The Grapevine
As at 13th February 2023
This page contains information about external news articles and events, or promotional material. These are not directly related to the Andover U3A, but may be of interest to Andover U3A members.
If you have some news that you would like to share with members of the Andover U3A, please submit details to our Newsletter Editor for consideration, email news@andoveru3a.co.uk.
Image by John Tenniel - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Public Domain, courtesy of Wikimedia
Index to Grapevine Articles
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| Third Age Trust | |
|---|---|
| Third Age Trust National Newsletter | Changes to the distribution of the Third Age Trust's National Newsletter. |
| Events and Activities | |
| Dorset Arts and Crafts Association | Online Arts and Crafts Activities. |
| Andover & District Older People’s Forum | Full of Life Event is on Thursday 3rd October and is our ‘IDEAL HOME EXHIBITION’ event with housing advice for the over 60s |
| Third Age Matters | The editor of Third Age Matters, Joanne Smith, welcomes articles and letters on Climate related topics. The next issues are June (deadline 1 May); September (deadline 1 August) and November (deadline 1 October). Joanne hopes to include climate-related stories in each issue of TAM so do get writing! Time is running short for the next edition but it would be helpful if you could let her know if you are preparing an article for future editions.
Please email your contributions to tam.editor@u3a.org.uk |
| South Hampshire Historical Aviation Society | They meet on the first Wednesday of each month at the Romsey Conservative Club where they generally have a speaker come along and give a talk on some aspect of historic aviation, although not strictly aviation every time, for example an upcoming talk will be on the lady code breakers of Bletchley park. They also arrange visits to various locations, although Covid put a stop to that for a while they hope to get that going again. For further information on upcoming and past talks they have a website at http://www.shhas.co.uk/ |
| Advice relating to Fraud and Scams | |
| Safer Pack - Guides to recognising different types of fraud. | Help with recognising different types of fraud, from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire. |
| Dealing with Suspicious Emails, Phone Calls and Text Messages | Where to find advice and guidance. |
| Coronavirus Scams | Where to find advice about scams linked to Coronavirus. |
| TV Licence Email Scams | Advice related to TV Licence Renewal scams. |
| Useful Information about Fraud and Scams | |
| No Cold Calling Zones | Information from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire about No Cold Calling Zones. |
| Volunteering Opportunities | |
| SERV Wessex | The SERV Wessex Blood Running team (who deliver essential blood and urgent medical supplies to Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset) need Riders, Drivers, Controllers, Fundraisers and General Administration volunteers. |
| Schoolreaders | Request for volunteers to help children read. |
| See Around Britain - Volunteering Opportunities | |
| Health | |
| Eye Health Care and Sight Loss Prevention | |
| Adult Health and Care in Hampshire and Wiltshire | |
| Valley Leisure | Includes details about Riverside Bowl and the "I Can" Therapy Centre. |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Using Smart Devices in Your Home | |
| Hampshire Archives | In celebration of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, we’re calling out for any material you might have from The Queen’s visits to Hampshire or previous Royal Jubilees. |
| TV Interference problems | Restore TV was set up to meet a requirement from Ofcom and is owned by UK mobile operators.
They ensure that all UK viewers continue to receive free to view channels, or are offered a suitable alternative, if mobile signals cause TV interference.
If you have a problem with TV intereference and you think it may be caused by a Mobile Phone mast then contact Restore TV. |
Promotional Material
Coronavirus Outbreak
Government Guidance
To find out what the latest Guidance is, go to this Government webpage.
To see amendments to the Guidance, go to this second Government webpage which gives details of recent and upcoming changes.
Members are advised to re-check the Government's Guidance and FAQs on a regular basis as details may change as rules are refined.
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Coronavirus - NHS Advice and Guidance
Image by purpleshorts from Pixabay
The latest NHS advice and guidance on the outbreak of Coronavirus (Covid-19) can be found on the NHS's Coronavirus (COVID-19) web page.
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Dorset Arts and Crafts Association (DACA)
Online Arts and Crafts Activities
The Dorset Arts and Crafts Association have published a list of online lessons, activities and demonstrations which members may find of interest.
These can be found at www.dorsetartsandcrafts.org/the-hub/arts-and-crafts-online/.
