Author: Marcus Evans

Dear All,

I am writing to inform you that we are opening Greenmount Church and Greenmount Old School for ‘Cuppa and a Chat’ sessions in order to welcome those in our community who have been feeling lonely and isolated and a little anxious about stepping out into the community after such a long time in lockdown. This is being done through Bury Council’s Isolation and Loneliness initiative, everything will be done under strict Covid risk assessment rules.

These sessions will be run by volunteers in Greenmount who wish to help this transition run smoothly and allow residents to meet face to face in a socially distant capacity. Following government guidelines, we would ask that you wear a mask until seated and use the hand sanitiser provided. Our volunteers will help to provide a safe environment for you to have a brew and a chat with each other.  I feel this will help tremendously in creating a gentle transition to us all meeting up again in the future.

We intend to begin these sessions on Monday 29^th March with times as follow:

Monday and Wednesday 10.30 till 12 noon in Greenmount Church.

Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 2pm – 4pm in Greenmount Old School.

I must stress that this ‘drop in’ is intended for those residents who have been isolated and lonely and I am afraid they are not for family groups at this time.

The poster attached will be displayed at various points in the local area and there will be a leaflet posted through every household door shortly.  In the meantime, if you are aware of any individual who would benefit from this, please let them know.

With best wishes,

Julie Southworth

Good Afternoon all,

Please find attached the latest update from Pritesh Patel of Bury MBC including information on vaccination numbers (now over 76,000), case rates, testing, support available and a few other reminders and updates.

Best wishes

Julie Southworth

Please find attached the puzzles in our GVC jigsaw library, this is proving to be a very popular scheme. Should you wish to purchase a puzzle for just £2 please contact Anke by email or phone and she is happy to deliver your requested puzzle. Should you want more afterwards, it will only cost £1 and Anke will collect your old one and deliver a new one, if you wish to return it.

Please contact:

Anke Harris 

[email protected]

Mobile:  07825 016950

Spare Wool

We have a request for any spare balls of wool. A local lady is knitting squares for a charity and she is running out of wool. Wool could be left in the Old School porch on a Saturday morning.

Dear All

Thank you so much for the excellent support that you are providing to the Brandlesholme Community Foodbank. They are currently OK for egg boxes as their supplier is currently sending them boxed eggs, however good quality, strong shopping bags are always welcome.  A new requirement is for plastic or aluminium storage boxes, takeaway food containers, butter containers etc.  This is because the excess donations of fresh fruit and vegetables are now being cooked and frozen for distribution.  A freezable container that will hold 1 or 2 portions would be ideal. 

A reminder that donations can be taken straight to the Brandlesholme Community Centre https://www.neighbourly.com/project/5e767c3bc7ac8e0514a90673 on weekday mornings or left at the offices of Nazia Haque  (Old Post Office).  If either of these two places are not accessible for you please reply to this email and we can collect them from you.

Thank you again for your continued support.

Julie Southworth

We had intended to have our Spring Show on  Saturday April 17th at Greenmount Old School but have had to cancel it.

However we hope to be able to have our Plant Sale on Saturday June 5th outside in the yard of Greenmount Old School where we will be able to spread out.

Best wishes Dorothy.

Email [email protected]

Good morning everyone

Tree Work

I wish to inform everyone that on Thursday and Friday this week Electricity North West contractors will be carrying out some tree work in the woodland near to the viaduct and Island Lodge/ Tower Farm. They are cutting back and clearing trees under the power lines towards Tower Farm Apartments. Safety measures will be in place but please assist them by staying clear of the area where the contractors are working.

Porch Boxes

Last week I informed you that Porch Boxes had a food collection / donation point in the front garden of 31 Greenheys  Crescent, this information is correct but please note the collection point is a clearly labelled white storage box and not a wheelie bin as I incorrectly stated.

Local Council / GM Mayoral Elections – COVID Arrangements

Please below find information related to arrangements being put in place to allow for a COVID safe election day on 6^th May when we will be voting in the Bury MBC Local and Greater Manchester Mayoral elections.

https://www.mynewsdesk.com/uk/bury-council/pressreleases/voting-safely-at-this-years-elections-3073292

Best wishes and keep safe

Julie Southworth

Dear all

Please find attached the latest COVID update from Bury MBC

Best regards

Julie Southworth

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Good Evening all,

I just wanted to share some of the latest updates with you all for the last week.

• Bury’s latest update (18.02.2021) attached. This includes updates around vaccinations, current rates that seem to have stopped going down, testing, local support and the Community Champions programme which is due to be launched soon.

• Some updated guidance on carrying out work in homes can be found here if required. This is directly related to those who are self isolating or shielding.  Relevant to landlords & tenants too.  Although not a widespread issue at all, this is just shared to provide any clarity if residents aren’t sure.
  • Updates include:

·         No work should be carried out in a household which is isolating because one or more family members has symptoms unless it is to remedy a direct risk to the safety of the household or the public.

·         For households in which one or more people are shielding, any non-emergency work should only be undertaken at the discretion of the individuals concerned and anyone entering a CEV household should take significant precautions to prevent infection.

• Fuel Hardship – for any residents facing fuel hardship or worrying about paying their fuel bills, it is important to note the Clinically Extremely Venerable (CEVs) residents who have been asked to shield can contact their energy suppliers to be added to their Priority Services Register which means they could be eligible for additional support.  More Q&A information attached.

• Date for your Diary (& please share) – Bury North Community Hub would love it if you could join us on zoom for an informal coffee and catch up. We will be talking about what funding is currently available for community groups and how we can support each other with funding applications and work together to support our communities in Bury North. You’ll also be able to meet Becky Smyllie, Bury VCFA, Funding and Development for Bury North who will be working with community groups in the area.   Come and join us on Friday 5^th March 11:00am – 12.00pm.  Please come along and say hi and please share with lots of other groups & organisations who support our residents in Bury North (Ramsbottom, Tottington, North Manor & Elton).   Zoom link to follow

Many thanks, and hope you had a good weekend

Pritesh

Pritesh Patel         

Bury North Community Hub / Bury Live Well Service

Good morning

Please find below and attached a message from the Bury Homeless Project.

The collection point in Greenmount is at the office of Nazia Haque.

Please support this worthy cause if you can.

Best regards

Julie Southworth

Good Evening

Diane Gaunt from the Porch Boxes organisation has asked me to circulate this letter of thanks for all the donations and support received throughout 2020.

And also a reminder, Porch Boxes have a wheelie bin collection point (for food only) in the garden of 31 Greenheys Crescent, Greenmount.

Thank you for supporting this worthy cause, especially thorough these troubling times.

Best regards

Julie Southworth

Dear All

The Sunnywood Project is a wonderful local initiative which offers a host of activities. Today sees the launch of a free, self-led 5k trail around the historic Kirklees Valley. The trail is explained by Professor Jigget here  https://youtu.be/41qs_Bqxm-c

Download the map from the link, go explore and learn whenever you like https://www.thesunnywoodproject.co.uk/history-trail

Enjoy!

Julie Southworth