Talk Community Newsletter
30 September 2022
A rugby family with open arms (we’re so happy they’re our latest hub)
Enjoy the peaceful grounds along the River Wye with a cup of tea, and a warm friendly chat with the staff at the Hereford Rugby Football Club, our latest Talk Community hub.
The hub is open every Sunday from 10am to 12pm, with a relaxed atmosphere, and a team with fantastic community experience, who are keen to support wellbeing and independence for all ages.
There’s free computer access in the beautiful setting to find out your local news, places to visit and any information to support your wellbeing. A warm welcome for new and old faces.
To find out more about all of our Talk Community hubs, visit www.talkcommunitydirectory.org/hubs.
Stoptober – quit smoking, start saving (let’s do this)
Did you know that if you can quit smoking for 28 days you are five times more likely to quit for good?
Stoptober is an annual campaign encouraging smokers to quit for 28 days from 1 October. By joining thousands of others this Stoptober, you could improve your health as well as your finances. There’s a free app too, to track how much money you could save by quitting smoking.
The good news is you don’t have to do it alone – there is plenty of support available.
For information about our local stop smoking service, visit our Quit smoking, start saving article and the Talk Community’s stop smoking webpages
Our fantastic Healthy Lifestyle team are also running a stop smoking support group in Hereford on Thursdays. To find out more, visit the Talk Community Directory website
Warm spaces in Herefordshire (get nice and toasty)
As we move towards winter, many people across the UK are under immense pressure as the cost of living crisis grows. Talk Community want to do more to help. Working with our libraries, local partners and communities we want to create a network of warm spaces across Herefordshire. These will be safe spaces available to anyone, where they can go to warm up and see a friendly face.
If you’ve got a warm space already or are planning to offer one, we’d love to hear from you, please contact us via email TalkCommunityEnquiries@herefordshire.gov.uk
Watch this space, as they’ll be more information coming out shortly about our Warm spaces.
More energy efficient homes (take a peek behind Herefordshire Green Doors)
If you’re thinking of making your home more energy efficient, and would like to see what your neighbours are doing, now’s your chance.
Herefordshire Green Homes event throughout October is showcasing real life homes that owners have altered, amended or added to in order to make them more energy efficient, cheaper to run and nicer to live in!
There are a number of homes across the county that are opening their doors, so you can see the “green” technologies for yourself. Over this first weekend, Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 October, you’ll find different homes that are energy efficient in different ways. From a Passivhaus new build in Hereford, to a 1960’s bungalow in Ledbury and a former stone agricultural building in Peterchurch retrofitted with sustainable materials.
To find out more, and how to visit the homes, go to the Herefordshire Green Homes website.
Home Energy Day (choices and solutions)
Here’s another fantastic event, to help you work out what your choices are when it comes to saving energy in your home, organised by Archenfield Community Environment Group.
The Home Energy Day, on Saturday 1 October, is at The Garron Centre in Llangarron. It’s covering everything from insulation to full retrofitting and will include stands from agencies that provide advice about available grants and professional services (so handy).
The day is in partnership with the Herefordshire Green Networks Building Sense project, and will include talks and real-life experiences from local residents who have retrofitted their home in stages and from scratch.
For more information, visit the Facebook page.
Rent a mailbox!!
Did you know about the mailbox service for charities and small Herefordshire businesses?
E F Bulmer Trust have mailboxes to rent out at £25 per month, located in the centre of Hereford city centre, in the porch of The Fred Bulmer Centre. They’re handy for people who need a central place for their post to be delivered, and there’s a forward posting service on offer too.
The mailboxes can be accessed Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, with a serviced reception to accept any parcels on your behalf. There’s more too – the centre offers the use of the photocopier and laminating, and hire of their meeting rooms (at tenant prices).
For further information call the centre on 01432 271 293 or email: receptionefbulmer@gmail.com
Dementia Matters Here (join the festival)
Join in with celebrating all of the excellent work that is happening in our county, and all the people and communities who participate.
Dementia Matters Here(fordshire) are holding an indoor festival on Monday 24 October from 10am-4pm at Saxon Hall in Hereford. It’s free admission and open to all! There will be refreshments, fun activities, crafts and more.
For more information visit the Dementia Matters Here(fordshire) website.
Keeping Herefordshire Warm
With the energy crisis on everyone’s mind, you may be feeling overwhelmed by your energy costs, but you don’t have to struggle alone. In partnership with Herefordshire Council, Keep Herefordshire Warm run a free energy advice line, as well as providing one-to-one energy support, to help you get on top of your bills. They also have an Energy Advocate available to support households regain control over their energy. They hold regular drop-ins, work with local community groups and carry out home visits.
Keep Herefordshire Warm also administer energy efficiency grants. Subject to eligibility, grants are available for a range of measures, including heating, insulation, replacement windows/ doors and renewable energy options such as solar and air source heat pumps. If your household income is under £30,000 and you privately own or rent an inefficient property, you could qualify for support.
Get in touch with the team on 0800 677 1432 or visit the Keep Herefordshire Warm website