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How to Recognise Different Types of Fraud
The Safer Pack has tips on recognising different types of fraud, and information about how to access support if you think you or someone you know has been a victim.
The Safer Pack can be downloaded as a booklet, or as individual guides, from the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire's website, found at www.hampshire-pcc.gov.uk/get-involved/taking-action/safe-from-fraud/safer-pack.
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Dealing with Suspicious Emails, Phone Calls and Text Messages
Anyone may receive a suspicious email, phone call or text message: do you know how to spot them, or what to do if you have responded to a such a message?
The National Cyber Security Centre provides advice and guidance on these subjects, and this can be found at www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/suspicious-email-actions.
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Coronavirus Scams
Hampshire County Council Trading Standards have found that fraudsters are exploiting the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation for their own gain, and are warning residents to stay especially alert to scams/fraud and doorstep callers.
Further information and advice can be found on on this page.
Friends Against Scams also provide Scam Awareness Sessions, details of which are available on their website.
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Television Licence Scams
Recently there have been several reports of people receiving scam emails relating to the renewal of Television Licences.
Advice on how to identify such emails, and what to do if you have received one, can be found on the TV Licensing website.
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Useful Information about Fraud and Scams
Action Fraud
Action Fraud is the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime where you should report fraud if you have been scammed, defrauded or experienced cyber crime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The service is run by the City of London Police working alongside the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) who are responsible for assessment of the reports and to ensure that your fraud reports reach the right place. The City of London Police is the national policing lead for economic crime.
Further information about different types of fraud can be found on the Action Fraud website.
HMRC Scams
There has been an increase in people receiving automated phone calls claiming to be from HMRC, that threaten the recipient with legal action. These calls are scams.
Suspicious emails and details of suspicious phone calls should be sent to HMRC’s phishing team, by emailing phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk. Forward suspicious text messages to 60599 (text messages will be charged at your network rate).
Further information on reporting HMRC scams can be found on the GOV.UK website.
Doorstep Crime, Scams and Other Issues - Information Sources
Hampshire More information can be found in the Trading Standards area of the Hampshire County Council website.
Wiltshire More information can also be found in the Trading Standards area of the Wiltshire County Council website.
Reporting Trader Scams If you think a company has broken the law or acted unfairly, you might be able to report them to Trading Standards. Citizens Advice will assist with reporting trader scams to Trading Standards and can be contacted by telephoning 03454 04 05 06, or see the Citizens Advice website for more details.
Friends Against Scams This is a national campaign against scams. Further information can be found on the Friends Against Scams website.
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No Cold Calling
Here are a couple of links for information about No Cold Calling Zones
-
No Cold Calling Zones, Business and economy, Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk)
- Door stickers for No Cold Calling
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SERV Wessex Blood Running Team
Request for Volunteers
The SERV Wessex Blood Running team deliver essential blood and urgent medical supplies to Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset, with "SERV" standing for "Service by Emergency Rider Volunteers". They need Riders, Drivers, Controllers, Fundraisers and General Administration volunteers.
Further details about SERV Wessex can be found on the SERV Wessex website, including details of volunteering opportunities and how to support the Charity through donations.
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Schoolreaders
Request for Volunteers to Help Children Read
Many children are leaving primary school unable to read as well as they should, which then leads to difficulties when they start their secondary education.
One reason why some children are falling behind with their reading is that they do not have the opportunity to read to an adult on a one-to-one basis.
The charity Schoolreaders helps to address this by recruiting volunteers to listen to children read in primary schools.
There are currently 55 primary schools across Hampshire that have identified a need for volunteers: would you be able to help? If so, please go to the Schoolreaders website for further details.
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Registered Charity No. 1162172
Volunteering Opportunities
See Around Britain is a registered charity which has set up a website, www.seearoundbritain.com with the intention to provide photographic and detailed written information regarding a large variety of public venues throughout the UK.
The information they provide gives a brief description, along with contact details, transport information and accessibility information so that potential visitors, including those with disabilities, can decide whether or not a venue is suitable for their particular needs.
The charity currently has several exciting volunteering opportunities available and feels they could be of potential interest to our members.
