| 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
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.
- 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.
- 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
- Fake Online Advertisements – these include, protective masks, sanitising gel, vaccines (these do not currently exist) and appeals from fake charities
- 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
Eggs 4 Kids – The 2020 Easter Egg Collection #WestBerkshire
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.
Sensible CORONAVIRUS information from Voluntary Sector Info guru Sandy Adirondack
CORONAVIRUS: Information and guidance
The background: Coronaviruses, so-called because of the spikes on their surface, were first identified in the 1960s. They are common across the world, and cause symptoms similar to flu. This new strain, novel coronavirus, was first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and was notified to the World Health Organisation on 31 December. On 11 February 2020, WHO named the disease caused by novel coronavirus as COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease). In practice, both ‘coronavirus’ and ‘COVID-19’ are used to refer to both the virus and the disease it causes.
Novel coronavirus is spread by droplets in the air from an infected person sneezing or coughing, and from surfaces such as handrails and door handles. It is spreading rapidly because it is a new strain and no one has acquired immunity to it. At present there is no vaccine and the latest information is that it could be a year before a reliable vaccine becomes widely available.
As with ordinary (seasonal) flu, a person can be exposed to the virus but not become ill, or if they do become ill the illness may be mild, moderate or severe. As with seasonable flu a severe case can potentially cause death, primarily for people who are elderly, have a weakened immune system, or have certain pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, cancer, heart disease and chronic lung disease. Symptoms of COVID-19 generally start with a fever, followed by a dry cough and about a week later, shortness of breath then breathing difficulties.
Amongst the many official webpages I have looked at, my favourite is Myth busters from the World Health Organisation. This includes the myths that eating garlic can prevent infection with the new coronavirus (no evidence so far) and that putting on sesame oil can block the virus from entering the body (no). See link below.
Official publications (UK)
All official publications will be regularly updated, and the Gov.uk collections are, I presume, likely to be extended. So check the links below regularly.
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): Latest information and advice. Department for Health & Social Care and Public Health England; updated daily at 2pm. Covers number of cases; risk level; returning travellers; information about the virus; summary of action taken by the government; diagnosis and analysis; further information.
- COVID-19: Guidance for non-clinical settings. Gov.uk collection. With links a number of other publications: Guidance for employers and businesses; Guidance for social or community care and residential settings; Guidance for educational settings; Guidance for staff in the transport sector; Decontamination in non-healthcare settings.
- COVID-19: Guidance for health professionals. Gov.uk collection, with (not surprisingly) a large number of links, including Background information; Infection prevention and control; Guidance for primary care; Guidance to assist professionals in advising the general public; Guidance for healthcare providers who have staff with relevant, travel, healthcare or household contact history; Guidance for first responders.
- Travel advice: Coronavirus (COVID-19). Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Guidance for British people travelling and living overseas.
- Coronavirus (COVID 19): Immigration guidance. Home Office and UK Visas & Immigration. Currently covers Chinese nationals in the UK; non-Chinese, non-EEA nationals in the UK normally resident in China; information for Chinese or third country nationals in China; British nationals in China who need to apply for a passport; and licensed tier 2, tier 4 or tier 5 sponsors with absences due to coronavirus. Includes telephone and email details for the coronavirus immigration helpline.
- National Health Service coronavirus information and advice. Covers overview; advice for travellers; common questions. Includes an online advice questionnaire at https://111.nhs.uk/Question/Navigation
- Coronavirus (COVID-10). NHS Inform (Scotland).
- Public Health Wales statement on novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Updated daily at 3pm.
- COVID-19 (coronavirus). Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland).
World Health Organisation
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. Covers: protect yourself; your questions answered; travel advice; situation reports; media resources; technical guidance; global research.
- Rolling updates on coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
- Myth busters.
Sandy Adirondack
[Governance and legal information for voluntary organisations]
Flat 39 Gabriel House, 10 Odessa Street, London SE16 7HQ
tel 07973 116264, 020 7232 0726
News from ACRE: Village Halls 2020 a HUGE success
On Monday 20 January Village Halls Week launched in style at The House of Commons.
The Launch event signalled the start of Village Halls Week, sponsored by Utility Aid and Allied Westminster and supported by Defra and the NRTF, we were delighted to be able to take representatives of halls and the ACRE Network along. The Event gained much media attention and was successful in raising the profile of Village Halls Week with MPs and Lords alike.
The week was featured across 18 BBC channels, 10 Broadcasters tweeted from personal accounts as well, proudly showing their badges. 18 MPs supported the week by visiting events, halls and tweeting and 22 articles appeared in local and national press including The Times, The Telegraph, Country Life Magazine, and the Daily Mail. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your hard work and support ensuring the success of the week. The increase in media attention gained substantial and positive attention for village halls all over the country. There was also a huge increase in engagement from halls themselves, having a positive impact locally, strengthening relationships between ACRE members and hall trustees.
Connecting Communities in Berkshire 