Popp along and volunteer

Older people are receiving special help so they can lead healthier, more active lives at home through a £1 million Older People's Partnership project called "Opening Doors for Older People".

The POPPS project (Partnership for Older People) had its official launch in April and is now looking to recruit volunteers to provide information, advice and support to older people to help them retain their independence. Older people who may benefit from support at home can put their names forward to request a Check and Support Visit. Alternatively a relative, friend or neighbour can do it for them.

The overall aim of this two year pilot project is to identify ways of reducing or delaying admissions of older people to residential care, hospital, or intensive care at home.

The council is working in partnership with Age Concern, voluntary sector groups and the local Acute and Primary Care Trusts to run the project.

Project Manager Vicki Gee said: "We've recruited our first batch of volunteers and are looking for more. If you're over fifty and are reasonably fit and active, are honest, trustworthy and get on well with people, and have a few hours a week to spare, we want to hear from you.

"We have already started to help older people, giving them information about benefits and council tax, access to pendant alarms and fall detectors, home safety and fire prevention initiatives, how to manage their medication, as well as social and community clubs in their communities. This is about making older people feel valued and safe, and making sure that they are getting the right support they need. We want to hear from you if you, or anyone you know, would benefit from this new and exciting service"

For more information contact Vicki Gee, Project Manager, on 0161 370 1179.

Cosmonaut landing

Science lessons have been out of this world for pupils at two Tameside schools.

A Russian cosmonaut and a space scientist visited West Hill Science College and Stamford Community High School to talk about their space missions.

The visits, which were organised by Tameside's Aimhigher team in conjunction with Manchester Metropolitan University, aim to inspire young people to study science, technology, engineering or maths and understand more about our planet.

Space scientist Alexander Martynov is a world class soft landings expert credited with landing spacecraft on Venus, Mars and the moon. His presentation was titled 'Manned Mission to Mars'. Cosmonaut Alexander Volkov, is the most highly decorated Russian cosmonaut. His presentation was about life on the International Space Station.

Tameside Council's Aimhigher coordinator Andrea Waldron said: "This is a fantastic and rare opportunity for pupils to meet two leading cosmonauts and get a first-hand taste of the amazing career paths you can follow with science as well as hear about how science studies can help us discover more about our planet.

"The very least pupils will have learned is that science is certainly never boring!"

Hyde Seals salute

One of Britain's most impressive yet least-known sporting achievements is to be celebrated by Tameside Council

In May a statue commemorating Hyde Seal's treble of world water polo championships in 1904-06 was unveiled at Hyde Town Hall, Market Street, Hyde.

The master of ceremonies for the event was popular BBC Radio Manchester broadcaster Allan Beswick, who is a keen swimmer.

Hyde Seal's men's team travelled to Paris in 1904 as English champions. They took part in a competition organised by the French newspaper L'Auto and defeated the defending champions, Brussels, 14-2 in a match which was played in the River Marne.The Seal players received a hero's welcome and were met at Godley Junction railway station by a band playing "Hail the Conquering Hero Comes".

The team included George Wilkinson who was to captain Great Britain to the Olympic water polo gold at the 1908 games in London and at Stockholm in 1912.

However, the club's achievements did not end 100 years ago, and in the ensuing years it has produced swimmers such as Lillian Preece, who represented Great Britain at the 1948 Olympics and Sylvia Platt-Rogers who won a relay silver at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.
Various members will be at the unveiling including Olive Bowker who won the Leadbitter Knott Challenge Cup as schoolgirl champion of Hyde in 1932 and 1933.

Cllr Jackie Lane, Tameside Council's project head for heritage and tourism, said: "Hyde Seal's achievement cannot be understated. In 1904 there were only 21,000 people living in Hyde and for a team from such a small town to dominate a sport at a world level is nothing short of marvellous.

"But Hyde Seal has continued to do the people of Hyde, and indeed Tameside, proud in the 100 years since those victories in Paris. It is only right that the borough should recognise that through our ongoing and innovative street art project.

"The Hyde Seal statue will complement the statue commemorating the Chartist Movement which was unveiled at Hyde Town Hall in 2002."

Bereavement services improvements

Visitors to Tameside's cemeteries and crematorium will see vast improvements thanks to recommendations made by council watchdogs.

Members of the Technical, Economic and Environmental Scrutiny Panel have carried out a follow-up review on the policies and provision of the Bereavement Service and found all issues raised in their original report have been addressed.

Dukinfield Crematorium now has a second door through which mourners leave the chapel to ease congestion. While thousands of pounds has been spent on the maintenance and repair of cemetery footpaths and roads.

And headstones which are found to be unsafe are no longer laid down; instead they are fitted with a temporary support allowing the family to make arrangements for them to be permanently anchored.

The scrutiny panel has commended staff in the service for their proactive approach in implementing improvements in response to customer demand. For example, following discussions with Muslim leaders in 2006, burials are now offered seven days a week to meet the community's religious requirements.

The improvements have been acknowledged by local funeral directors and members of the clergy of all faiths, who responded positively during the service's 2006 consultation.
Members have now made several follow-up recommendations, including guidelines for bereavement services to write to grave owners about the council conditions with regards to removing any unauthorised personal items from graves.

