Category Archives: Caring Together

Local elections 4th May – YOU WILL NEED PHOTO ID TO VOTE IN PERSON

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Local elections are coming up and these will be the first time the new voting rules apply. From now on you will need to show photographic ID to vote in person.

This includes an older persons bus pass or disabled persons bus pass.

Acceptable forms of photo ID are:

Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country

Driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or an EEA state

Biometric immigration document

Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)

Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)

Blue Badge

National identity card issued by an EEA state

Older Person’s Bus Pass

Disabled Person’s Bus Pass

Oyster 60+ Card

Freedom Pass

Scottish National Entitlement Card issued in Scotland

60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales

Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card issued in Wales

Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland

Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person’s SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland

War Disablement SmartPass or War Disabled SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland

60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland

Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland

Electoral Identity Card issued in Northern Ireland

Voter Authority Certificate or a temporary Voter Authority Certificate

If your photo ID has expired it will still be accepted as long as the photograph is still a good likeness of you.

If you don’t have any kind of photo ID you can apply for a free voter authority certificate to be used as ID specifically for voting and you can do this online—see https://www.leeds.gov.uk/your-council/elections/voter-id for more information or call 0113 222 4411 for a paper application form. Or you can also go to a library or community hub where they will help you to apply. You need to apply by 25th April to be able to use this in the May elections

If you vote by post you do not need photo ID

If you want some help with any of this, please contact Caring Together.

Changes to Bus Services in Woodhouse & Little London from Sunday 2nd April

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There are a number of changes to the bus services across Leeds from this Sunday – 2nd April. This will affect the current 51/52 service which runs through Woodhouse & Little London. This route is to be divided into 2 separate routes and so will no longer go through to Morley from this area.

The 51/52 route will run from Morley to Leeds City Centre and back only

A new service 38/39 will cover the route from Moor Allerton to Leeds City Centre (via Woodhouse & Little London). New service 38 will run via the old 51 route, and new service 39 will run via the 52 route.

They will all start and finish at Leeds Eastgate. The timetables can be found here: https://www.wymetro.com/buses/bus-timetables/

This and all the other changes to bus services are here: https://www.wymetro.com/media/9472/public-transport-changes-apr-2023-13807.pdf

Spring 2023 Newsletter

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Our latest newsletter is here along with some inserts, lots of information and upcoming activities, events and outings

You can also see previous newsletters here

Issue-99-Spring-2023

Winter-Warming-Soup-and-Roll-2023.

Skills-Share-April-to-June-2023

Standing-and-Seated-Pilates-April-2023

Coronation-Celebration-Afternoon-Tea-3rd-May-2023.-1

Dying-Matters-2023

The eligibility requirements for Warm Home Discount have changed this winter (2022-23)

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This may mean some of you will become eligible and in other cases some of you may not as you had done previously.

How is the scheme different from previous years?

One of the main changes is that households who meet the eligibility criteria are now guaranteed a payment. Previously, the scheme operated on a first come, first served basis, with only a limited number of discounts.

In addition, those who qualify no longer need to make an application. The discounts are made automatically.

However, the use of a high energy score for properties means that some of you may be less likely to qualify than in the past. In addition, fuel companies will no longer have the discretion to extend the discount to other groups who don’t get one of the means-tested benefits. In the past, some energy suppliers would allow families in receipt of Disability Living Allowance to apply, even if they were not on means-tested benefits. [Information sourced from: https://contact.org.uk/…/new-warm-home-discount-scheme…/]

If your property has a high energy cost score. You will only qualify if the government considers your property to have high energy costs.

In looking at this issue, the government will look at three main factors: the property type: its age; and its floor area. This will be made based on information about your property held by the Valuation Office Agency.

Where there are changes you are being asked to contact the helpline but we are being informed that when trying to make contact it can take ages to get through. We have even tried ourselves and it does take some time so please do persevere as you will get through at some point. They have said the best times to call are about 4pm.

I have noted below further information that might help. And as always if you need to get in touch with us then please do.

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/warm-home-discount/

Warm soup, warm building and a warm welcome for all!

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Our doors will open at 11am until 2pm tomorrow and will be every Wednesday until the end of March for our ‘Winter Warmer’. So please call in, even if just for a cuppa, or some take away soup, or stay for the whole time if you you wish. We would love to see you.

Tomorrow: Wednesday 25th January 2023 there will also be some live music from 12.30pm thanks to the students of Leeds University LUU Music Impact in the Community – LUUMIC. They joined us in December and are looking forward to being with us again.

Venue: Caring Together premises, 127 Woodhouse Street.

Time: Drop in any time between 11am and 2pm (soup usually served from around 12 noon)

Warm Wednesdays – Soup and a roll

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Our first soup and a roll get-together was very well attended last week and everyone enjoyed the homemade carrot and coriander soup.

There’s another one today and every Wednesday until the end of March. At the Caring Together premises, 127 Woodhouse Street. Drop in any time between 11am and 2pm (soup usually served from around 12 noon) – or come and join us for the full 3 hours if you wish.

Warm soup, warm building and a warm welcome for all!

We won’t tell you what today’s soup is, you will have to come along to find out, but we are sure it will be delicious.