What’s new

The Rail, Maritime and Transport Trade Union (RMT) have announced that they have asked members to take strike action on Tuesday 21 June, Thursday 23 June and Saturday 25 June. The dates are the same across all Train Operators providing services for the Department for Transport (DfT) and Network Rail.

They coincide with strikes on the London Underground (21 June) as well as Glastonbury Festival in the South West between Wednesday 22 June and Sunday 26 June.

The strike will affect Great Western Railway (GWR) trains in Bristol and the surrounding areas on Tuesday 21 June, Thursday 23 June and Saturday 25 June.

People wanting to travel on those days will need to consider:

1) whether they could travel on a day there isn’t a strike;

2) check for any updates on the GWR website in the days running up to their travel date; and

-3) check on their day of travel.

You can find more information here about the upcoming strikes in this news article from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jun/08/rmt-rail-strikes-when-how-why

The Bristol Older People’s Forum is working with The Bristol Harbour Festival to create a community poem – written and performed by older people at the Harbourside Festival in July. 

You will be working with a professional poet and sharing stories of the comings and goings from and to Bristol over the last six decades, with a focus on how the city has changed using the historical harbour and the docks as our starting point.   

You don’t have to be a William Wordsworth or Simon Armitage! This is very much about working together, having fun, being creative and sharing your particular story.  

The first workshop will be on Wednesday 15 June at 11:00 am -1:00 pm (on Zoom) and then for three more Wednesdays leading up to the festival.  

You don’t need to commit to all the workshops, just come to any one of them. We may also do some of the sessions in-person, with travel expenses available. 

If you would like to get involved or find out a bit more, please contact Ian Quaife on bopf@ageukbristol.org.uk or phone on 0117 927 9222.

Monkeypox is a rare infection that’s mainly found in parts of west or central Africa. There have been some recent cases in the UK, but the risk of catching it is low.

It is usually caught rom infected rodents (such as rats, mice and squirrels). But, it can spread from person to person through:

a) touching clothing, bedding or towels used by someone with the monkeypox rash,

b) touching monkeypox skin blisters or scabs (including during sex), or

c) the coughs or sneezes of a person with the monkeypox rash.

Monkeypox usually takes between 5 and 21 days for the first symptoms to appear. The main symptom is a rash but there are others. But, it is usually mild and most people recover within a few weeks without treatment.

Though anyone can get monkeypox, you’re unlikely to have it if:

1) you have not been in close contact (such as touching their skin or sharing bedding) with someone who has monkeypox or has monkeypox symptoms, or

2) you have not recently travelled to west or central Africa.

For more information about monkeypox, visit the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/monkeypox/

Current Data

The latest available data from Bristol City Council is that 1 in 47 Bristol residents are estimated to have had COVID-19 in the last week, this is 2.1% of people in the city.  26 patients are in hospital with COVID-19 and 9 people have died from it.

In terms of getting vaccinated, 80% of people aged sixteen and over in Bristol have had their first dose, 76% have had a second dose and 61% have had a booster or third dose.

Vaccines still available for 5-11 year old’s

The COVID-19 vaccine is still available for 5–11-year-old’s in Bristol.

Parents of all children aged 5 to 11 years can have their child vaccinated, and it is particularly important for children who have health conditions that put them at high risk from COVID-19.  This includes children who are clinically extremely vulnerable, severely immunosuppressed or a household contact of someone who is severely immunosuppressed.

[Note: immunosuppressed = can’t fight off infections and illnesses as well as other people.  This is usually either because of a health condition, or because of the medicines they are taking]

Children are given the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for both doses and children aged 5 to 11 will be given smaller doses than older children and adults (a third of the normal dose).

The vaccine should give your child long lasting protection against serious complications of infection, including any future waves of COVID-19, due to new variants.

If your child has not yet received their vaccine, please book an appointment at a local clinic, or find your nearest walk-in clinic.

Further information about vaccinations and all local walk-in clinics are available on www.grabajab.net.

Long Covid

For some people, COVID-19 can cause symptoms that last weeks or months after the infection has gone.

If you are experiencing symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain or dizziness, after having COVID-19, you may be suffering from “Long COVID”.

If you are worried about symptoms four or more weeks after having COVID-19, contact your GP for advice.

More information about Long COVID can be found at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/long-term-effects-of-coronavirus-long-covid/.

The West of England Centre for Inclusive Living (WECIL) are seeking a new Independent Living Payments Advisor on a full time (37.5 hours a week) permanent contract.

Everyone wants to make a difference, right?  But how many of us can actually say that our work has a positive impact on the lives of other people, day in, day out?   This is an exciting opportunity to work with WECIL’s biggest team and to work with local authorities to change the way they do Direct Payments and to be involved with the piloting of the Individual Service Fund project. 

WECIL are looking for a self-motivated and passionate individual, someone with strong personal values and a desire to make a difference to people’s lives for the better.  Experience working in Social Care is an advantage, but not essential.   The role offers incredible job satisfaction, flexible working, excellent holiday entitlement and opportunities to develop as part of a systems thinking team.  