Hats off to the latest heritage book launch!

The seventh in a series of historical books highlighting Tameside's glorious past was unveiled at a special ceremony.

The latest volume from the award-winning 'Archaeology of Tameside Series', called 'Denton and the Archaeology of the Felt Hatting Industry' was unveiled by, L-R, Cllr Roy Oldham, Mike Nevill, Cllr Jackie Lane and Brian Grimsditch at Denton Town Hall.

Previous volumes in the series have won the UK Library Association's Alan Ball Local History Award.

Denton was the largest of the six great hat manufacturing centres of industrial Britain and hatting companies from the town specialised in the production of felted fur and woollen hats for worldwide distribution.

Head of Heritage Cllr Jackie Lane said: "This book is an introduction to the archaeology and history of felt hat making in Denton and is just the latest in a series which is designed to introduce the borough's rich heritage to its residents.

"I think what the council is attempting to do with this series of books is a superb achievement which can only go towards making Tameside's residents aware of just how rich their borough is in industrial heritage."

Copies of all seven volumes are available from Tameside libraries.

Smoke-free legislation is on its way

The smokefree legislation coming into force nationwide on July 1 this year is intended to protect workers and the public from the risks of second hand smoke.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, have already successfully introduced smoke free legislation, and as a result, more staff employed in bars, restaurants and pubs are breathing fresher and cleaner air. Once the Law applies in England, the whole of the UK will be smokefree.

Plans to make Tamesides Enclosed Public Areas Smoke Free are well underway.
Locally, the Tameside Environmental Health Team, in partnership with Health Colleagues, are acting now to promote the smoke free message, working towards providing a smoke free Greater Manchester, before the legislation comes in.

Officers have been offering support to help workplaces get one step ahead of the legislation and provide them with the resources and support needed in order to put smokefree policies in place and help any smokers that wish to quit.

"We have already provided many employers with information and guidance packs on the smokefree legislation and have been offering support for its implementation. The local Primary Care Trust are also offering free access to programs for employees who want to stop smoking.

Health officials are keen to emphasise that this is not an anti-smoking service. It is dedicated to providing non-judgemental information and support to any individual or organisation. It also works to promote choices for smokers who express a wish to quit by giving them access to support services available in Tameside"

Tameside is positive about the new legislation and have been attending subgroups, meetings and seminars, which have been held by local businesses, to answer any questions and offer first hand support.

A web page has been set-up on the Tameside Council website, answering some frequently asked questions. This includes links to Smokefree England and other national smokefree bodies that can provide help and information. The aim is to try to make it as easy as possible for those who need guidance and help to comply with the new laws.

The new legislation will also affect members of the public, and the council has already started to raise awareness in this area.

Environmental Health Officers have already been out and about raising awareness of the legislation at public events including the Stalybridge Splash event. Our Mascot, Big Cig, was there to help, handing out leaflets and badges (pictured) and answering questions.

Head of environmental enforcement Ian Saxon said: "We have also been handing out butt-pouches to those who smoke, so they can put their cigarette ends into them and keep the streets litter-free, a problem we could be faced with, when smokers are forced to go outside to smoke.

"We will continue to support local businesses and residents throughout the introduction of this new legislation and we would like to reassure local businesses that a common sense approach to the enforcement of these laws will be taken by Tameside's Environmental Health Officers over the coming months. Anyone with any questions or concerns should contact the Environmental Health Team via the council's call centre."

Know your limit

AS summer approaches, so does the opportunity for drinking outside whether in beer gardens, picnics or barbeques.

For most adults, it's fine to enjoy a drink but at the same time it's important to look after your health and wellbeing, an issue supported by Tameside Council's cultural strategy.
The Department of Health advises that men should not drink more than four alcohol units daily and women should not drink more than three units daily. It is also recommended that men should not drink more than 21 units weekly - and women not more than 14 units.

What are alcohol units?

The alcohol units system is a means of measuring alcohol consumption. An alcohol unit is defined as 8 gm of ethanol. The following table list the number of alcohol units in some popular drinks.

How can I cut down on my drinking?

There are many ways to cut back on your drinking - here are a few effective strategies:

• Drink lower strength beverages - e.g. switch from premium lager to standard strength beer.
• Never drink on an empty stomach - always have something to eat before you have a drink.
• Avoid drinking with heavy drinkers - they'll put pressure on you to drink as much as they do.
• Have your first drink later in the day - if you normally start drinking at 7.00 p.m. put off your first drink until 7.30 p.m.
• Try to consciously slow down your drinking - it's often useful to leave 30 minutes between each drink.
• Make a list of the benefits of cutting down your drinking - such as the money you'll save and feeling healthier.
• Find something to do when you're drinking - such as playing pool or darts.

How can I get help if I've got a problem with my drinking?

There's a range of services that provide support and treatment for people with drinking problems. These range from self-help groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, to one-to-one counselling in health centres, to detoxification in specialist treatment units. If you want information on the types of treatment available contact the Alcohol and Drugs Service on 0161 343 1133.