Carers Rights Day 2022

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There are 74,000 unpaid carers in Leeds. If you look after a partner, relative or friend who is disabled or ill due to physical or mental health, you are a carer, even if you don’t think of yourself as one.

Caring Costs unpaid carers in many ways, from carers’ wellbeing and ability to access health services, to costs to their finances and employment options, to the current cost of living crisis which is being felt even more acutely by carers throughout the UK. 

Find out about the emotional, practical and financial support available to you. https://www.carersleeds.org.uk/

Lets Talk Transport

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West Yorkshire's first ever all-electric buses - and where you can spot them in Leeds - Leeds Live

Caring Together, in partnership with Leeds Older Peoples Forum are pleased to be able to offer to members an invite to a Let’s Talk Transport Event

This will be held on Monday 28th November and will involve a Visit via electric bus to the White Rose Shopping Centre:

Pick up will be from Charing Cross in Woodhouse at approx… 10am, arriving at the White Rose at approx… 10.30am. The return journey will start at approx… 1.30pm.

The bus can accommodate one stationary wheelchair and multiple fold up chairs with passengers seated on seats.

There are spaces available for 9 more people. These are likely to be taken up very quickly so contact us soon if you are interested.

Visit to consist of:

  • Free lunch of Fish & Chips from Graveleys
  • William Merrit to provide mobility equipment to travel through the centre.
  • Visit Shopability store and White Rose representative to discuss facilities and available support whilst shopping at White Rose
  • Brandon to represent First Bus and say a few words around customer experience 
  • Return back to the bus with a demonstration of how an electric wheelchair or type 2 mobility scooter can safely board a bus.

NOTE: This is not a shopping trip and staff will be unavailable to attend on the day.

Caring Together Winter 2022 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-98-Winter-2022

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Winter-Wellbeing

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Upcoming Cost of Living and Winter Fuel payments

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• Winter fuel payments – to those who were at state pension age on 26th September 2022. This year it will include an extra £300, so the total payment will be either £500 or £600 per household. You will get this automatically into the same bank account as your pension and they should mostly be paid in November or December. If you are eligible and have not received the payment by 13th January 2023 you can contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre on 0800 731 0160

• The second instalment of the cost of living payment is due to be paid between now and 23rd November. This payment is £324 and is paid to people receiving Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support. It will be paid automatically. For people receiving only Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit the payment will be a bit later and will start from 23rd November.You must have been entitled to the benefit on at least one day in the qualifying period – 26th August -25th September 2022.

Light Night Leeds 2020

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Thursday 13th and Friday 14th October

Back to the future as Light Night takes it to the next level: Light Night Leeds 2022

Light Night Leeds is the UK’s largest annual arts and light festival and returns on 13th and 14th October 2022.

For the past 17 years, over two incredible nights in October, some of Leeds’s most recognisable indoor and outdoor spaces have been transformed by spectacular artworks and captivating performances by local, national and international artists.

The streets of Leeds will be transformed into an incredible illuminated playground with more than 50 spectacular light installations, dynamic projections and interactive artworks.T

his year’s event will have the theme of Playful City, with some of Leeds’s most recognisable landmarks and locations hosting spellbinding installations aimed at encouraging visitors to engage and interact with the city in new, fun and innovative ways.

Highlights will include a thrilling, large scale projection on The Queen’s Hotel, which will take the people of Leeds on a futuristic, digital rollercoaster ride.

At Leeds Civic Hall, a homage to the classic video games of the 1980s will see visitors take control of a high tech augmented reality experience, played out across the historic building’s impressive façade.

At Leeds Art Gallery, local artists Akeelah Bertram and Adam Glatherine’s installation will turn sounds into a cascade of colour and light across a network of eight-foot tall pipes, while at the Leeds Playhouse, a giant, luminous slinky will tumble end over end from the rooftops around the city’s famous theatre.

The popular Spark drummers will also be back with a unique performance at Trinity Leeds, while the historic lifting tower on Wellington Place will be the backdrop for a projection that will give a modern twist to the tale of Rapunzel.

See https://www.lightnightleeds.co.uk/ for more details of when, where and what is going on and including details of where you can get a printed guide

Councillors Surgery at Caring Together today

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Headingley, Hyde Park and Woodhouse Councillors will be at Caring Together premises today between 5pm and 6pm for their monthly advice surgery.

This is open to all residents in the area and no appointment is needed so you can just call in if you would like to speak to your local councillor.

Caring Together – 127 Woodhouse Street (Charing Cross), Leeds, LS6 2PY

World Mental Health Day

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Today – 10/10 is World Mental Health Day and we are sharing with you ‘Take10’ from Mindwell Leeds for some calm, mindful time which might might help. Here are 10 activities you can do for 10 minutes or 10 seconds.

MindWell Take 10 for World Mental Health Day resource, with text and images, encouraging us all to take 10 seconds for ourselves with a choice of 10 different wellbeing activities. Find a plain text version from the link in our message.

And also some information about where to access mental health support or find resources to help you better understand your mental well being

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Energy Bills Rebate Scam Alert

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Please be aware of energy rebate scams which are circulating. There are fake texts and emails going round which appear to be from gov.uk or from Ofgem – the energy regulator and these are asking people to click a link to register for the £400 energy rebate.

The links will go to a site that is designed to collect your personal details for the scammers. Some of these sites look very much like the real government website but they are fake – you do not need to register to get this discount, or give anyone your personal details, your energy company will be automatically applying it to your bill. They should have already been in touch to let you know how they will be doing this.

If a suspicious text message is received it can be forwarded to 7726 free of charge, and the suggestion is for it to be deleted. 

Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk

If someone suspects they have been a victim of a scam and unwittingly shared personal financial details, they should notify their bank ASAP and also report the matter to Action Fraud 0300 123 2040.

There is also the possibility that criminals may attempt to approach people via cold calling at the door, under the guise of this official support scheme. If anyone receives an unsolicited knock on the door regarding any discount scheme or refund please be vigilant.

How you’ll get the discount:

Households will start to receive the discount from October

You do not need to apply for the discount, and there’s no need to contact your energy supplier.

The discount will be applied to your monthly household electricity bill for 6 months starting in October 2022. You’ll get:

  • £66 in October and November
  • £67 in December, January, February and March

You’ll get the discount monthly, even if you pay for your energy quarterly or use a payment card.

Traditional prepayment meter users will get equivalent vouchers that you will need to redeem.