This role is open to all however, WECIL is taking positive action to recruit someone from the Black and Asian community. If you have a lived experience of disability and receive, or has received a Direct Payment or has a family member who receives a Direct Payment we are particularly interested in hearing from you.

How to Apply

Please send your CV and a covering letter (which should include reasons why you are interested in this role) to: jobs@wecil.co.uk

Please contact our Admin Supervisor to discuss any access needs by emailing: jobs@wecil.co.uk or Telephone 0117 9479911 and choose option 2.

New Extended Closing date for applications: Sunday 19^th June 2022

Expected interview: Week commencing 20^th June 2022

For more information, the job description, application form and WECIL’s charter, visit: https://wecil.co.uk/about-wecil/work-for-wecil/?fbclid=IwAR24TYQs9DK7mRUtXDl4I0x4zzj3JyIhjzwLjIQdVFcOmHo3ycFiHXn-5-s

Caffi Health are running Community Health Clinics at St Paul’s Learning Centre, St Nicholas of Tolentino Church and The Wellspring Settlement.

At the clinics, you can talk to health experts about your mental wellbeing, diet or heart health, and drop into the clinics for blood pressure, BMI and CO2 checks or to get support and referrals. You can also get vaccine advice and get your vaccinations at the clinics. There is no appointment needed to attend.

Dates and times for each clinic can be found on the second poster graphic above or in text form below.

St Paul’s Learning Centre

17th June 11am to 4.30pm

8th July 11am to 4.30pm

25th July 11am to 4.30pm

19th August 11am to 4.30pm

9th September 11am to 4.30pm

26th September 11am to 4.30pm

St Nicholas of Tolentino Church

15th July 11am to 4.30pm

5th August 11am to 4.30pm

26th August 11am to 4.30pm

16th September 11am to 4.30pm

7th October 11am to 4.30pm

The Wellspring Settlement

29th June 11am to 4.30pm

20th July 11am to 4.30pm

10th August 11am to 4.30pm

31st August 11am to 4.30pm

22nd September 11am to 4.30pm

12th October 11am to 4.30pm

NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestshire CCG have a new Covid-19 vaccination walk-in clinic location starting next week.

The Coniston Community Centre is hosting Covid-19 vaccination clinics for everyone aged 5 and over.

People can come along to have any of the Covid-19 vaccinations they are entitled to, or even to speak with someone if they have questions about being vaccinated. They’ll be using the Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine.

Monday 30 May: 12pm – 6pm

Monday 13 June: 12pm – 6pm

Monday 27 June: 12pm – 6pm

For more information about what vaccinations people are entitled to and all the vaccination options in our area, visit www.grabajab.net. 

Great Western Railway (GWR) have informed us of upcoming rail improvement works to Bristol Parkway and the Severn Tunnel which will affect train travel.

On Sundays 12th, 19th and 26th June no trains can call at Bristol Parkway. Services between London and South Wales will run on a diverted route and journey times will be extended. Trains will call at Patchway instead of Bristol Parkway. Buses will also replace trains between Gloucester and Bristol Temple Meads. 

Between Friday 1st July and Saturday 10th July, and also on Sunday 17th July and until midday on Sunday 14th August, no trains can run through the Severn Tunnel. Trains between London and South Wales will run on a diversion and journey times will be longer, and they won’t be stopping at Bristol Parkway.

On the weekdays affected, some services will run between London and Bristol Parkway at peak hours. Services between Cardiff and Taunton/Portsmouth Harbour will terminate at Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway respectively. Buses will replace trains between Bristol Parkway and Newport, and on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th July also between Bristol Parkway and Bristol Temple Meads.

More information on the above can be found at www.GWR.com/Bristol.    

Journey planners are being updated and GWR will make customers aware through traditional and social media, as well as announcements both on board trains and at stations, and station posters too. 

The Pituitary Foundation is the leading charity in the UK dedicated to supporting pituitary patients. They provide support to people affected by conditions of the pituitary gland.
We run Local Support Groups, have two helplines, online and print resources and a growing programme of events. 

They are seeking an Engagement and Volunteer Manager. This is a newly created and hugely rewarding role which will sit at the heart of their work.  You will support volunteers, patients and healthcare professionals to engage with our work bringing about meaningful change for pituitary patients in the UK.

You will support existing, and recruit a diverse cohort of volunteers to lead local support groups and fundraising initiatives across the UK.  Alongside this you will develop a programme of events and campaigns (digital / physical) to engage patients and healthcare professionals ensuring the Foundation’s resource and support reaches as many people as possible. 

It is an exciting time to join the Foundation with a new strategy and ambitious plans to change the lives of pituitary patients nationwide.  They are in a confident financial position and have a supportive, friendly staff team in their Bristol office.  This is a role that you can put your own mark on.

The Foundation welcomes applicants with a range of background experience. They especially welcome applicants who are under-represented within the charity sector and want to build a team with a diverse range of perspectives, backgrounds and skills. They know that in diversity is strength and we look forward to hearing from all interested applicants.

For more information and how to apply visit: https://pituitary.org.uk/about-us/vacancies/

Deadline for applications Sunday 26 June 2022