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1
in 4 older people live in 1 room of their home
A survey
released by the British Gas Help the Aged Partnership, opens the
door on the winter lives of older people as they struggle to stay
warm and well. The chilling figures reveal that over 1 in 4 older
people in the North West stay or live in just 1 heated room of their
homes to keep warm and save heating costs. It also shows that the
same number of older people wear outdoor clothes in their homes
including gloves, overcoats and hats to keep warm and save heating
costs.
Released to mark the launch of this year’s British Gas Help the Aged
Partnership winter deaths campaign, the survey highlights the
affliction of fuel poverty that blights the lives of over 1 million
pensioner households in the UK – a major cause of preventable winter
deaths. The results also highlight the Government’s failings
to do enough to meet its statutory duty to eradicate fuel poverty in
vulnerable households by 2010 with over 1 in 3 older people in the
North West left unaware of whom to contact for help and advice on
how to claim cash benefits. This year alone the Government’s
pot of unclaimed benefits for older people stands at £4.5 billion –
vital benefits that could help lift older people out of fuel poverty
and ensure they are in a better financial position to stay warm and
well in the winter.
The survey, carried out by ICM Research, also shows that last winter
over 1 in 5 older people in the North West turned off their heating
because they were worried about the cost. According to the research,
in the North West to keep warm and save heating costs:-
· 1 in 6 older people go out to public establishments including
libraries, coffee shops and shopping centres;
· Around 1 in 7 older
people seek refuge from the cold underneath their blankets in bed;
· 1 in 10 older
people cut back on food shopping.
The Partnership is demanding the Government stops taking chances
with the lives of older people and takes its duty seriously by
introducing automatic payment of benefits, and in the short term,
invests in effective face-to-face benefits advice services for older
people.
As Anna Pearson, British Gas Help the Aged Partnership spokesperson
explains:- “Each year over 25,000 older people lose their
lives to a preventable cold-related illness. In the North West
alone, in 2005-2006 the number of excess winter deaths for older
people was over 20,000. The Government is literally gambling with
people’s lives by not doing nearly enough to end fuel poverty. The
Government has a potential jackpot of £4.5 billion waiting for older
people, but it dangles this vital cash behind a complex maze of
means-tested benefits and as a result, money continually fails to
reach those who need it to survive.
If it is serious about meeting its fuel poverty target, central and
local government must commit more funding to face-to-face services,
such as the British Gas Help the Aged Partnership Benefits Advice
Programme. It’s time to stop the cheating and start the heating.”
The Partnership is urging older people in the North West to take
advantage of the current benefits system with its campaign message
“You’ve
got to claim it to gain it” in an attempt to increase the odds
of older people receiving the benefits needed to survive the winter.
To help streamline the claims process, the Partnership has teamed up
with the Department of Work and Pensions to promote one phone number
for older people to call for 3 benefits checks: Pension Credit,
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
Campaign Ambassador, June Whitfield, comments:- “Through an
ongoing commitment to helping older people in the winter, we have
learnt that with the right benefits advice and support older people
do receive the benefits that they are entitled to. That’s why this
year the British Gas Help the Aged Partnership is encouraging older
people in the North West to “claim it to gain it” to beat the
Government at its own game.
The Partnership will be giving older people some of the tools they
need to do just that, by distributing free “Your Winter Warm Up”
packs with fresh information, advice and one telephone number for
claiming benefits, along with free thermometers to ensure older
people receive the financial and practical support they need to
enjoy a warm and healthy winter.”
To order your a “Your Winter Warm Up” pack please call the
British Gas Help the Aged Partnership on 0870 7700 446.
Southport FC signs up Barratt...
FOLLOWING
training on Friday 9 November 2007, Paul Barratt has concluded his
transfer to Southport from Worcester City. Manager Peter Davenport
had earlier put seven days notice in for the player and he goes
straight into the squad for tomorrow's trip to 3rd placed Hyde
United. Based in the North West Paul was part of Liverpool's FA
Youth Cup winning side in 2006.
Capable of playing in
either defence or midfield, Paul adds real competition for places.
Occupying the left back role for Worcester City throughout
September, Barratt collected their Player of the month award,
something that hadn't gone un-noticed by Davenport when the 'Port
visited St. George's Lane earlier this season.
Barratt could make
his debut against Hyde United as a straight replacement for the
outgoing Sean Newton who has returned to Chester City following the
expiration of his loan deal.
Barratt started his
career with Manchester City before joining "the Reds" on
Merseyside in 2004 for a £30,000 fee. He played in the 2006 FA
Youth Cup final and was also invited to train with the first team
during his time at Anfield. He joined Worcester following his
release by Liverpool in May 2007.
Did
you know?
The highlights of the history of Southport Football Club include a
Football League Championship, an appearance at Wembley, an FA Cup
sixth round appearance, a Northern Premier League title and a
Conference North title.
The last five years have been very turbulent for The Sandgrounders,
having played in the Conference National (2002/03), Unibond
Premiership(2003/04) and Conference North(2004/05), Conference
National again(2005-2007), and now find themselves in the Conference
North again for the 2007/08 campaign.
Originally formed as a Rugby club, Southport changed codes following
a string of disastrous results in 1881 and were founder members of
the Central League in 1911. Six years earlier, the club had moved
grounds to Ash Lane, later to be renamed Haig Avenue, where they
remain to this day, over 100 years later.
