Registered Charity # 1080517
Age UK Sandwell provide a range of support for
older people across the borough
Gardening Service
We can offer simple regular maintenance of your garden including mowing
lawns, trimming hedges and weeding borders. We can also take on bigger
jobs where gardens require a full clearance due to neglect. During winter
months, when the ground and greenery may be too wet to carry out some
gardening tasks, we can assist with general garden maintenance. We also
repair broken fences, repair gates and relay uneven slabs.
Handyman Service
We can offer support with tasks such as securing doors and windows with
chains and locks, fixing leaky taps and unblocking sinks, hanging curtain rails
and fixing blinds, assembling flat pack furniture and other small jobs. We can
also help with things like moving furniture or fixing a cupboard doors and
handles. Our handymen have experience in many aspects of maintenance and
can carry out an array of small jobs.
Domestic Helpers
Our team of domestic helpers can give support with daily household choresvacuuming, dusting, laundry and window cleaning. We will also assist with
smaller general tasks e.g. washing up and general cleaning of kitchens and
bathrooms.
For more information
If you would like further information on any listed services you can also call
care service and support manager Wendy Edge or Christine Harris – West
deputy manager on 0121 553 6217, our home maintenance supervisor Lee
Guestford or our domestic help supervisor – Karen Lester will call round to your home and provide
you with a free no obligation quote.
* Charges apply for all services. Any materials and/or sundry supplies would need to be
purchased by the property owner in advance of the booking. Age UK Sandwell operatives will use
tools and equipment on site where necessary/reasonable to do so, in order to carry out the work
required.
Our Trading Staff are at our Bull Street Office in West Bromwich to discuss all our
Products and Services at the following times
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Tuesday
10 am – 4pm
10 am – 4pm
10 am – 1pm
10 am – 4pm
10 am– 4pm
Or call and speak to Steve McGlone or Janet Snape on 0121 500 1870
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PERSONAL ALARMS
MOBILITY PRODUCTS
CAR INSURANCE
TRAVEL INSURANCE
MOTOR
Hello everyone, my name is Steve McGlone and I’m the new Trading Supervisor
at Age UK Sandwell.
Although I’ve only been at Age UK Sandwell for a couple of months I’ve been
associated with Age UK (previously known as Age Concern) for almost 12 years
based in Walsall.
I bring to Age UK Sandwell a wealth of experience in both customer service
and particularly in insurance so, if you’re looking for home, car or travel
insurance or information on other products we offer (e.g. stair lifts, hearing
aids and lots more) call in to see me, or Janet my assistant, at 15-17 Bull
Street, West Bromwich, or call us on 0121 500 1870.
We are still one of the few organisations that offer a face to face service so,
if you would prefer to talk to someone rather than use the phone or internet come and see us at the address
above.
We look forward to seeing you soon.
Top 10 tax mistakes
Are you paying the wrong amount of tax? Many people are, and even Her Majesty’s
Revenue & Customs (HMRC) sometimes slips up.
So, whether it's having the wrong tax code, not submitting your tax return or other
errors, read our list of 10 common tax mistakes below to ensure you’re not giving
the taxman more than you should be.
1. MISSING OUT ON ALLOWANCES
If you were born after 5 April 1948, the amount of income you can have tax-free for the year 2014/15 is
£10,000. This is called your personal allowance. Until 2013, there was a higher personal allowance for
people aged 65 and over, but this is no longer available for people turning 65 after 5 April 2013.
If you're 65 or over and have been getting a higher allowance due to your age, this will now be frozen
at £10,500 for people aged 65-74 this year, and at £10,660 for people aged 75 or over this year.
2. NOT CLAIMING BLIND PERSON’S ALLOWANCE
You get an extra allowance of £2,230 if you are registered blind, or if you live in Scotland or Northern
Ireland and your sight is too poor for you to do any work for which eyesight is essential.
Once you've registered as a blind person with your local authority, you need to phone HMRC on 0845
366 7887 and ask for Blind Person's Allowance. It is not added automatically.
3. NOT WORKING AS A TEAM
Couples can save tax by giving investments to the partner who pays the lower rate of tax – but it has to
be a real gift, not a gift in name only. If you are married or a civil partner and one of you was born
before 6 April 1935, you also get Married Couple’s Allowance, cutting your tax bill by between £314
and £816.50 a year.
4. NOT TRANSFERRING UNUSED ALLOWANCES
If your income is too low to use up all your Married Couple’s Allowance or Blind Person’s Allowance,
you can transfer the unused part to your husband, wife or civil partner. Contact your tax office for more
information.
5. PAYING TAX WHEN YOU DON’T NEED TO
Income tax at 20% is taken off the interest on your savings account at a bank or building society before
you get it.
