Flu vaccination reminder
 If you have been invited for a flu vaccination and are yet to have yours, you are being reminded to make an appointment and grab a flu jab as soon as possible.
The main period of flu season is almost here and being vaccinated is an important part of staying well over winter and helping to reduce pressures on the health and care system.
It is important to boost your immunity - your ability to fight off infections – by having the vaccination when it is offered so you are best placed to fight off any infections this winter.
If you have an existing health problem because you are in an at risk group you are 11 times more likely to experience complications if you get flu.
Go with the flow this Christmas
 If you are planning meeting up with family and friends over the festive period then please consider those who may be more vulnerable by taking a Lateral Flow Test before you go.
People are at higher risk of catching or passing on COVID-19 in crowded and enclosed spaces, where there are more people who might be infectious and where there is limited fresh air. As such, businesses should continue to ensure they have adequate ventilation and people should wear face coverings if in crowded or enclosed spaces.
The guidance also recommends that people take a rapid lateral flow device (LFD) test before attending any higher risk spaces..
As workplaces start to draw up plans for Christmas parties, employers may therefore wish to encourage staff to take a test to reduce the risk of people spreading COVID-19 without knowing it.
The Health Secretary Sajid Javid advised employees heading to festive office parties and those visiting vulnerable people to take the free tests “as a precaution”.
Anyone over the age of 11 can access a free lateral flow test kit, which are designed for people without coronavirus symptoms who have not been told to self-isolate.
A maximum of two kits, which contain seven tests each, can be collected from some pharmacies, community centres and libraries, or ordered for home delivery via the Government website.
Winter support package for struggling households
Households facing financial hardship this winter can benefit from a council-led support package.
Bradford Council has been allocated almost £5.7m from the Government’s Household Support Fund (HSF) to help residents who would otherwise struggle to buy food, keep their home warm, pay essential utility bills or meet other essential living costs through winter.
Part of the money was used to provide food vouchers to low-income families with school-age children during the October half-term. Around 26,000 children were supported by that scheme.
With energy costs rising, the council has chosen to spend almost half of the funding on giving households on the lowest incomes a £50 contribution to their utility bills this winter. Payments will be made to households in receipt of Council Tax Reduction. People do not need to apply for the payment, it will be sent automatically to those who are eligible. The money will be paid in two £25 instalments, the first in December and the second in February. Around 46,000 households are set to benefit from this help with energy costs.
Another large portion of the funding is focussed on helping children and families who may be struggling for food. Money is being allocated to schools, food banks and voluntary and community groups so they can support their local communities.
Assistance will be available for low-income households who need essential items such as a cooker or fridge. Support will also be directed towards care leavers and carers in need.
Vaccination reminder for care home business visitors
 Anyone planning a visit to a care home, including tradesmen and women, beauticians and hairdressers, are being reminded they need to have evidence they are vaccinated before entering the building.
Visitors are being reminded they may not be allowed to access inside a care home if they have not got proof of vaccination downloaded to the NHS app, their phone or have the official paper letter.
New government regulations came into force on 11 November 2021, requiring care home staff to refuse entry to anybody who cannot evidence that they have had two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine.
At this time of year, people may be working or visiting care homes who do not normally visit and we’re asking people to be prepared to avoid any unnecessary delays or issues with entering a care home.
Ask For Angela campaign launched to improve night-time safety
Working with West Yorkshire Police we launched the 'Ask for Angela' initiative across the district yesterday.
The idea is that anyone out on a date or on a night out who feels unsafe, vulnerable or threatened can discreetly seek help by approaching venue staff and asking them for 'Angela'. This will indicate to staff that they need help and a member of staff will support and assist them.
It works by licensed premises pledging to take part in the scheme and displaying 'Ask for Angela' posters. This shows their staff know what to do if someone asks if they can speak with 'Angela'.
Licensed premises please support the campaign by:
- Displaying the poster in your venue
- Sharing on social media
Tiny Forest to be planted at Bowling Park Primary
A Bradford primary school is the first in the district to plant a Tiny Forest on its grounds, thanks to support from ourselves and Earthwatch Europe and funding from the Defra Green Recovery Challenge Fund and MINI Electric.
Bowling Park Primary held a planting day on Wednesday, 24 November, when pupils, staff, members of Earthwatch, Bradford Council and volunteers from the local community started the transformation of a small section of land.
A Tiny Forest is an area of land the size of a tennis court, densely planted with 600 native trees, plants and ground cover. This is a Japanese method designed to accelerate forest development, pioneered by Dr Akira Miyawaki and brought to the UK for the first time by Earthwatch Europe.
We have worked with Bowling Park Primary and Earthwatch to set up this project and the we hope to get more Tiny Forests created across the district.
Innovative action plan gets funding to reduce the impact of flooding across West Yorkshire
The Bradford District will benefit from an innovative regional plan to reduce the impact of flooding over the next six years.
The West Yorkshire Flood Innovation Programme (FLIP) is being launched this week to coincide with National Flood Action Week. It has also just received £160,000, thanks to a successful bid for local levy funding from the Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, which will help to kick start the programme.
The programme is being led by five local Lead Flood Authorities across the region – Bradford Council, Calderdale Council, Kirklees Council, Leeds City Council and Wakefield Council.
It has five themes, which will work at catchment level and across administrative boundaries, and each one is led by one of the local authorities.
You have rights reminder for those caring for a friend or relative
Residents who are caring for a friend or relative are being invited to get free flu and Covid-19 booster vaccines, and find out more about their rights, at a number of events on Carers Rights Day 2021.
The events in Bradford and Keighley, on Thursday November 25, offer the chance for unpaid carers to get their vaccines, and information and advice, along with cake and drinks.
The charity Carers’ Resource, Bradford Council, and Act as One Bradford District and Craven, have joined up to run the sessions together to highlight the rights of unpaid carers.
Wrose book exchange
Our Libraries Service is working in partnership with Age UK Bradford District to order and collect library books from their Community Hub in Wrose.
This is a pilot scheme for people to request books from the library service which can then be collected and returned to the Age UK Bradford District Community Hub at Wrose.
This free service is a new way for any Wrose resident who cannot easily access other Bradford Libraries services, to borrow books and enjoy choosing and chatting about reading with local volunteers at the Wrose Age UK Bradford District Community Hub.
The Book Exchange will be open at Wrose to take orders and for collection of requested books on Mondays and Thursdays, between 1pm and 3pm. Customers can call in or phone 01274 391190 at these times to use the Book Exchange. Books can be returned to Wrose Age UK Bradford District during Hub opening hours Monday to Saturday, 9am to 4pm.
The Book Exchange will start taking customer requests from Monday, 22 November, and officially opens on Monday, 29 November.
Integrated Rail Plan debated at Transport for the North meeting
This week we issued a statement in response to a debate about the Government's Integrated Rail Plan at a meeting of Transport for the North
Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, said: "We welcome the outcomes of the Transport for the North board meeting. Mayors and Leaders from across the North and across the political divide spoke up for Bradford. There is huge support in the North for a through station in Bradford city centre, which is connected to Leeds and Manchester. Government need to hear these Northern voices and act accordingly."
Read the full statement here.
Watch the meeting here.
|
