Please watch out for a text message claiming to be from the NHS, which says you are eligible to apply for a vaccine and includes a link asking you to click through to apply. 

The link takes you to a fake NHS website and asks you for payment and other personal details.

Please be vigilant, and remember that the NHS will never ask for payment for the vaccine. 

If you receive this message please do not respond or click the link. You can report any suspect texts or emails to Action Fraud through their website or by calling 0300 123 2040.

Please share this warning with elderly and vulnerable friends and family members so we can prevent as many people as possible from falling victim to this scam.

Message Sent By
Emma Ray (Staffordshire Police, Community Engagement Assistant, Staffordshire)

Consultation survey from the Staffordshire Commissioner for Police Fire and Rescue and Crime

The Parish Council have asked us to advise all residents about the charge that will be introduced by Stafford Borough Council. From January 1st 2021.

From that date, if you want your Brown Bin emptied it will cost £36 per year. All residents will receive a letter with information shortly.

The Borough Council said:

“You may be aware that around 65% of local authorities across the country already charge their residents for this. Collecting garden waste is not a statutory service – and last year we announced that unfortunately we would have to introduce a £36 annual charge for those households who wanted to continue with the brown bin service.

Our council has been commended for the way it has managed its finances. But there is no escaping the very real financial pressures that local authorities are facing – and this has now been amplified as we respond to, and recover from, the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The money raised from the collection of garden waste will help with these budgetary pressures and therefore protect other essential services to our residents.

We will be sending all residents information directly about this change but please can you also circulate this website address within your parish www.staffordbc.gov.uk/brownbin “

Thursday 26 November 2020

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Staffordshire to move to Very High Tier after lockdown

It has been announced today that Staffordshire is to be escalated to the Covid-19 Very High Alert Level when the current national lockdown restrictions end on December 2.

The county, together with Stoke-on-Trent, is one of three West Midlands sub-regions to be placed in the Very High Alert Level. The others are Birmingham and the Black Country and Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull.

Alan White, Leader of Staffordshire County Council, said today’s announcement will be a bitter blow for families and businesses who have worked so hard to bring cases down across the county in recent weeks.

Alan said: “We have worked hard to bring cases down and the move to the Very High Alert Level is a big disappointment.

“We understand that the decision is based on a number of factors and not just case rates, and our priority now is to get some of the restrictions lifted as quickly as possible.

“We have shown in the last few weeks that we can work together and bring cases down, and the challenge now is to maintain this when the current national lockdown restrictions end next week.

“This is going to take a collective effort and some personal sacrifice, but sticking to the Very High Tier rules is our best chance of getting back to a lower tier, allowing more businesses to reopen and getting back more of the freedoms we once took for granted.”

Covid seven-day case rates in Staffordshire are currently around 300 per 100,000 population, still above the West Midlands and England averages.

Find out more

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What does this mean for me?

The Very High Alert Level will come into force when lockdown ends on December 2.

This means:

• No mixing anywhere indoors with other households, unless part of your support bubble
• Up to six people can meet in public parks, but not in private gardens
• Hospitality such as pubs and restaurants to stay shut, apart for takeaway and drive-through services
• Gyms and non-essential shops to reopen
• Work from home if you can, avoid non-essential travel and no overnight stays outside the area
• Wedding receptions are banned

Full details on what the restrictions mean can be found here.  

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A Coronavirus update from Staffordshire County Council

If you found this update of value then why not check out the other updates and newsletters that we offer here.

If you no longer wish to receive this vital CORONAVIRUS UPDATE please email your request to communications@staffordshire.gov.uk

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Information from Staffordshire Police

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During lockdown more people are looking to do their Christmas shopping online. To protect yourself from potential scams it’s worth taking a look at the Get Safe Online website, it’s full of tips to help you avoid common scams.  

Here are some examples of their advice:

• Being asked to pay a company or individual you don’t know for goods by bank transfer could be a sign of fraud. Pay by credit card as this gives you more protection.
  
• Make sure shopping websites are authentic by carefully checking the address is spelled correctly. Fraudsters are expert at setting up fake sites with spellings that are almost the same as the real ones.
  
• Make sure payment pages are secure by checking that the address begins with https (s is for secure).
  
• A ‘free’ or ‘low-cost’ trial could mean a subscription trap – luring you into monthly payments that are difficult to get out of. Read the small print before you agree to anything.
  
• Unexpected emails, texts or posts with links or attachments could be phishing – trying to get your confidential details or infecting your computer with malware.

