InfoNOW News Friday 20th January 2023

New social media images for InformationNOW

We have a a new series of images available for available to use on social media to help raise awareness of InformationNOW and the huge range of information that the website can help people with.

The new campaign is raising awareness of the wide range of helpful information available on InformationNOW. Where you can find local help and support on issues such as:

• abuse
• benefits
• care and support
• money and debt worries
• planning ahead
• being a carer or looking after someone
• finding a new hobby
• looking for work

Keep an eye out for our new images on our social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and please share them.

You can download all our free resources in the Social Media Toolkit on InformationNOW

There’s some suggested text and hashtags that you can use to share this handy information quickly with your followers.

Any questions or comments please contact [email protected]

Cost of Living Helpline at Newcastle City Council

Worried about the cost of living, food, energy bills? Contact the Cost of Living Helpline at Newcastle City Council for help and support.

They can signpost you to local help and support including:

• emergency food parcels
• winter wellbeing hubs: warm spaces in the local community where you can spend time and enjoy facilities such as wifi, hot drinks or food.
• help to manage your electricity or gas payments

You can complete their online form to request help or call the free helpline

Read more on InformationNOW about Cost of living help and support

Northumbria Police new community messaging tool

Northumbria Connected is a new online tool where you can tell Northumbria Police about any issues affecting your community in the North East. Like a modern day Neighbourhood Watch, you can receive ‘Northumbria Alerts’ to stay up to date with what’s going on in your community.

When you register you can receive regular updates from the Police on issues in your area by email, text message or WhatsApp. By telling the Police about what’s going on in your area you can help shape Neighbourhood Policing to tackle issues where you live.

Why join Northumbria Connected?

• Have your say – complete a short survey to share your priorities, concerns and views about policing in your area
• Get the news that matters most – you’ll only receive information that you’ve told us you want to hear about
• Give your feedback – it’s a two-way messaging service that allows you to respond to alerts sent by our officers
• Get involved in your community – Northumbria Connected allows you to create groups with other people in your area with the same interests

Head to the Northumbria Connected website to find out more about how your new messaging service works and how to get involved.

Read more about Ways to report crime and community safety issues

GP access to tests to speed up cancer diagnosis

Tens of thousands of cancers could be detected earlier thanks to a national roll out of fast-track testing. The NHS are expanding direct access to diagnostic scans across all GP practices, enabling GPs to order these checks directly and helping to cut down waiting times to as little as four weeks.

Under the scheme, around 67,000 people who are usually diagnosed with cancer through non-urgent testing will now be eligible for fast-tracking and have a better chance of their disease being picked up at an earlier stage.

Read more on InformationNOW about Cancer

Carers Leave Bill

The Carer’s Leave Bill passed its Second Reading and Committee Stage but still needs support

On Friday 21 October 2022, the Carer’s Leave Bill, which would give carers in employment the right to take unpaid leave, passed through its first crucial step and secured Government support. On Wednesday 9 November 2022, the Bill went through more detailed examination and was successful at Committee Stage. Report Stage and Third Reading of the Bill in the House of Commons is scheduled to take place on Friday 3 February 2023

You can support the bill. Click here to sign up to join the Carers campaign if you or your organisation would like to support the Bill.

Read more about Carers UK on InformationNOW

Mental Health Support for older people in West Newcastle

Search Newcastle’s new service Beyond Blue supports people aged 50+ with their mental health. People participating in the program may have recently tried to take their own life, or have been feeling suicidal for some time. The program provides in-person emotional support, and connections to social groups and activities that are matched to each individual, as well as time and support to develop a path to recovery. Groups are held on weekends, providing an opportunity to get together when other support may not be available.

Read more on InformationNOW about Mental Health

Going Digital – Opportunities for all?

Date: Friday 24 Feb 2023 Time: 11.00 am – 12.30 pm Cost: Free

Join Elders Council of Newcastle (Older People’s Forum) for a conversation with Chi Onwurah MP (Central Newcastle) and Shadow Minister for Science, Research and Digital on the pros and cons of going digital.

Before entering Parliament, Chi Onwurah was a professional engineer, a career she talks about on The Life Scientific BBC Radio 4 – The Life Scientific – The Life Scientific: Chi Onwurah.

After the conversation, there will also be an opportunity to hear about the support available in the city to help you to get on-line and learn new skills.  What do you think?  What kinds of technology make your life easier? What do you want to learn more about?  When does technology create barriers for you?  Whether you hate it or love it, we’d like you to join our conversation.

