Monthly Archives: January 2021

News from Rainbow Junktion

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Due to a volunteer testing positive we will be open this Thursday and Friday as a food parcel collection service only (no takeaway cooked food, no tea and coffee in the car park, no choice in the shop).
The reduced team of volunteers on these days will be people who had no contact with the person who tested positive.
The parcels they prepare will contain a selection of dry and fresh food and will be as always no referral and no judgement but sadly also no choice.
We are taking these precautions to be extra careful for the safety of our customers and volunteers but hope to resume normal service as soon as possible.
Thank you for your understanding and stay safe everyone, big rainbow love from us all x
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Poetry Corner: ‘Blow Blow Thou Winter Wind’ by William Shakespeare

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Blow, blow, thou winter wind,
Thou art not so unkind
As man’s ingratitude;
Thy tooth is not so keen,
Because thou art not seen,
Although thy breath be rude.
Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh-ho, the holly!
This life is most jolly.

Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,
That dost not bite so nigh
As benefits forgot:
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp
As friend remembered not.
Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly…

sourced: https:/ www panmacmillan com/

‘Monday Mind Workout’ – answers for Monday 18th January 2021

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Good morning everyone,
Yesterday’s Monday Mind Workout was over to you. I invited you to send me your findings to me on phrases that start with the letter K. See below your collective answers, many thanks everyone:
Kangaroo Court
Keep away
Keel Over
Keep at arms length
Keep at Bay
Keen as mustard
Keep a stiff upper lip
Keep a wide berth
Keep body and soul together
Keep it under your hat
Keep schtum
Keep the ball rolling
Keep up with the Joneses
Keep your chin up
Keep your hands clean
Keep your hat on
Keep your distance
Keep your nose clean
Keep your nose to the grindstone
Keep your pecker up
Keep your powder dry
Keeping up with the Joneses
Keepy-uppy
Kettle of fish
Khyber pass
Kick ass
Kick off
Kick the can
Kick the bucket
Kick your heels
Kind hearts are worth more than coronets
King’s ransom
Kismet
Kiss and tell
Kissing Cousins
(The whole) kit and caboodle
Kith and kin
Knee jerk reaction
Knick knack
Knife Edge
Knit together
Knight in shining armour
Knock back
Knock down
Knock into a cocked hat
Knock off
knock em dead
Knock on wood
Knocked for six
Knowledge is power
Know the ropes
Know your onions
Knock yourself out
Knock the wind out of your sails
Know which side your bread is buttered
Know which way the wind blows
Knuckle down
Knuckle under
Knuckle sandwich
Konk Out
Any more?

New nationwide ‘Better Health – Every Mind Matters’ Campaign launched today

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Half of adults say they are more worried during this current lockdown than the one in March 2020.  However, at the same time 3 in 5 (60%) of those asked say they feel hopeful about the future. 

To support people during this time, PHE has launched a nationwide Better Health – Every Mind Matters campaign to support people to take action to look after their mental health and wellbeing and help support others such as family and friends. The campaign encourages people to get a free NHS-approved Mind Plan from the Every Mind Matters website. By answering 5 simple questions, adults will get a personalised action plan with practical tips to help them deal with stress and anxiety, boost their mood, sleep better and feel more in control.

Find out more: gov.uk/government/new

Ministry of Food Leeds cookery course over zoom

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Ministry of Food Leeds are running a 6 week online cookery course over zoom from tomorrow. It will be hosted by cookery trainers Yvonne, Anthony and Neil. You are welcome to cook-along or just simply watch and ask questions! This is a FREE course – full of healthy recipes and batch-cooking solutions – plus you will even be sent a certificate on completion of the course! To enrol, contact Tricia using the leaflet below.

 

Image may contain: text that says "Jamie's MINISTRY OF LEEDS FOOD Online 6 week courses delivered over Zoom All Free! Tuesday 19th January 2pm Thursday 18th February 2pm Week Week Savoury Crepe and Poached egg Week Beef Stir fry and Egg Fried Rice Week BBQ Chicken and Wedges Pizza and Evolution Salad Week Humous Crudités and Indian Dal Flatbread Week 6 Simply Tomato Sauce with Pasta and Fish cake with Broccoli (Photos photographer) Please pop in or call 0113 242 5685 or email tricia.temperley@zestleeds.org.uk zest"

Alternatively, you can enrol by visiting https://try.oneyouleeds.co.uk/sign-up/
You MUST be a Leeds resident to enrol on this course.

Improving access to care for people with a Long term condition

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Survey from Healthwatch Leeds.

Healthwatch are working with Leeds City Council and the local NHS to improve the care, support and experience of people who live with a long-term condition.

Do you have a long term-condition or care for someone who has a long-term condition?