In 1918 they were taken over by the Vulcan Motor Company, and played
for one season only as Southport Vulcan therefore becoming the first
club to use a sponsorship label as part of their name. One of the
club’s Caterforce sponsored KGV Youth Development teams still uses
this name.
The clubs shirt sponsors are currently Paymentshield, the UK's
largest independent supplier of mortgage related insurance products
to the intermediary sector.
For further information on the History of the club please visit the
official club
website.
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WARNING ROGUE TRADERS
SEFTON'S Trading Standards are
warning residents to be aware of door-to-door 'traders'
operating in the borough.
Rogue salesmen have arrived unannounced at a number of properties in
Maghull and Formby offering simple home improvements. This includes
things like block paving, paving cleaning and repairing broken
facias, guttering and roofing.
The salesman have been targeting certain areas promising to carry
out improvements at cheap rates.
Trading Standards have been contacted by a number of residents in
the Maghull and Formby area and are warning all residents across the
borough to be vigilant.
Trading Standards manager, Andrew Naisbitt said:- "These so
called 'traders' have been calling unannounced and advising
residents in Formby and Maghull of the need to carry out urgent
repairs to driveways, roofing or guttering.
The company that we have received a number of complaints about is
also making false claims about being sub-contracted by a well
established company.
No proper paperwork is ever provided and payment is demanded in
cash, often in an intimidatory manner.
We are following various leads in connection with this but residents
need to be aware of what is going on.
The bottom line is that no resident needs to pay a penny when
approached like this as they do not know who they are dealing with.
These rip-off merchants just want to take advantage of vulnerable
people in the run up to Christmas."
For help and advice on all consumer issues contact Consumer Direct
on 08454 040506.
ADVICE TO TAKE ON
DOORSTEP CALLERS
* Take care when opening the door to
anyone. Fit and use a security chain.
* Do not let the caller into your home until you have verified
his/her identification by their employer. Find the number in the
phone book.
* Don't be afraid to say no and remember, you do not have to give
reasons. A crafty salesman will find an answer to every reason you
give.
* If you are uncertain, ask for time to think it over and compare
prices elsewhere. An honest salesman will understand.
* Never sign anything on the spot.
* Always ask for identification that you can verify.
* Do not let the caller into your home until you have verified
identification.
* Do not agree to anyone carrying out work on your house until you
get a second opinion as to whether it is required.
* Do not agree to any work being carried out where the caller says
"We are only in the area today."
* Never accept lifts from sales people to go to the bank collect
money.
* The seller may offer you a 'special discount' or
free gift to sign immediately. Do not feel pressured by this kind of
offer.
* Remember that once you part with your money it can be difficult to
get it back if things go wrong.
AMNESTY RENEWS ITS CALL ON GOVERNMENTS AND COMPANIES TO MAKE HUMAN
RIGHTS CENTRAL TO INTERNET GOVERNANCE
AS the
Internet Governance Forum (IGF) meets in Rio de Janeiro, Amnesty
International said that restrictions on freedom of expression online
are increasing globally.
Amnesty International believes that numerous allegations of
corporate involvement in suppression of human rights necessitates
both companies and governments taking their responsibilities more
seriously. The organisation is calling on governments to halt
prosecution and legislation aimed at limiting freedom of expression
online and to release prisoners held on the basis of their online
political expression. Amnesty also calls on governments to commit
collectively to human rights standards as the essential basis to
prevent violations online.
To ensure that Internet companies do not become complicit with
governments in violating human rights, Amnesty is urging such
companies to demonstrably use all national and international legal,
political and technical means available towards this end.
Nick Dearden, part of Amnesty International’s delegation to the IGF,
said:- “In the 12 months since the last IGF we’ve witnessed
the crisis in Burma, where the Internet was used to get images and
information out of the country and to mobilize people all over the
world to take action. On the other hand we have also monitored the
increase in censorship, filtering and blocking of websites.
The IGF is taking place at a pivotal time in the Internet’s history.
Its potential is enormous, but that potential could so easily be
squandered. It’s essential that human rights are embedded in any
agreement on Internet governance, and that companies and governments
are held to their human rights commitments.”
2 years after agreement was reached in Tunis on the principles which
should govern the Internet (1), more and more countries apply
filters to web content, ‘cyber-dissidents’ are arrested and
harassed in a growing number of countries said the organisation.
- China is believed to hold around 60 cyber-dissidents including Shi
Tao, Wang Xiaoning, Li Zhi and Jiang Lijun for reporting and
political comment;
- 7 students and a beautician were jailed following unfair trials in
Syria in July after calling for peaceful political reforms online;
- Truong Quoc Huy was arrested in Vietnam in August 2006 and is
believed to be facing charges of “abusing democratic freedoms”
for participating in chat rooms. He has not been seen by his family
since his arrest, and his current whereabouts is uncertain.
Recent arrests have been reported in a number of other countries
including Thailand where directives and legislation to limit freedom
of expression online were issued in September 2006 and July 2007.
According to research by the Open Net initiative, while 5 years ago
serious and systematic filtering appeared to take place in just 3
countries,– China, Iran and Saudi Arabia – it has been
detected in more than 2 dozen states including Burma, Morocco and
Thailand.
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