Covid 19 Energy & Fuel Poverty Project: support from CCB offered for families at risk or in fuel poverty in Berkshire

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Helen is running a telephone advice line for families who are worried about their bills, or who would like information about ways to reduce their costs, as part of the project outlined below.

She can be contacted on 0773 8887612 on Thursday 26th March between 1pm and 3pm, and on Tuesday 31st March, and Wednesday 1st April between 9.30am – 1pm.

A national charity, National Energy Action are also running a telephone advice line if you need support with your energy bills, or advice on which benefits you need to claim.

You can get in contact with their Warm and Safe Homes Advice Service by calling 0800 304 7159 for free Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm, filling out their referral form (nea.org.uk/advice/wash-advice) or messaging them through Facebook chat via their dedicated Facebook page.

Covid-19 update – the government have agreed measures with all energy suppliers to support customers who are self-isolating.  Customers with pre-payment meters who may not be able to add credit can speak to their supplier about options to keep them supplied. This could include nominating a third party for credit top ups, having a discretionary fund added to their credit, or being sent a pre-loaded top up card so that their supply is not interrupted. More broadly, any energy customer in financial distress will also be supported by their supplier, which could include debt repayments and bill payments being reassessed, reduced or paused where necessary, while disconnection of credit meters will be completely suspended.

Calling ALL Community Buildings in #Berkshire we need your help for a crucial census!

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The ACRE Network needs your help for a crucial census. Carried out once every ten years the survey will provide up to date information about halls and the social and economic impact they deliver for their communities.

This information is vital to secure funding for halls, funding for Network services, and to ensure our services and the information we hold adapts to the ever-changing challenges facing halls and communities.

We want responses from all community buildings; rural village halls, community centres, sports pavilions, church halls, churches providing community use, Miners Welfare Institutes or WI halls that provide meeting facilities for the community.

Click here for the survey

This is an online survey but to make it easier you can download a PDF of the questions and draft your answers in advance

Download to preview the survey

Instructions to help you complete the survey have been provided as part of the survey but are also available to download by clicking the link below

https://acre.org.uk/our-work/national-village-and-community-hall-survey

Handy advice from M&S on how we can better store food to reduce waste and use what we have

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There are lots of foods that you can put straight in the freezer instead of the fridge. This includes meat and poultry, ready prepared meals, fresh pasta, bread – and did you know you can even freeze butter and cheese? Here’s some examples:

Milk: All milk can be stored in the freezer and defrosted before use. Just make sure it’s still sealed. It should be defrosted fully in the fridge before using.

Cheese: Some hard cheeses freeze very well, firmer types like cheddar, gouda and Swiss cope well with the freezing process and maintaining their structure. You can freeze in blocks or grate it and freeze in handy portion sizes.

Bread: Baked goods like bread, rolls, pittas, bagels and crumpets can all be easily frozen. Loaves of bread can be bought ready-sliced or whole to be sliced yourself before freezing. Most toasters have a defrost function so you can toast baked goods from frozen.

Pasta: Fresh pasta is a great option to keep in the freezer. Some pastas won’t have to be defrosted before use either, they’ll defrost once put in boiling water.

Fruit and vegetables: Our frozen fruit and vegetables in the freezer aisle are not the only option; some fresh fruits like bananas and berries when frozen make great ingredients for smoothies and for baking.

Batch cooking: Consider cooking a larger portion at mealtimes to freeze for a later date. Make sure you freeze the leftovers as soon as possible, once they’ve fully cooled and mark clearly the date it was cooked and frozen on the container for later reference. And only defrost or re-heat the meal once.

Around three quarters of our ready prepared meals and over half our desserts are suitable for freezing and have the logo on pack. Simply freeze on the day of purchase and follow the guidance on packaging for the length of time it can stay frozen. Look out for the ‘suitable for freezing’ logo on product which also includes guidance for how long you can freeze each item for.
Defrosting food safely:
Thinking about the best way to prep your food for freezing is important. But it’s even more important to defrost your food properly.

The Food Standards Agency website has everything you need to know about freezing and defrosting food safely, including:
• Make sure any warm dishes are cooled before putting them in your freezer.

• Place food in an air-tight container or wrap it well in freezer bags or freezer wrap.

• If the food has been defrosted it must be cooked before being eaten to be safe.

• Once defrosted, food should be consumed immediately.

Be Aware of the Scammers during these uncertain times

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Scam Message

Over the coming weeks CCB will endeavour to share some positive stories regarding what is happening in communities across Berkshire to overcome the current uncertain and troubling times. This will include information, advice and suggestions from other organisations as well as our own. We have just received alerts of how the Coronavirus is being used by scammers and feel that it is prudent to share this with our readers, not positive admittedly, but if it stops one person from becoming a victim to scamming then it is worth sharing.

More positive news stories to follow shortly. Stay well and safe, the CCB team.

It hasn’t taken long for the scammers to try to cash in on the fear and concern surrounding the Coronavirus.

Cyber criminals are targeting individuals as well as industries.

In common with most other crisis situations, criminals are using emails, text messages, social media posts, online advertisements and phone calls to defraud their unsuspecting victims.

  1. Click here for a cure – emails are being sent purporting to be from a doctor claiming to have details about a vaccine being covered up by the UK and Chinese Governments. You will be taken to a fake web page where your details will be harvested. NEVER click on links in emails.
  1. Covid-19 Tax Refund Email – this has links to access a refund and you will be asked to put in all of your financial information. The HMRC will never advise you of a tax refund in this way. NEVER click on links in emails
  1. Fake Online Advertisements – these include, protective masks, sanitising gel, vaccines (these do not currently exist) and appeals from fake charities
  1. Criminals are also knocking on doors selling Coronavirus tests. These are fake and wont tell you anything. Please be aware anyone acting legitimately would not be going door to door trying to get you to part with money.

DON’T get tempted into ordering any of these items – it is unlikely that you will receive your product and your money will be gone.

DON’T believe everything you read – for accurate and up to date information use reliable and official sources such as the Government Official website and the NHS

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

In these worrying times look after your money and look after yourselves.

Information courtesy of IWASP

https://www.iwight.com/tas/

Eggs 4 Kids – The 2020 Easter Egg Collection #WestBerkshire

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CAN YOU HELP?
From the 24th of February The Chequer’s Hotel, Newbury, will be collecting Easter Eggs for children in West Berkshire.

There are many needy children across West Berkshire, the goal is to collect 500 eggs for 500 children.

WHEN? 
From 24th February until the 22nd March, simply bring your Easter Egg by into reception, and we will give you a free tea/coffee as a thank you.
WHY?
The Easter Eggs will be given as a special treat to disadvantaged and needy children supported by Home-Start West Berkshire and the local West Berkshire authorities.

We hope to raise awareness for Homestart, a fantastic local charity that helps many families across West Bershire (click the link below for more info) , but also give a little show of appreciation to the children and families that make up a huge part of our community. 

This project has only been possible thanks to Volunteer Centre West Berkshire who put The Chequers Hotel in touch with Homestart and the fantastic people working with families in our community. 

From next week people will be able to check up on the progress of our collection @ChequersHotelNewbury on Facebook and Instagram , or by popping into the hotel.