The event will be chaired by Professor Rose Gilroy, Chair of Age Friendly Newcastle. Visit InformationNOW to find out how to book your place

Connected Voice is recruiting new trustees

This is an exciting opportunity to make a positive difference by joining an organisation that:

• Has supported and developed voluntary and community action across Newcastle and Gateshead for 90 plus years.
• Supports a growing network of more than 800 member organisations.
• Amplifies the voices of voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations.

As a guardian of Connected Voice, you will commit around 30 hours per year to work as part of a diverse and inclusive board of trustees to oversee the running of the charity. There is also an expectation that you join one of our subgroups to work with staff to develop a specific area of the organisation. This rewarding role is a great way to make new connections and to develop your skills, knowledge and experience.

Read more on their website

Newcastle Neighbourhoods East and West Wellbeing Network Gatherings

The Community Wellbeing Project team, as part of Newcastle Neighbourhoods, are hosting two network events in the East and the Outer West of the city at the end of January. These are opportunities for organisations working towards the wellbeing of the communities in those areas of the city to get to know one another, share good practice, explore links and reduce duplication, and collaborate with those communities to help them to flourish.

Newcastle Neighbourhoods East – Wellbeing Network Gathering
Date: Wednesday 25 January Time: 1.30pm to 3.30 pm at St Martin’s Centre, Byker. RSVP by 20 January to [email protected]

Newcastle Neighbourhoods – Outer West Wellbeing Network Gathering
Date: Tuesday 31 January Time: 1pm to 3pm at The Grange, Throckley.  RSVP by 27 January to [email protected]

How well do you understand how CQC is changing?

The world of adult social care is changing and so is the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

They are developing a new regulatory model based on a single assessment framework, which they will implement later 2023 (the latest update on their timeline). Alongside this work they are developing a new provider portal, also due to launch in 2023.

In 2023 they will launch a comprehensive communication campaign to ensure all health & social care providers and professionals understand what these changes are, what they mean for them and what they need to do to prepare for these changes being implemented.

To help them measure how successful this campaign will be, they want to know how well you understand these changes, both now and throughout 2023.

To help them do this they would like your feedback. To help please complete their short survey.

Read more on InformationNOW about Choosing a care home or Home care

Let’s Talk Sexual Health!

Newcastle City Council Public Health are reviewing the clinical sexual health services across Newcastle and need your views to help shape the services available. Please take a look and complete the survey online 

Read more on InformationNOW about Sexual health

Nexus bus routes consultation

Nexus carried out a review of local bus services in Newcastle and North Tyneside when commercial companies were making cuts to their routes.  They funded as part of a rescue package where they introduced or kept on a number of routes with low customer numbers.

They have now reviewed the use of these buses. Some services may no longer offer good value for money due mainly to a long-term change in travel patterns following the pandemic.

Public consultations are now open for these bus services.Read more on their website about the proposed changes, how the services are currently performing and how you can give them your views.

All feedback received by Tuesday 31 January 2023 will be taken into consideration.  Subject to feedback received, changes to bus services would then be introduced from Sunday 26 March 2023.

Read more on InformationNOW about Public transport

Experiences of COVID Vaccinations in Newcastle

Healthwatch Newcastle is an independent, not-for-profit service with statutory powers to represent the views of the public. When peoples’ voices are heard, we can make positive change. They are currently looking to understand experiences of people who have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination administered in Newcastle.

Healthwatch Newcastle will use your feedback to generate statistical information which we will use to assess the user experience of the current COVID-19 vaccination systems. The information will be shared with decision makers to inform future services.

Who can take part: Anyone who received at least one vaccination at a COVID vaccination site in Newcastle.

Complete the Survey online here Closing Date: 5^th February 2023

For more information, download the poster or please contact [email protected]

Read more on InformationNOW about  having your say about health and care services

Holocaust Memorial Day, Friday 27 January 2023

Holocaust Memorial Day takes place every year on 27 January, the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp during the second world war. It is a day to remember the millions of people murdered in the Holocaust and the genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

The Holocaust Memorial Memorial Day Trust has announced ‘Ordinary People’ as the theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2023.  Ordinary People were involved in all aspects of the Holocaust, in Nazi persecution and in subsequent genocides. They were the perpetrators, bystanders, rescuers and witnesses.

