young Carers Action Day is an annual campaign organised by Carers Trust to raise public awareness of young carers and young adult carers, highlight the challenges they face when caring for someone, and recognise the special contribution they make to communities by looking after their family member or friend. This Young Carers Action Day they will be taking action on isolation.

Share the hashtag #YoungCarersActionDay
Read more about Looking after someone on InformationNOW

Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability

The Working Group II contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report assesses the impacts of climate change, looking at ecosystems, biodiversity, and human communities at global and regional levels. It also reviews the capacity of humans to adapt to the natural world.

Key headlines:

Human-induced climate change, including more frequent and intense extreme events, has caused widespread adverse impacts and damage to nature and people, beyond natural climate variability. Some development and adaptation efforts have reduced vulnerability.

Global warming, reaching 1.5°C in the near-term, would cause unavoidable increases in multiple climate hazards and present many risks to ecosystems and humans

The Homelessness Monitor: England 2022

The Homelessness Monitor: England 2022, report published by Crisis, is the latest report in a longitudinal study providing independent analysis of the homelessness impacts of recent economic and policy developments in England.

Findings include:

Changes in the profile of applicants reflected pandemic related homelessness drivers, including evictions protections disproportionately protecting families, and the intensification of pressures within the home, putting those in informal sofa-surfing arrangements and experiencing domestic abuse at greater risk
The Government target of ending rough sleeping by 2024 has been supported by substantially increased investment, including via the Rough Sleeping Initiative. THis require the Government to clarify “rough sleeping”. AS we come out of the pandemic it is expected that the figure of homelessness will increase owing to policies related to welfare and housing

Read more on InformationNOW about housing and welfare

This week’s Events & Activities

Sunday Quayside Market
Time: 9.30 am to 4 pm
When: Every Sunday

A Century of Wedding Gowns
at Newcastle Cathedral
Date: Wednesday 16 Feb 2022 to Thursday 24 Mar 2022
Time: All day event

East End Women Art Workshops
Time: 11.00 am to 2.00 pm
Cost: Free

Friday Cafe at St George’s, Jesmond
Date: Friday 18 Mar @ 10am to 12pm

Visit the Events & Activities section on InformationNOW

New organisations on InformationNOW

Host Nation

HostNation is a befriending scheme, which matches local people, with refugees or asylum seekers living in Newcastle and Gateshead.

You can volunteer to be a befriender. Or register with them if you’re a refugee or asylum seeker to be matched with a volunteer who can help you to settle into life in Newcastle.

Befrienders and their refugee friends make plans every week to meet up and get involved in things in Newcastle. Befriending takes place for 3 months. They have made over 500 matches in Newcastle.

The Northumbrian Magazine

The Northumbrian Magazine is a regional magazine for North East England. It is published bi-monthly. It has regular contributors, walks with photographs, traces the history of different areas and includes personal stories. You can subscribe to it.

Updated articles

Libraries, reading and audio books

There are 14 Council libraries and 4 independent or specialist libraries in Newcastle. Becoming a member of a Council library is free. You can join Newcastle Libraries online or by visiting any of the libraries. You must take proof of your identity with you. You can manage your account online as well.

Hobbies

There are lots of groups and activities that you can enjoy in Newcastle. Trying a new activity or groups is a great way to meet new people, get out and about and be active. Here’s our article with all the local groups and activites that you can enjoy. Everything from Archery to Wood and Metal Work

Read more on InformationNOW

Support for Asylum Seekers and Refugees

When claiming asylum in the UK there are local services that can help with

legal advice
emotional and practical support
housing support
accessing health services
English classes
social and physical activity
benefits advice
refused asylum seekers

Read more on InformationNOW

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Best Wishes

Kate and Lauren

Last updated: April 5, 2022

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