Be a good neighbour this winter

~ BAACA

Top tips for keeping that lockdown community spirit going as the weather gets colder, courtesy of Buckinghamshire Integrated Care Partnership.

Find out more at https://www.yourcommunityyourcare.org.uk/

If you’re interested in setting up or helping with a Good Neighbour’s Group for Bellingdon/Asheridge area please get in touch: contact@bellingdon.com

Keep warm in winter

Cold weather can affect your health. Get advice on reducing fuel bills or making your home warmer through the Simple Energy Advice Helpline or call 0800 444 202.

Be a good neighbour

If you want to help elderly or frail neighbours but are not sure how, try these simple steps. You can do these all at a safe distance and they can make a huge difference:

  • Say ‘hello’ – simple human contact is vital for our general wellbeing.
  • Ask – not everyone will ask for help, but it doesn’t mean they don’t need it.
  • Medicines – ask if they have a good supply of medication to get through a period of severe weather or bank holidays. Offer to collect them.
  • Shopping – in very cold or icy conditions it may be safer to stay indoors. Ask if you can get any essentials they need or to top up their gas or electric meter.
  • Know the signs – not seen a neighbour for a while? Are their curtains always drawn? Is there milk still on the doorstep or mail in the door? They may need help. Don’t wait. Knock on the door and check if they are ok.

If you need to speak to someone urgently about a vulnerable adult:

  • Report abuse: 0800 137 915 
  • Speak to our adult social care team:01296 383 204
  • Outside office hours: 0800 999 7677

If it is an emergency and they need immediate help call 999

Rough sleepers

If you have seen a rough sleeper and they are aged over 18 years, you should send an alert to StreetLink. Their details will be sent to the local authority or outreach service for the area where you saw the person. They will try to find the person and connect them to support.

If you have seen a rough sleeper and they are aged under 18 years, call the police. Do not contact StreetLink.

Community action and volunteering

View the guidance on community action during severe weather.

Thames Valley Police Cyber Secure 6-day Challenge

~ BAACA

Today is the day, we’re launching Six Days to Cyber Secure and inviting you to join us in taking one simple step each day to secure your personal information online.

To take your first step, which will only take a few minutes, visit our online advice area at https://rlsd.co/p/QF1kKQ which is filled with how-to guides, videos from our Cyber Protect team and help on how to stay safe online.

We’ll be releasing the next steps at 12pm each day so make sure you check back for your next action in the six day challenge.

Our Cyber Protect Officers Mark and Katie are on-hand for the next six days to answer any questions you have about the steps you’re taking or about cyber security in general. You can find their contact details on the online area or you can follow them on twitter @TVPCyber_Fraud.

Or, you can join an online question and answer session with them on Thursday evening where they will be answering your questions as well as sharing handy tips and examples of what can go wrong if you’re not cyber secure. To join, simply visit www.tvpengage.co.uk from 7pm on Thursday 8 October.

Message Sent By
Mel Reedman (Police, Communications Officer, Thames Valley)

St John’s Bellingdon – Sunday Service 4th October 2020

~ BAACA

Dear all

It’s Saturday again and so time to upload our service for St John’s Bellingdon for Sunday 4th October onto YouTube.

This week we’re still with our usual format of Morning Worship with a single video. Once again we’ve filmed most of it in church and continued with the words and images together – slightly different angle so that you can still see the flowers.

This week our Psalm is Psalm 80 verses 7-19 and readings are Philippians 3:4b-14 and Matthew 21:33-end and they are read by Eileen. Jane prepared the intercessions but had problems recording them so they are read by Fionnagh.

It is on the Parish YouTube channel as usual – and this link should take you there

but it should be in the same place as usual and you’ve lots of experience now of online services!

As before the service is available after 09.45 tomorrow when it goes public (and live)!

I’ve attached the notice sheets for St Mary’s and the Parish.

With prayers and best wishes to you all

Tim

st-marys-notices-4-october-2020Download
parish-notices-4-octoberDownload

Season of celebration in the Chilterns this autumn

~ BAACA

The Chilterns Conservation Board is launching a packed programme of nature-based events, walks and activities designed to inspire families, young people and adults to discover and enjoy the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the Chiltern Hills.

The ‘season of celebration’ will provide people with the opportunity to connect with nature, improve their health and wellbeing, meet new people, find out more about the landscape that’s on their doorstep, learn new skills and help support communities and businesses following the Covid-19 pandemic.

There is going to be plenty to do throughout October with a fantastic programme of events including the brand-new Chilterns Celebration and the ever-popular Chilterns Walking Festival.

Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Chalk, Cherries and Chairs Project team has joined forces with community groups and organisations to provide a whole month of activities and online resources and events to celebrate the Chilterns.

From October 1-31, they will be running events to extend the season for local businesses and bring communities together, as well as having TV presenter, Chris Packham as a keynote speaker at the first ever ‘Chilterns Champions’ conference, where Citizen Science will be up for discussion and how you can get involved.

Find the full schedule of events and details on how to book your place here.

There is also the 16-day Chilterns Walking Festival on offer which has over fifty guided walks, activities and events to take part in, and it has been designed to appeal to different age groups, interests and levels of fitness.

The walks provide opportunities to meet countryside rangers, farmers, archaeologists, historians, food producers and storytellers. Each walk is guided by an experienced walk leader who will bring their story to life.

The Chilterns Conservation Board’s people & society officer, Annette Venters, said: “We are delighted to be offering lots of new walks that showcase the best of our stunning landscapes, wildlife and local producers. The walks will appeal to all ages and abilities. There are still plenty of challenging hikes, but we’ve included a greater number of shorter walks too, with the emphasis on learning and discovery, meeting the people and producers of the Chilterns, and spending time in our inspirational landscape.”

You can view details and book your walk online here.

The ‘season of celebration’ will also support the campaign to extend the visitor season from October right through to spring 2021, with a regular programme of events planned to encourage people to support their local pubs, shops and attractions, all whilst staying Covid-19 secure.

The Chilterns Conservation Board’s chief executive, Dr Elaine King said: “The Chilterns is a very special landscape with so much to offer, and we are delighted to be holding this celebration that will help people connect with nature, improve their health and wellbeing and celebrate our local heritage and landscapes.”

The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) covers 324 square miles of countryside, stretching from the River Thames in southern Oxfordshire up through Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire to Hitchin in Hertfordshire.

By Vicki Pearce. Image credit: Livi Gosling.

St John’s Bellingdon – Sunday Service 27th September 2020 – Harvest Festival

~ BAACA

Dear all

It’s Saturday again (if a bit later than usual) and so time to upload our the service for St John’s Bellingdon for Sunday 27th September onto YouTube.

This week we’re still with our usual format of Morning Worship with a single video. Once again we’ve filmed most of it in church and continued with the words and images together – slightly different angle so that you can see the flowers and the harvest loaf!

This week our Psalm is Psalm 65 and readings are Philippians 2: 1-13 and Matthew 21:23-32 and they are read by Fionnagh with me leading our intercessions.

It is on the Parish YouTube channel as usual – and this link should take you there

but it should be in the same place as usual and you’ve lots of experience now of on line services!

As before the service is available after 09.45 tomorrow when it goes public (and live)!

I’ve attached the notice sheets for St Mary’s and the Parish.

With prayers and best wishes to you all

Tim

st-marys-notices-27-september-2020Download
Parish-notices-27-September-2020Download