There is a variety of events taking place in our City.

The Brundibar Arts Festival (22nd January to 29th January 2023)  is an annual programme of events that showcases the little known music written during the Holocaust. The Festival combines a Concert Series, Music and Poetry event, Film screening and Outreach Programme in locations throughout Newcastle and Gateshead. All events are linked by a common thread: celebrating creativity in adversity.

Take part in Light the Darkness on 27 January at 4pm by putting a lighted candle in your window. Join the conversation on social media, follow the hashtags #HolocaustMemorialDay and #LighttheDarkness

To mark Holocaust Memorial Day, Marta Josephs, a former Newcastle teacher will share her dad Andrew Frankel’s story who was a Hungarian Jew who survived Mauthausen and Gunskirchen concentration camps. She’s visiting Discovery Museum on 26 January – you can come in person or stream online from your device too. 

See the full programme of events on the Newcastle City Council Website 

Support for people struggling with the cost of living crisis

Active Inclusion at Newcastle City Council are offering free training events for frontline staff and volunteers who come into contact with people who are struggling financially due to the current cost of living crisis. You will learn how:

• they can help the residents you work with
• how you can refer into their services
• what other support may be available.

The sessions will be delivered on Teams, will last no more than one hour and include an opportunity for questions. These training sessions are aimed at staff and volunteers who are not specialist advisers but may support people who are experiencing difficulties with debt, benefits and housing (described as tier 1 and 2 in their Spectrums of Advice documents)

The sessions will take place on the following dates:

• Monday 30 January – 2pm
• Friday 24 February – 11am
• Tuesday 28 March – 1pm
• Thursday 20 April – 11am
• Wednesday 24 May – 2pm
• Monday 26 June – 2pm

If you would like to attend please email [email protected] with your details and which session you would like to attend. If you work for Newcastle City Council you can sign up for these sessions via iLearn here,

Read more on InformationNOW about  support for people with low incomes

Domestic Abuse Recovery Course
Freedom Programme 2023

The Freedom Programme is offered FREE OF CHARGE to any woman over the age of 16 who has left a relationship in which she has been subjected to domestic/intimate partner abuse/violence of any nature, of any duration and whether recent or historic. There are NO limiting eligibility criteria in terms of educational, employment or financial status.

Do you want to

• Learn about healthy & unhealthy relationships?
• Recognise traits & warning signs of abuse?
• Safely make effective changes in your life?
• Gain support from experts and other women?
• Have access to information & resources?

Join this free 8-week course from Friday 3rd February, 2023, 10am-12:30pm
To register or for more information contact: East End Women
Email: [email protected] 0191 263 2752

Read more on InformationNOW about Adult abuse

Introduction to Budgeting

This in-person ‘Introduction to Budgeting’ training has been developed by Newcastle City Council’s Active Inclusion Service. It is aimed at frontline staff and volunteers who provide budgeting advice and support as part of their role. The session will give you the skills to help the residents you support to stay out of debt and manage their money. Following the training session, you will be able to complete an accurate budget plan, identify how your clients’ income can be increased and their costs reduced, help them to manage their bank account and bill payments and support them with other financial inclusion aspects. Upcoming dates are:

• 23 February 2023 – 9.30am to 12pm at John Buddle Work Village
• 19 May 2023 – 1pm to 4pm at St Martin’s Centre

Further information and how to register for one of the sessions can be found here.

Read more on InformationNOW about Managing your money

New on InformationNOW this week

Events and Activities

Great Winter Get Together

There’s lots of activities taking place across Newcastle to encourage people to get together and connect with others over the Winter Months

Search for Great Winter Get Together on InformationNOW to see what’s coming up. You can search by postcode or location to see what’s near you.

What’s on next week?

