Category Archives: Caring Together

Maps to help motorists navigate Leeds city centre and find disabled parking bays

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Two online maps have been launched to help Blue Badge holders and other road users navigate around Leeds city centre as major road improvements are carried out and completed.

The disabled parking map shows the on-street locations where Blue Badge holders can park, with 111 spaces allocated across 21 different locations in the city centre. How to access the spaces and the direction of travel to them is shown on the map in blue, whilst the exit routes are shown in yellow. Everyone registered with the council as a Blue Badge holder will also receive a link to an online version of the and can request a physical copy of the map.

You can view or download the blue badge parking map here https://news.leeds.gov.uk/resources/new-disabled-routes-map-final (note you may need to download it to zoom in on different parts of the map)

New Disabled Routes Map.FINAL

The second map shows which roads have restricted access and at what times. Where there are no restrictions at any time, roads are shown in green. However, others including The Headrow, Vicar Lane and Call Lane restrict access to certain road users at specific times of the day. For example, a large section of Vicar Lane is restricted to only buses, hackney carriages and cycles between 7am – 10am and between 4pm – 7pm.  

You can view or download the current restrictions map here https://news.leeds.gov.uk/resources/current-restrictions-map-final (note you may need to download it to zoom in on different parts of the map)

Current Restrictions Map FINAL

The new restrictions will be enforced by cameras and Penalty Charge Notices will be issued for infringements. Some of the restrictions are already being enforced. Cameras for several of the new restrictions will be activated over the coming months and the public will be notified when new cameras are to be activated. All funds from this will be reinvested into making improvements to the Leeds transport network.

The maps have been created following discussions with stakeholders, to help ensure people can find their way around the city centre during the ongoing major improvements. These changes are part of the £173.5million Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme as part of Connecting Leeds, that aims to dramatically improve public transport and cycling and walking infrastructure across Leeds. It has been shaped from public consultations including the Transport Conversation in 2016, the City Centre consultation in 2018 and consultations on the Headrow and Corn Exchange improvements in 2019.

In these consultations, members of the public asked for:

  • priority for buses, pedestrians and cyclists above private vehicles
  • the retention of access routes to city centre public car parks and delivery routes for businesses
  • easy access for blue badge parking
  • bus gates to increase the reliability of buses travelling through the city centre (A ‘bus gate’ is a short section of road where access is restricted to buses, hackney carriages and pedal cycles only at certain times (as specified by the signage)).
  • enforceable and meaningful restrictions for private vehicle users
  • access maintained to important Leeds landmarks such as the first direct arena, the universities, Leeds General Infirmary, and Leeds Playhouse.

The maps will be further updated once future city centre improvement works have been delivered.

£150 Council Tax Rebate to help with energy bills.

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Important: You may need to claim to get it.

Most households are eligible for a council tax rebate of £150 to help with rising energy costs.

This rebate is a one-off payment and does not have to be paid back.

To be eligible, on Friday 1 April 2022, your household must:

  • be in council tax band A, B, C or D
  • be the only or main place you live

Find out which band your property is in by checking your council tax bill or the government’s council tax band search.

If you pay your council tax by direct debit you don’t need to do anything, the £150 will be paid into your bank account by the end of April.

If you don’t pay by direct debit you will need to fill in a form to claim your rebate. This form will be available from today at leeds.gov.uk/energybillsrebate

You can choose to be paid directly, or to get £150 off this year’s council tax bill.  

To complete the form, you will need:  

  • an email address
  • your council tax account number
  • one proof of identity, such as passport, driving licence, bank statement or utility bill (this cannot be your council tax bill)
  • Bank details if you want the money paid into your bank.

If you are eligible but don’t pay any council tax because you get full council tax benefit support you will also need to claim via the form at leeds.gov.uk/energybillsrebate

If you need help to claim this you can get help at any of the councils Community Hubs from today.

You can also contact Caring Together for help to fill in the forms.

If you are not eligible for the rebate – for example if your house is in a higher band but you will be struggling to pay your bills there is some support available from a ‘discretionary fund’ and we should have more details on how you can access this soon.

‘Living With Covid’ – Guidance from today and end of free universal testing

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See https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-sets-out-next-steps-for-living-with-covid for full details

From today the updated guidance will advise people with symptoms of a respiratory infection, including COVID-19, and a high temperature or who feel unwell, to try stay at home and avoid contact with other people, until they feel well enough to resume normal activities and they no longer have a high temperature.

Anyone with a positive COVID-19 test result will is advised to try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days, which is when they are most infectious.

Advice will be provided for individuals who need to leave their home when they have symptoms or have tested positive, including avoiding close contact with people with a weakened immune system, wearing a face-covering and avoiding crowded places.

Free lateral flow tests will not be available for most people and you will not normally be advised to take a PCR test if you have symptoms but to follow the guidance above. However free testing will still be available for some groups if they have symptoms and these include:

• People who are eligible for community COVID treatments as they are at higher risk of getting seriously ill – these people will be contacted directly and sent lateral flow tests at home to use if they have symptoms

• Certain patients in hospital where a PCR test is required for their care and to provide access to treatments and to support ongoing clinical surveillance for new variants

• People will be tested before being discharged from hospital into care homes, hospices, homelessness settings and domestic abuse refuges

You will be able to buy lateral flow tests at chemists

Caring Together has a small supply of lateral flow tests for our members who might need them – please get in touch if this is the case.