Please can you help improve local services by completing  this survey, which is your opportunity to say what works and what could be better https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ImproveAccess4People

 

 

Online Exhibitions from Aire Place Studios

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Aire Place Studios is a not-for-profit, Leeds-based Creative Studio, providing exhibition opportunities, low cost workspaces as well as a Community Hub which focuses on giving a platform to artists and creatives who wouldn’t traditionally have had such opportunities.

The two current exhibitons are being presented online and can be seen here: https://www.aireplacestudios.com/events-exhibitions/

Postcards Exhibition: 

16 curated postcards available to view online and to be purchased for a donation online

“Our project idea centres around community engagement and creativity during these challenging and unprecedented times, in which many creative practitioners are struggling with the financial and practical implications surrounding COVID-19. This process of creative documentation and community engagement appeals to us as a means of cataloguing our community’s thoughts and fears, messages of hope, and general experiences at this significant point in our history.

We have specifically chosen to communicate the project and its responses through postcards because of their tangible form, in a time where the world has become increasingly reliant on virtual, two-dimensional connections. The postcard as a souvenir of an experience, a communication tool, and as a memoir of our connections with the physical world echoes our intention to document and archive.”

Print It Exhibition:

four rectangular snippets of various pieces from the exhibition

“Mixed exhibition, intended to showcase fantastic works from local, regional, national and international artists. It includes work from a mixture of disciplines and media.  At Aire Place Studios we hope to reflect the creativity and diversity of artists, as well as providing an important opportunity for artists to exhibit their work to the public. Our intention is to broaden the public perception of art.”

 

 

Leeds City Council urging caution as case of new Covid variant are on the rise

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Leeds City Council issued a statement as more cases of the new Covid variant have been found in the city.

Residents are urged to stay home as much as possible and  take extra care to keep themselves safe and to help stop the spread.

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From Leeds City Council website:

The new UK COVID-19 variant is now believed to be responsible for around one in every five cases of the virus detected in Leeds, new figures have revealed.

Residents and communities across the city are being urged to stay home whenever possible and keep contact with others to an absolute minimum as instances of the highly contagious B117 variant increase.

The latest testing information also shows 344.2 cases per 100,000 people tested, with cases thought to be spreading at the fastest rate in the 20-35 age group.

Case numbers in Leeds have shown some slight fluctuations in the past few days, with more cases of the UK variant, thought to spread much more easily, being picked up during testing. Before Christmas, the variant was believed to be responsible for around just one in 20 local cases.

In light of this, the council is once again reminding everyone across the city to take every possible precaution to prevent the spread of the virus and keep the city safe.

Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “We have reached a critical stage in our long fight against this dreadful virus, which we know has already taken such a devastating toll on our city and its communities.

“As the rollout of vaccines accelerates, there is at last a real, tangible hope that finally, we are nearing the end of the worst stages of this terrible pandemic and may be able to start thinking towards the future sooner rather than later.

“However, the appearance of this highly contagious new variant means that until that time comes, it is absolutely imperative that we do not become complacent and do all that we can to prevent the virus spreading and cases increasing to the point where our local NHS services become overwhelmed.

“Leeds has shown remarkable grit and resolve throughout the pandemic and as we enter the final stretch, we need to call on those reserves once more to keep our families, loved ones, friends and neighbours safe.”

The council is continuing to work closely with health partners on a major rollout of vaccinations, with vaccination sites being set up at venues across the city and tens of thousands of vulnerable residents and key workers in high priority groups already receiving their first jabs.

Local GPs are working to provide vaccinations to as many care home residents and patients aged 80 as possible. In the coming weeks, the first community pharmacies will be starting to offer vaccinations and four large vaccination centres are being set up in West Yorkshire, including Elland Road.

Across the city’s care home network, efforts to protect some of the city’s most vulnerable have also seen vaccines given to 889 residents and 1,626 staff.

Victoria Eaton, Leeds City Council’s Director of Public Health, said: “Working alongside our partners in the NHS, we are making good progress in ensuring Leeds has a comprehensive and robust network of vaccine sites, equipped to cope with what will be one of the single greatest collective efforts the city and the country has ever seen.

“While it’s hugely encouraging to see vaccinations taking place, this new variant carries with it a real danger that cases could grow exponentially and our efforts to control the spread of the virus and protect local health services may consequently be placed in serious jeopardy.

“There is light at the end of the tunnel, but staying home, minimising contact with others and following the latest guidance around hygiene and social distancing must remain at the forefront of our minds over the coming months.”

Everyone in Leeds can do their bit to help fight the spread of COVID-19 by:

  • Staying home as much as you can and minimising contact with others when you do need to go out. Acting as though you have the virus is the best way to stay safe.
  • Regularly washing your hands for at least 20 seconds.
  • Wearing a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult, and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
  • Staying two metres apart from people you do not live with where possible.
  • Ensuring work venues are as COVID secure as possible.
  • Remembering that if you’ve had your vaccination or previously tested positive for COVID-19, it’s important that everyone still follows the rules to keep us all safe.

More information and support for residents can be found here: www.leeds.gov.uk/coronavirus.