Here’s a selection of Great Winter Get Together Activities happening soon

Saturday 21 and 28 Jan 2023

• Clean Green Ouseburn Time: 10.00 am – 12.00 pm

Monday 23 Jan 2023 

• Proggy Mat Making (St. Vincent’s Centre) Time: 11.00 am – 1.00 pm
• Cruddas Park Advice and Activities Hub for Older People Time: 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm
• Knit and Natter with a Twist (St. Vincent’s Centre)Time: 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm
• Crafting for All (St. Vincent’s Centre) Time: 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm

Tuesday 24 Jan 2023

• Older Asian Ladies’ Social Wingrove (Search Newcastle) Time: 12.00 pm – 3.00 pm
• Tuesday Film Club (St. Vincent’s Centre) Time: 1.30 pm – 5.00 pm
• Young People’s Behind the Scenes Event (Northern Stage) Time: 5.00 pm – 8.00 pm

Wednesday 25 Jan 2023

• Older People’s Line Dancing Walbottle (Search Newcastle) Time: 2.00 pm – 3.30 pm
• Newcastle Anglican – Place of Welcome Time: 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm
• Pie and Poetry Men’s Club (St. Vincent’s Centre)Time: 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm

Thursday 2 Feb 2023

• Art Programme (St. Vincent’s Centre) Time: 12.00 pm – 2.00 pm
• Older People’s Knit and Natter Benwell (Search Newcastle) Time: 10.00 am – 12.00 pm

Friday 3 Feb 2023

• Older People’s Strictly Ballroom Lemington (Search Newcastle) Time: 1.00 pm – 2.00 pm
• Patchwork, Patter Cutting, and Design (St. Vincent’s Centre) Time: 10.00 am – 11.30 am

See the full list of activities on InformationNOW

New and updated organisations

Newcastle GP Services

Newcastle GP Services runs the City’s Federation of GP practices. GP federations are set up to enable a large number of GP practices to work together and share responsibility for delivering high quality, patient-focused services for local communities. This includes developing services specifically to suit local needs.

They are a member organisation for 28 out of the 31 general practices in Newcastle and have working arrangements with every practice and primary care network in the city.

Read more on InformationNOW about your Doctor or GP

National Women’s Register (NWR)

National Women’s Register (NWR) is a social organisation for all women. They offer local group and online meetings for conversation, friendship and fun. The groups are informal and relaxed. You can meet lively minded members who are interested in everything and talk about anything. Visit their website to find your local group and more about their activities.

Use the contact form on the group page to email your local organiser to arrange to attend 3 free taster sessions. If you decide to join the membership subscription costs £32 a year from January 2023.

They are a registered non-profit charity with the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

Read more on InformationNOW about Finding friends and Hobbies

Byker Mutual Aid

Byker Mutual Aid is a neighbourhood help group run by locals for locals.  People living in the Byker area offer help to people in the area who need it. They can help with food parcels and occasional group meals. They keep in touch with each other on Facebook.  Contact them for more information and to ask for help.

They run their support from St Michael’s Centre and café.

Read more on Food banks and free emergency food in Newcastle
Free meals and cheap food in Newcastle

Rescare

Rescare supports families who have loved ones with a learning disability. They are run by families for families. They have a telephone helpline where you can ask questions about being a family carer, health and social care, education, housing and more. They run a befriending service and they have online family forums where you can talk to other people about your experiences.

Read more on InformationNOW about Finding Friends

Cornerstone Benwell

Cornerstone Benwell is a Community Centre on Armstrong Road in Benwell. They have a huge range of services and acitivities including:

• Shop (preloved clothing and homeware) open Wednesdays and Thursdays. All items are 50p. This shop is outside and doesn’t open in bad weather. Check their Facebook page for updates
• Benwell Bridge Community Pantry open every Wednesday from 9am to 2pm.  Membership required. Customers can buy 10 items for £2.50.
• Corner Kitchen Community café open Wednesday and Thursday between 9am and 2pm. Serving very low cost food.
• Emergency food bank available every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9am to 2pm. Free food parcel available. You can turn up at one of the sessions to collect a parcel. Please contact them or leave them a message to let them know that you will be attending. They can refer you to the West End Foodbank for further support.
• The Welcome Project – Weekly activity group for adults with Learning Disabilities
• The Millenium Club – Monthly social club for adults with Learning Disabilities.
• Monthly Memory Cafe for people and their carers struggling with memory loss.
• Schools Outreach
• Computer access and support

All welcome! Cornerstone is a designated Safe Place for people with learning disabilities.

Cornerstone is a Winter Wellbeing Hub. They are a warm welcoming place to spend time in Newcastle. They offer a range of support such as hot drinks, food, free wifi, place to charge your devices, information, advice and more. Visit Newcastle.gov.uk to see what’s available at this hub.

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Best Wishes

Lauren

Lauren Hoy: Prevention, Information and Advice Lead at Newcastle City Council

Last updated: January 20, 2023