If your total income – including pension, earnings and interest – is less than your allowances, fill in
form R85 to get your interest paid with no tax taken off. Your bank or building society can provide this
form.
6. NOT CLAIMING BACK OVERPAID TAX
If you’ve paid too much tax because you’ve failed to claim an allowance or tax relief, or because too
much tax has been deducted from your income, you can usually claim tax back within four years of the
end of tax year in question. Ask your tax office for form R40.
7. NOT CHECKING YOUR TAX CODE
Your tax code tells your pension company or employer how much pay you can be paid free of tax – tax
is taken off the rest. Your tax office will write to you from time to time explaining how the code was
worked out.
Check they have given you the right allowances, that the amount of pension or other income shown is
correct, and query anything that you don’t understand.
8. NOT INFORMING HMRC WHEN YOUR WORKING HOURS CHANGE
If you change your hours, tell HMRC. They may need to adjust your tax code. Be particularly careful if
you have a job as well as a pension - you get a code for each source of income, but it’s common for
the wrong amount to be deducted.
9. FORGETTING TO TELL HMRC THAT YOU'RE SOON TO RETIRE
Make sure your tax office knows in good time if you expect to start receiving a pension in the next few
months so that they can sort out your tax code.
10. PUTTING OFF YOUR TAX RETURN
If you are sent a tax return for the tax year, you must fill it in by 31 October, or by 31 January if you do
it online. The tax must be paid by 31 January each tax year.
New, tougher, penalties make missing the deadline expensive – there’s an automatic £100 penalty,
plus higher penalties after a further three months.
All figures are for 2014-15 tax year, which started on 6 April 2014.
If you are still unsure about any of your Income Tax issues contact our
Information and Advice Department on
0121 500 1860
During the month of August and September, libraries across Sandwell will
be asking their knitting groups to knit hats to raise awareness for Age UK
Sandwell’s Winter Warmth knitting campaign
If you are not part of one these knitting groups we would still like you to
join in the Knitathon by either attending one of the library groups or as
your own group or even as individuals.
Patterns are available on request
Please return any hats to the office in Bull Street, West Bromwich by
Friday 10th October, hats can be collected by Age UK if required
For more details on groups within your area please call
Sue Davies or Carol Wilson on 0121 500 1860.
Donations of wool will be
greatly accepted
Age UK Sandwell Day Centre is based
in Beeches Road West Bromwich, and
offers activities for older people aged 50+
including:
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Home cooked meals by our
experienced cook - able to provide
both Traditional English and Asian
menus from our Gold Standard
kitchens
Exercise sessions and other
physical activities such as Wii
bowling to maintain and improve
mobility
Quizzes and other group games
Support with mobility problems and
personal care from NVQ Qualified,
trained and experienced care
workers
All day sessions
Transport to and from the Day
Centre for older people with greater
care needs
Morning or afternoon drop in
sessions
Full day care sessions are provided for
older people with dependent or personal
care needs. The service can be
accessed by referral through Adult health
or directly by self referral. This service
costs £24.49 per day with a subscription
charge of £6 per day for activities,
transport and meals. Half day drop in
sessions are also available to any older
person who wishes to attend social
activities and make new friends. This
costs £6 per day for activites and meals.
Taster sessions are available - please
call Sue Bishop - Care Support Team
Leader on 0121 525 2499 to arrange
your place.
Visiting and Befriending service
This service is provided for older people
who are isolated and vulnerable, living in
any of the six towns in Sandwell. The
service is free and is delivered by a team
of trained volunteers.
Volunteers provide support in many ways
and can help with household tasks,
reading the mail etc, but mostly they just
provide a friendly face and a listening
ear. Our volunteers can visit any time on
a weekly basis, to provide
companionship and support to older
people in the community.
Our volunteers are matched to our
service users to make sure that the same
person will call each week and that they
will have a good rapport when they meet.
We look for volunteers who know how to
engage with older people and can build
trust and confidence in the people they
visit. All of our volunteers are CRB
approved.
Volunteering with Age UK Day Care
We are always looking for people who
can help us at our Day Centre, making
cups of tea, helping out in the kitchen or
running an activity session. Our
volunteers receive FREE training in care
work, so if you would like to apply
please call us on 0121 500 1860.
When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit
me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and
summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for
butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press
alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit.
