Leicestershire Matters

Many older people do not know that they can get pension credit to help with bills and day-to-day expenses.

People over 60 on an income below £124.05 for single people and £189.35 for couples can receive Guaranteed Pension Credit. Usually, you also get all of your council tax paid and can get help with most, if not all, of your rent.

Anyone over 65 with a weekly income above the minimum state pension, or with a private pension or savings, can receive Savings Credit.  This is on top of your state pension and you may still be entitled to cheaper council tax and help with your rent.

David Sprason, our Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “Claiming pension credit can make a huge difference to an older person’s quality of life. There is no need to fill in complicated forms as you can now apply over the phone.”

To claim call the Pension Service on 0800 99 1234 and ask them to complete a form for you.

For free, confidential, advice call Age Concern on 0116 299 2233 or the Pension Service on 0845 606 0265.

More than 100 communities are either producing or have published parish plans, supported by the Leicestershire Rural Partnership. These are blueprints of what needs to be done to improve lives in rural areas.

Young people have been getting involved with these and have achieved real benefits. A few of these are outlined below.

A youth forum was set up. Young people wrote a questionnaire for 11 – 18 year-year-olds and produced an action plan. The forum then successfully bid for funding for a youth shelter near Diseworth Village Hall.

The Heather Youth Group was established and bid for £54,000, with help from the County Council. This has funded a sports pitch, playground equipment and a youth shelter with solar-powered lighting and radio. Two members of the youth group also regularly attend parish council meetings to debate young peoples’ issues.

Initially, some young people thought they couldn’t make an impact, that no-one would listen to them and that they could not change anything.

However, they continued to work and these projects have been achieved because young people cared enough to get involved.

If you think your village could benefit from a parish plan, please call 0116 305 7581, e-mail: dvanderwardt@leics.gov.uk or visit the Parish Plans pages of this website.

The benefits of high quality early learning and childcare can sometimes be undervalued, but there are long-term benefits for children and parents.  

They help children to develop skills and to create, communicate and explore in a safe environment with qualified childcare professionals. It also means that parents and carers can go to work, attend training or have time to themselves.

Annie’s good reasons for going to childcare…

Annie’s mum’s good reasons for taking her to childcare…

This nursery education funding is available at any childcare provision which has been validated by the County Council. This includes day nurseries, pre-schools, playgroups and childminders.

For more information, or a list of providers in your area, visit the Leicestershire Children's Information Service call 0116 305 6545 or e-mail: family@leics.gov.uk

The Latham House Surgery in Melton Mowbray now has a computer where patients can log onto the Connect website.

The website gives access to a wide range of County and district council services. These could include reporting a broken street light or road problem, contacting local councillors or renewing a library book.

It also has details on community groups, local police and villages, as well as advice on employment, learning, health and disabilities.

Lesley Pendleton, Cabinet Member for Communications, said: "This help point means accessing council services is even easier. It also gives patients without internet access at home the chance to find out about services online."

There are 65 Connect help point across the County. These are in libraries, village halls, post offices and Connect Service Shops.

To find out more visit the Connect website.

The clubs aim to promote a healthier lifestyle and build confidence and self-esteem in a fun and enjoyable environment. They are for anyone aged six to 19, with or without a disability.

They all have qualified coaches who hold a range of events from fun activities through to coaching sessions.

The clubs have been set up by Leicester-Shire and Rutland Sport.

To find out more call your local club on the numbers below or visit the Leicester-Shire and Rutland Sport website.

A new food and drink directory can help you to find food and drink available on your doorstep.

Buying local food:

For a copy of the LeicesterShire Food and Drink Network’s directory, visit the Regeneration pages of this website, call Sarah McCartney on 0116 305 7023 or e-mail smccartney@leics.gov.uk

To encourage you to buy food produced locally we’re one lucky reader a luxury hamper of local food and drink from Brockleby’s Farmshop in Asfordby Hill, for one lucky winner.

For a chance to win, answer the following question:

Send your answer by e-mail  to smccartney@leics.gov.uk or call on 0116 305 7023 by Friday, 13^th June, 2008.

If you have a disability and want to begin or return to work, the County Council has a number of schemes to help.

The schemes below are just a selection of those on offer at the County Council, please call 01509 410600, e-mail: mahall@leics.gov.uk or visit the Breaking the Barriers  pages of this website for more details.

Sick of being on the sick?

The Learn2Earn team helps people on incapacity or related benefits. It offers a one-to-one session to identify personal needs and free access to a range of courses. There is also help with work experience, re-training and job-seeking.  

There is ongoing support when you start work and you could get an extra £40 a week for a year as a return-to-work bonus.

For more details call 0116 305 6449 (Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm, or leave a message at other times.)

This café offers training and work experience for adults with a learning disability. Trainees prepare food for functions, members of the public and the licensees at the Springboard Centre, Mantle Lane in Coalville.

The café is open from 8.45am to 3pm Monday to Friday and only closes on bank holidays.

The Buffet Car is always looking for businesses to offer the trainees jobs or voluntary work when they finish their training. If you can help, please call the Buffet Car on 01530 839531.

This team can help people with disabilities with preparing CVs, job search, interview practice, work placements and finding work, as well as training in one of our innovative projects in the County.

These projects include recycling collections, paper shredding schemes, planting and maintaining flower beds, recycling baby clothes to sell on and a ‘fruit and vegetable box’ delivery scheme.

Call 07810 850298 for more details.

But Lee, who is now back at work after receiving serious leg injuries, has been shortlisted in the bravery category of this year’s National Council Worker of the Year awards.

Another of our workers is nominated in the innovation category, making us one of only three councils in the country to have two people shortlisted.

Jane Dabrowska set up a new homecare team, making a real difference to the lives of older people by changing the way they receive care.

The winner will be chosen by public vote, please show your support for Jane and Lee by voting at Local Government Channel or texting “LGATV1 Jane” and/or “LGATV2 Lee” to 80039.  Text costs are at your standard network rate.  Voting closes on July 2^nd.

To find out more about the awards, and Jane and Lee’s stories, visit the Doing More pages of this website, call 0116 305 8016, e-mail:  pdodd@leics.gov.uk

One says ‘Think Bike’, urging motorists to take special care when pulling out of junctions and changing lanes.  A further sign says ‘To die for?’ with the message ‘Ride Safely’, encouraging motorcyclists to be careful and think about their own safety and that of others.

We are also giving away 50 heat-sensitive mugs as part of our campaign to reduce accidents involving motorcyclists.  The mugs reveal one of our safety messages once you add hot water.

For more details about our motorcycle safety campaign, visit the Shiny Side Up website, call James Gibson on 0116 305 7232, or e-mail:jdgibson@leics.gov.uk

For a chance to win, simply answer the question:

Send you answer by e-mail to roadsafety@leics.gov.uk, or call 0116 305 7233 by Friday, June 13^th.

You can also claim a free Think Bike car sticker by visiting the Shiny Side Up website or calling the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30.

Photographs are a great way to record nature, as many people carry a camera or mobile phone when they are out in the countryside.  

If you are not sure what you have seen, your photos can be used by local experts to identify your sightings.

Wildlife records for the County are collected by the Leicestershire Environmental Records Centre.

E-mail photos to chi@leics.gov.uk call 0116 267 1377 for details on sending mobile phone pictures, or post to CHI, Environment and Heritage Resources Centre, 216 Birstall Road, Birstall, Leicestershire, LE4 4DG.

Visit the Wildlife photos 2007 pages of this website to view photos.