Our Coronation Celebration Afternoon Tea is this afternoon between 1pm and 3pm.
Whether you are excited for the Coronation or not we hope you will join us for a lovely afternoon afternoon get-together with nice food and and good company
At our premises on Charing Cross Square – Woodhouse Street 1pm – 3pm
We will be closed on Monday 1st May for the May Day Bank Holiday
We are back on Tuesday 2nd and there’s plenty going on:
| Tuesday: | 11.30am-12.30pm 1.30-2.30pm | Dance Fusion at Lovell Park Hub Drop in coffee at Caring Together premises |
| Wednesday: | 11.00am – 12.30pm 1.00-3.00pm | Coronation Skill Share at Caring Together premises Coronation Celebration Afternoon Tea at Caring Together premises |
| Thursday: | 11.00am – 12.30pm | Dying Matters “Let’s Talk About It” Coffee Morning at Caring Together premises |
| Friday: | 1.30 -2.30pm | Gentle exercise at Woodhouse Community Centre |
The first of a number of cost of living payments for 2023 will be paid between 25th April and 17th May 2023, although most people are expected to receive it by 4th May. This first payment is £301 and you do not need to apply -you’ll be paid automatically in the same way you usually get your benefit or tax credits if you qualify.
You should get this payment if you are entitled to one of the following benefits:
If you get child tax credit or working tax but don’t also get one of the above benefits, you should still get the payment but it will arrive in your account between 2nd and 9th May
You need to have been entitled to it for at least one day during the qualifying period, which is between 26 January 2023 and 25 February 2023.
If you are over state pension age and on a low income but do not already get pension credit it is worth checking if you are entitled to claim as soon as possible – pension credit can be backdated for 3 months so if you make a successful claim now (before 19th May) you would then also be entitled to this cost of living payment. You can check this online https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator or call the pension credit helpline 0800 99 1234
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.
We are closed for the Easter Holidays from Friday 7th and re-open on Wednesday 12 April
The Councillor’s surgery will be open at our premises on Tuesday 11th April between 5pm and 6pm
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
A big shout out on International Women’s Day to all the amazing women we work with, who we support and who support us too in many many ways!
(And all our other amazing people too!!!!).
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
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/
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)
