InfoNOW News 23 September 2022

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InformationNOW

We are sorry to announce that our colleague, Carol Carey, is leaving the InformationNOW team. Carol has been with InformationNOW since the website was part of the Quality of Life Partnership in 2014. She is a stalwart and valued member of the team, inputting our events and activities section and doing marketing outreach. We will miss her, but wish her good luck in her new role.  She finishes on September 28th.  Please redirect your emails about events and activities to [email protected]

Please note Lauren works part time, Wednesday to Friday and will respond as soon as possible to emails.

Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) medicines safety project opportunity

The North East and North Cumbria Academic Health Science Network are looking for approximately 10 patients / members of the public to take part in a 90-minute virtual (teams) focus group. This will be held on 11^th of October.  Please contact [email protected] if you are interested in finding out more and taking part in the call.

Read more on InformationNOW about pharmacies or chemists

Driving rules

Motorists have been urged to be familiar with new driving laws that have been rolled out this month, including stricter rules against the use of mobile phones and becoming aware of clean air zones on your journey.

Mobile Phones
It is now illegal for motorists in the UK to use their mobiles at any time during a journey. Previously, drivers could use their phones for purposes that were not for “interactive communications,” such as looking for music or taking photos.

Low Emission Zones
Low Emission Zones (LEZ) are schemes typically implemented in cities to manage pollution. If a vehicle does reach the minimum standard for emissions, it will be charged for entering the zone.

Several cities in the UK have already introduced the scheme such as London, Brighton and Birmingham with many to follow, including Dundee, Aberdeen and Edinburgh over the next few years.

Council Fines for Minor Traffic Offences
Councils in England and Wales are given the power to issue fines for “moving traffic” offences, which include stopping in yellow box junctions, performing illegal turns and driving in cycle lanes.

Mandatory Speed Limiters
All new cars are to be fitted with speed limiters from July 2022 to improve road safety. Most EU laws for new cars will be retained in the UK to help standardise car manufacturing across Europe.

New Homes to Have EV Charging Points
All new properties built in England from 2022 will have to have an electric vehicle (EV) charge point installed, including all housing and commercial buildings.

Read more on InformationNOW about driving as you get older and motability

Opportunities for Action

Stop Loan Sharks, 26 Sept to 2nd Oct

The England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) is running its national Stop Loan Sharks Week campaign to highlight the help available to those who have been targeted by loan sharks, as well as increase awareness of this hidden crime in communities.

A report published by the Centre for Social Justice estimated that 1.08 million people could be borrowing from an illegal money lender – more commonly known as a loan shark. This figure has more than trebled since 2010.

The #LetsTalkLoanSharks campaign aims to remove the shame and banish the stigma of debt and around illegal money lending by encouraging conversations among families, friends, neighbours, customers, colleagues and communities.

It also encourages frontline professionals to have a loan shark conversation with every client they see during the week, whether or not each individual is showing signs of borrowing from a loan shark. By asking a few simple questions, you could help someone feel supported enough to disclose their situation so they can get the help they need.

Loan sharks ruin lives and communities – it’s time to stop them. The first step in helping someone escape the grip of an illegal lender is to encourage them to talk about their experiences.  Listen to our interview on real life experiences of how Loan Sharks make things worse for you.

For professionals:
Good questions to ask include:

• Is the person you borrowed from authorised to lend money?
• Are you paying them back more than what you borrowed?”,
• Are you feeling overwhelmed by your debts?
• Has anyone acted aggressively towards you when you didn’t pay back a loan?

Loan sharks are known for threatening violence and other forms of intimidation to extort money from their victims.

If you have concerns that a client may be involved with a loan shark, please do not hesitate to contact  The Stop Loan Sharks Helpline,  24/7 on 0300 555 2222 or use their live chat service.

Read more on Loan Sharks on InformationNOW

West of the City community

If you live in the Fenham or Wingrove area you will be aware of Fenham Pocket Park which is next door to Fenham Library and the former swimming baths.