In particular, they are looking for volunteers to write venue descriptions to accompany the backlog of photographs of various venues and/or submit photos or videos of new venues themselves, all of which can be done from home and online via their website.
There are online video tutorials available to help volunteers, but they can also provide additional support via email if needed.
If you feel this would be of interest, you can register your interest and join directly via the website’s volunteer section at the bottom of their "About Us" page found at www.seearoundbritain.com/about-us.
Alternatively, if you have any further questions you can contact them via email on support@seearoundbritain.com and someone from their team will be happy to help and answer any queries that you may have.
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Eye Health Care and Sight Loss Prevention
Open Sight is a Hampshire-based Charity that provides a range of support services aimed at helping visually impaired people adapt and manage their lives.
Further details about the organisation can be found on the Open Sight website. Simple advice on ways to maintain eye health can be found in this Open Sight leaflet.
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Adult Health and Care
Manage your Care and Wellbeing | Stay Independent | Connect to your Community
Hampshire
Hampshire County Council are providing an online information and advice guide, along with a directory of services, called Connect To Support Hampshire.
The aim is to provide information, advice and services that will enable adult residents in Hampshire to manage their own care and wellbeing. You can find out about local groups, activities and services within your community.
The website is easy to use and can be found at www.connecttosupporthampshire.org.uk.
Wiltshire
Wiltshire Country Council provide a similar service, and their website can be found at www.adults.wiltshire.gov.uk/.
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Valley Leisure
(Registered Charity no. 800760)
Valley Leisure is a Charity that has been a part of Andover and the surrounding area for many years. Last year the company made a number of changes to its business, and has re-invented itself to focus on the areas that are at the heart of the Valley Leisure ethos.
Valley Leisure can now offer the following, which may be of interest to U3A members:
Riverside Bowl, which offers:
Ten Pin Bowling, including Bowling Goldies and Riverside get-together sessions on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, which many members will be familiar with;
Glo-Golf - Indoor 9 hole "crazy golf", popular with all age groups.
The "I Can" Therapy Centre which offers a unique and bespoke power-assisted exercise facility, aiming to enable everyone, irrespective of age, mobility or health, to move and feel better. There is a support system in place, including a Physiotherapist, a Centre Co-ordinator and a team of volunteers: the "I Can" Activity Buddies.
There are also community outreach classes such as Steady and Strong, Zumba Gold and Choga, which some members might be interested in.
Further information can be found on the following websites:
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Using Smart Devices in Your Home
Smart devices are everyday items that connect to the Internet, for example there are computers, laptops, smartphones, smart TVs, smart home hubs, speakers, fitness trackers, door bells, room thermostats, cameras, even toothbrushes!
Whilst these gadgets are a useful aid, they do need to be set up securely, and users need to be aware that their device might be "listening in" to private conversations.
How to Use Smart Devices Safely
In order to help users set up their Smart device securely, the Government's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has issued on-line guidance entitled Smart devices: using them safely in your home which can be found by following this link.
Is Your Smart Device Listening In?
Some Smart devices have voice control, in other words you say a particular word or phrase and the device responds. These devices need to be in listening mode so that they can react when you say that particular word or phrase, however there have been well-publicised cases where such devices have also recorded private conversations that have been passed back to the manufacturer.
The Consumer organisation Which? has issued some advice on how to discover what your smart home hub has recorded and how to delete it. This advice can be found here on the Which? website.
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Submit your memories to the archive
CALL OUT FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
In celebration of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, we’re calling out for any material you might have from The Queen’s visits to Hampshire or previous Royal Jubilees. Perhaps you’ve had your picture taken with The Queen or have a family video of a Jubilee party? By submitting your material to the archive, you’ll be helping to grow your community’s memory bank for future generations to enjoy.
Examples of material you might wish to contribute include:
- Videos (of any format)
- Images (of any format)
- Handwritten diaries
- Any hard copy items (flyers, leaflets, paper records, etc.)
- Any related material from school
- Anything from a Jubilee street party (invitations, menus etc.)
- Mobile phone footage from a more recent event
- Any other material that is Jubilee related
If you would like to contribute to the archive, please include your contact details when filling out the online form as this will allow us to contact you about your contribution.
Find out more about contributing to the archive