If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud you can report it to Action Fraud UK at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

Message Sent By
Emma Ray (Staffordshire Police, Community Engagement Assistant, Staffordshire)

Issued on behalf of the Community Development team at Staffordshire County Council

Staffordshire County Council: ‘Happy at Home’ Campaign

Please find below and attached information issued by Staffordshire County Council to help them raise awareness for the advice, guidance and information provided about Assistive Technology and Daily Living Equipment, through a campaign called ‘Happy at Home’

The campaign is designed to help and support residents across the county to lead healthier, independent and happier lives and to support them to be able to live well at home for longer by way of making sure they are fully informed and aware of what assistive technology and daily living solutions exist, how to choose the right equipment and where it can be acquired easily.

The introductory information, pre-written promotional info along with some initial promotional images can perhaps be used on parish council webpages, in any newsletters or circulars, and social media, etc..

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Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Introducing ‘Happy at Home’

A brand new campaign from Staffordshire County Council, designed to help our residents across the county lead healthier, independent and happier lives and to support them to be able to live well at home for longer.

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Introduction

Since summer a significant amount of work has been undertaken by Staffordshire County Council to update our Assistive Technology (AT) offer.

From today (Monday 16^th November) a new interactive online tool has launched as part of a countywide campaign to raise awareness about the massive range of simple and low-cost assistive technology equipment available to people who may be struggling with everyday tasks around the home.

You can find the “Interactive Happy at Home House” at

www.staffordshire.gov.uk/happyathome

The interactive ‘Happy at Home’ house allows users to visually identify rooms and locations around the home where they may need some help with day to day tasks, and then be presented with a range of ideas and solutions that they can then easily compare and acquire.

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Additional information, advice and guidance

As well as the interactive house, the new online service includes a range of independent living gift ideas, a library of video demonstrations of assistive technology products, and an opportunity to compare a wide choice of solutions

We will be updating and adding to the Assistive Technology and Daily Living Equipment webpages over the next few months and would welcome any comments or ideas.

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How you can help

From today. Monday 16 November until January 2021, we will be running an online campaign to promote Assistive Technology to help people stay independent at home, and in the run up to Christmas we’ll be promoting buying Assistive Technology and Daily Living Equipment as a wonderful gift idea and linking this back to our Happy at Home webpages.

We would encourage you all to please interact with the campaign and retweet or re-post so that it reaches as many people as possible.

• Keep an eye out on social media for the #HappyAtHome hashtag
• We also have issued a press release here which you can share on your own websites, newsletters and networks.
• We also have a range of digital graphics, fact sheets, posters and other promotional resources available on request.

To request promotional materials please contact Russel Gethings by email russel.gethings@staffordshire.gov.uk

For more information about the campaign please contact Jonathan Tophamjonathan.topham@staffordshire.gov.uk or Lee Owenlee.owen1@staffordshire.gov.uk

We thank you for your support

This update is brought to you by Staffordshire County Council

Access the Staffordshire ‘Happy at Home’ Interactive House at
www.staffordshire.gov.uk/happyathome

If you have any questions about any aspect of the Staffordshire Happy at Home campaign, or anything about assistive technology or daily living equipment
in the first instance contact: 

Jonathan Topham on 07972 733197
or by email jonathan.topham@staffordshire.gov.uk

or Lee Owen on 07815 827426
or by email lee.owen1@staffordshire.gov.uk

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If you found this update of value then why not check out other updates, alerts
and newsletters relating to Staffordshire that are available

There is a new weekly Children’s dance class in Hilderstone Village Hall from 3rd November. It’s good to see some new events taking place. See details below.

Please see the attached update by clicking here

The Parish Council Annual Accounts are now available on the website at this page

Please contact the Clerk if you have problem accessing these documents.

ADW Milk – The Local Milkman

New villages added to my route.

*Hilderstone
*Milwich
*Gayton
*Fradswell

~Deliveries will commence Monday 15th June~

You can now receive a fresh locally produced milk & produce delivery 3 mornings per week. 😆
Thanks for your patience! Arran 🥛 🍞 🧈 🧀

Please Register Now

https://thelocalmilkman.yourmoo.co.uk/yourmoo/v2/register.php

Sandon Village Stores is an ideal place to buy household essentials during (and after) the current crisis. It is our closest convenience store, just a couple of miles down the road.

Liann took over the shop shortly before the crisis took hold and is now open 7 days a week to serve the local community so make sure you support her in her new venture!

Full details of opening hours etc. can be found on the website or by clicking here

Good Luck Liann.