How Neighbourhood Networks contribute to Healthy Ageing

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Sheffield Hallam University, and the Centre for Ageing Better, recently shared the latest insights from their evaluation of the Leeds Neighbourhood Networks (like Caring Together)

There are 37 Neighbourhood Network Schemes covering different parts of the city and this research has been looking at how they contribute to healthy ageing. The short animation below is a summary of the findings or you can see the full report, and other information about the research here https://ageing-better.org.uk/publications

National Day of Reflection 2022

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On the second anniversary of the UK lockdown – a day to pause and reflect on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years and on the lives of those we have lost.

Whether a death is recent or long ago, and whether or not it was due to Covid-19, every year there are millions of people bereaved. The restrictions we’ve all been living under have meant that many people have had to grieve without friends and family around them.

Marie Curie UK are the driving force behind this day and they will be hosting free online events all day – you can see what is happening at https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/get-involved/day-of-reflection/talks

  • At 12pm, there’ll be a minute’s silence and people are encouraged to come together to honour loved ones who have died and reflect on the challenges we’ve overcome by observing a nationwide minute of silence.
  • Civic buildings in Leeds will be lit up in yellow during the evening.
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Leeds Bereavement Forum will run a virtual death café between 3-4pm to provide a dedicated space to encourage discussion about death and dying in a relaxed environment. For more information visit Leeds Bereavement Forum’s National Day of Reflection Death Cafe | Leeds Bereavement Forum (lbforum.org.uk) and email for the zoom link jane.robinson@lbforum.org.uk

Next week Caring Together will be holding our ‘Nature Filled Spring Get Together. We will be coming together and creating our own small space of remembrance for loved ones no longer with us

Nature-Filled-Spring-Get-Together-2022

Scam warning

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We have been made aware of a man in van turning up at homes in Woodhouse & Little London saying he has been sent to do repairs, in an attempt to gain entry.

Please don’t let anyone in if you are not expecting a workperson to come and carry out repairs.

And even if you are expecting someone, please check ID, and call the company you were expecting, to check if you have any doubts.

Neurodiversity Celebration Week….

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Webinar Logo

‘This week is Neurodiversity Week which aims to bring about worldwide neurodiversity acceptance, equality and inclusion in school, workplaces and community. It gives us some space to take a moment in the year to recognise all members of the neurodivergent community and celebrate the every day experiences and strengths of diverse thinkers’

See below for some stories and then below some events happening online this week

https://www.leedsconservatoire.ac.uk/about-us/news/neurodiversity-celebration-week-neurodivergent-creatives/

See below the Neurodiversity Celebration Week
2022 Events Schedule – click on the link

https://www.neurodiversityweek.com/events

They’ve created a diverse schedule of events for you to enjoy during Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2022! From introductory webinars, panel discussions and more, our wide range of events aim to educate and encourage conversations around neurodiversity, providing a safe space where you can join thousands of people in celebrating different minds.

All events are free of charge.

Please note that these events are not being recorded, to encourage our participants to speak openly about their personal stories and experiences

NCW 2022 Events Calendar v.10.png

Advice for older people to stay safe and well as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted

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NHS Leeds CCG | West Yorkshire CANN

We are sharing some advice from Leeds NHS around older people keeping safe and concerns they may have as restrictions come to an end. Key points are below and you can read more at https://www.leedsccg.nhs.uk/health/coronavirus/take-care-of-you/

“As we enter a new phase of living with the virus we would like to share with you some key advice and messages that may make you feel a bit safer and secure, when adjusting to new guidance. We know many older people may have had difficult experiences during the pandemic and we would like you to know we are here to offer advice and signposting.

COVID-19 continues to be a feature of our lives, so this next phase is around learning to live with it and managing the risk to ourselves and others.

Rates of COVID-19 infection are high and we should all continue to be cautious, help to reduce the risk of spread and protect people at highest risk of serious illness.

If you have not yet had your vaccine, we are here to support you whenever you are ready.

You are no longer legally required to wear a mask, social distance or self-isolate, but our advice is to continue to wear a mask in enclosed and crowded spaces such as public transport and health and care settings. Public Health advice still recommends self-isolation if you test positive for COVID-19.

If you are still working you no longer need to work from home.

Where possible, meet outdoors and let fresh air into homes and other enclosed spaces.

Many people will be excited about the return to the way things were before COVID-19, whilst others, may be more cautious.

Please get both doses of the vaccine and the COVID-19 booster if you are eligible to make sure you have the highest level of protection.

It is also important to reduce the risk of spread by washing hands, getting tested if you have symptoms, and isolating if advised to do so.

Top Tips

We want to make the advice as relevant and as clear as possible. We have created these Top Tips for you to use:

If you wish to wear one, keep a mask handy – in a purse, pocket, the car or your bag

Do keep washing your hands for 20 seconds or more

Remember to carry some hand sanitiser and use it regularly

Avoid busy, indoor spaces and meet outside if you wish

Take an extra step – try to keep some distance from others where you can

Let the fresh air in – open more windows or sit near a door

Please ask friends and family to take a lateral flow test before they visit you

Please ask family members to take extra care and follow the hands, face, space guidance if you are helping out with child-care or going on trips.