This community of interest group really wants to reach into the wider community to support the idea of a “meadow” being created as a raised bed area at wheelchair accessible height to complement the ramp from the library, along with some dwarf fruit trees.  They also have ideas such as a herb garden to be used by Men’s Pie Club and other users of the library.

They hope to develop community cohesion, improve our carbon footprint with trees, biodiversification and offer new services to local residents.

Why not join this community, spread the word and get involved.

They also have a crowdfunding project. 

Spotlight on

Organ donation week, 26 September to 2 October

This particular week was moved owing to mourning for her Late Majesty.

Donating an organ saves lives.    Organ donation means taking healthy organs and tissues from one person for transplantation into another. It doesn’t matter how old you are or what ethnic background you are.

An organ donor card is a great way to show you’re committed to saving lives. You can carry your card in your purse or wallet as a symbol of your decision to help others. Remember that even if you have recorded your decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register, your family will always be involved in organ donation and they could override your decision if they don’t know what you want. So, talk to your family and leave them certain.  By registering to become an organ donor you have the option to donate organs, such as your heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas and small bowel.  When you register to donate your organs, you can also choose to donate your corneas and your tissues, including bone.

This year NHS Blood and Transport is asking everyone to go pink for the week.  Whether you bake a pink cake, wear pink socks, paint a pink unicorn or drink a pink drink they’d like you to join their campaign of awareness about how organ donation changes lives.   #organdonation and tag @nhsorgandonor

NHS Blood and Transplant (Organ Donation)

The blood you give is a lifeline in an emergency and for people who need long-term treatments. Some blood types are in higher demand from hospitals than others.  For example, it’s estimated that around 8% of people have O negative blood, but O negative makes up 13% of requests from hospitals. O negative red cells can be used in emergencies or when a person’s blood type in unknown.

NHS Blood and Transplant (Give Blood)

Research & Reports

Living Wage Foundation Report

New research by the Living Wage Foundation has almost 80 per cent of the UK’s lowest-paid workers say they are now facing the hardest financial situation of their lifetimes. More than half had used a food bank in the past year, alongside 42 per cent regularly skipping meals for financial reasons.

Read more on InformationNOW about cost of living increase – managing on a low income and foodbanks and when they are open

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) highlights an increase in loan fee fraud

The FCA has highlighted a growing problem of loan fee fraud. Loan fee fraud occurs when people pay an upfront fee for a loan they never receive. The FCA has advised that people remember the following to help avoid loan fee fraud:

• upfront fee, it could be a scam
• pay quickly, it could be a scam
• pay in an unusual way, such as vouchers or a money transfer, it could be a scam

Read more on InformationNOW about scams and fraud

Events & Activities

Find these events and activities:

Project ICE for IT support
28 September and Wednesdays thereafter
2 to 4 pm

Newcastle City Council and YHN Recruitment Fair
29 September
11 am to 2 pm

Behind the Scenes at Hauxley Wildlife Centre
Different dates and times from 28 Sept

Strictly Ballroom
Search Newcastle
Fridays, 1 to 2 pm

Wellbeing for Life
Feeling safe in your community
5 October (monthly)
10.30 to 12 noon

Meet the Partners Volunteer Passport Scheme
6 October
12 to 2 pm

A Trip down Memory Lane
19 October
10.30 to 12 noon
by Digital Voice

New and updated organisations

Between Us is an app to help you have a better relationship with your partner now or in the future.

St Oswald’s Hospice  provides specialist palliative care to adults, young people and children from the North East of England. They provide a bereavement service for children from the ages of 4 to 18 years.

Relay UK  helps deaf, speech-impaired and hearing people talk to each other over the phone using the relay service. You can use the Relay UK app with your mobile, tablet or PC. Or just use Relay UK on your Minicom or Uniphone.

Home or Away Pet Transport helps with people who have pets and are in hospital, need transport to a kennel, cattery or home to home.

Mary’s Place at the Mercy Hub has a new telephone number

Updated articles

Family and relationship problems

The majority of people will experience some problems or issues within their family at some point during their life. Ill health, disability and retirement can all bring their own worries and concerns. This section contains information on a range of family problems along with details of organisations that may be able to offer you advice and support.

Last updated: September 23, 2022