FAIRLY FAT-FREE FRUIT LOAF
You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beer mats and
things in boxes.
Natural fruit sugars are present in the dried fruit, so
there is no need to add any other sugars or sweeteners.
No fat is needed as the dates keep it nice and moist.
Along with the wholemeal flour, the ingredients provide
a slow release of energy and even some vitamins and
minerals.
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the
papers.
Remember – this is still a cake and a small slice is all you
need.
But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked
and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear
purple.
Jenny Joseph
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Preparation time: 5–10 minutes (excluding
overnight soak of some ingredients)
Cooking time: 1½ hours
I NGREDIENTS
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340g/12oz mixed dried fruit
170g/6oz chopped dates
2 oranges
A mug of hot brewed tea
340g/12oz wholemeal flour
1 egg
M ETHOD
I N A MIXING BOWL , STIR THE FRUIT WITH THE ZEST AND JUICE
OF BOTH ORANGES . P OUR IN THE HOT TEA AND LEAVE
COVERED OVERNIGHT TO SOAK IN A COOL , DRY PLACE .
The next day add in all the other ingredients and mix
together. Pour into a greased/lined loaf tin.
Turn your oven on to gas mark 2/150°C/300°F and bake
the cake in the middle of the oven for about 1½ hours
until the sides start to shrink from the side of the tin and
a knife comes out clean from the centre of the cake.
Leave to cool and slice like a loaf.
1,
2.,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
8,
9,
10,
,
Send your answers to
Age UK Sandwell, 15-17, Bull Street, West Bromwich, B70 6EU or email
Carol.Wilson@ageuksandwell.org.uk
Entries to be received by
Friday 5TH September 2014 for a chance to win a £10 voucher
Quotes to get you thinking!!!!
“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,
Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like there's nobody listening,
And live like it's heaven on earth.” - William W Purkey
“Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.” - Allen
Saunders
“A day without laughter is a day wasted.” - Nicholas Chamfort
Visit us on our new Facebook page Age UK Sandwell
Electric Blanket Testing
The campaign to ensure electric blankets are
safe in Sandwell will be in October 2014 in a
bid to ensure residents sleep safe in their beds
this winter.
Trading standards continue to provide this
valuable service, and urged anyone who used
an electric blanket to book an appointment.
"Even if only a few blankets were found to be
unsafe or dangerous that is a few less fires
which the fire service has to deal with and it
may have prevented serious injury or loss of
life."
Outcomes from last years testing:
205 Blankets tested in total 45
blankets failed 22% failure rate
Cooking & Healthy
Eating Programme
You will learn all about:
*Getting your 5 A Day
*Reading food labels
*Quick meals
*Cutting down on fat, sugar & salt.
You will receive:
 healthy eating information
 cook and taste sessions
And if you complete the 6-week
course you will also get:
 a bag full of goodies
 recipes and a cook book
 a pen and a magnet.
A weekly charge of £2.50 will apply.
Starting September 2014
2014 testing dates in October
Monday 6th - Jack Judge House Oldbury
Tuesday 7th - Blackheath Methodist Centre
Wednesday 8th - Wednesbury Town Hall
Thursday 9th - Dorothy Parkes Centre,
Smethwick
Friday 10th - Elm Community Church, West
Bromwich
Blankets can be collected on request
Booking is essential so please call
Trading Standards
on 0121 569 6535
The Wesley Centre
Spring Head
Wednesbury
WS10 9AD
For more information and to
book your place please call:
Carol Wilson - 0121 500 1873
Age UK Sandwell
Or email info@ageuksandwell.org.uk
WHAT IS PENSION CREDIT
About 4 million older people are entitled to Pension Credit, yet about 1 in 3 of those eligible are still
not claiming it.
Pension Credit comes in 2 parts and you may be eligible for one or both:

Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level.

Savings Credit is extra money if you’ve got some savings or your income is higher than the
basic State Pension.
Don’t be put off if you discover you’re only eligible for a small amount of Pension Credit. It’s your
passport to other benefits, such as Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction.
W HAT YOU'LL GET WITH PENSION CREDIT
Guarantee Credit will top up your weekly income to:

£148.35 if you’re single

or £226.50 if you’re a couple.
If you qualify for Savings Credit, you can get up to:

£16.80 extra per week if you’re single

or £20.70 if you’re a couple.
We estimate that over 5000 older people in Sandwell could be entitled to Pension Credit but don’t
claim it.
People rule themselves out of claiming by thinking things like:
1. I’ve got savings, I’ll never qualify
2. I get a small Occupational or works pension and that means I won’t get it
3. I tried before but didn’t qualify
People’s circumstances change, they lose someone or savings are used up or become poorly and
need more money to get by on.
So, think about getting yourself checked. Call us on 0121 500 1860 and ask us for a benefit health
check or call the national Pension Credit national helpline on 0800 991234
You might be one of the 5000 plus!!