Read about autism

Your local library has a new collection of books that you might find helpful if you are living with autism or Asperger's, or know someone who is.

The books have been recommended by people with autism and those who live or work with them, including the library service and the South Gloucestershire Autism Planning Group. They provide information and advice, support for living well, advice for relatives and carers, plus personal stories. The interactive list can be found online.

The books can be borrowed free of charge for a special extended loan period of six weeks, and if the book you want is not on the shelves when you want it, the library can get hold of it for you, also free of charge.

It's also worth noting that libraries belong to the Safe Places Scheme. This scheme provides locations for adults with a learning difficulty or vulnerable people to get help when they are out and about. For more information visit www.southglos.gov.uk/safeplaces.

Another recycling option

You may not be aware that you can recycle clean plastic bags, wrapping and film at the Sort it Centres. Of course since the introduction of the charge for carrier bags many people are reusing those, but this is one way to cut back on the amount of packaging going into your black bin.

Changes to South Glos waste and recycling collections over Christmas and New Year

Waste and recycling days in South Glos will change for a couple of weeks over the Christmas and New Year period.

You can check changes to your collections here.

Please save those stamps!

Most of our local charity shops collect used stamps - foreign, UK commemorative or just plain "ordinary" stamps - and sell them on to dealers. Please keep all those stamps you get at Xmas or indeed any time of year and take them in.

Alternatively you can drop them off to Paul Hulbert at 35 Blaisdon (he's collecting them for Cancer Research) or leave them at Dodington Parish Council for him to collect.

Useful information this Christmas

Here's a round-up of links to Christmas opening times and other information you might find helpful during the holiday period.

Contacting the council

• The South Glos customer services contact centre will be closed from Christmas Eve afternoon (from 1pm) until 8:45 am on Wednesday 30 December 2015. The offices will also be closed on 1 January 2016. Please note that the adult care contact centre will be open until 5pm on Christmas Eve. When the offices are closed calls will be diverted to a service which deals only with emergencies.
• One Stop Shops will be closed from Christmas Eve afternoon (from 1pm) until Wednesday 30 December 2015. They will also be closed on 1 January 2016.
• You can continue to report issues or apply for services using the council's online forms which will be dealt with after the offices reopen.

More information on council services over Christmas and the New Year period is available here.

Recycling and waste

• Check when your waste will be collected here.
• Information on how to recycle your Christmas tree.
• The Sort It centres are open 8:30am to 4:30pm every day, apart from 25, 26 December 2015 and 1 January 2016.

Libraries
You can find the Christmas and New Year opening times for the local libraries here.

Bus times
Bus timetable information is available from Travelwest.

Train times
The Network Rail website provides information on travel during the holiday period.

Health services and pharmacies
South Gloucestershire CCG provides this advice on what to do if you are injured or feel unwell. They also have details of pharmacy opening times for Christmas and New Year. They advise anyone with long term health conditions to get their medication before Christmas Eve.

Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas to all our readers!

Mill Crescent Westerleigh Christmas lights raising money for BUST

Mill Crescent Christmas lights last year

This year the Mill Crescent Christmas lights will be raising money for B.U.S.T (Breast Cancer Unit Support Trust), established in 1991 at Frenchay by patients and now based at Southmead Hospital. The funds raised by BUST and its supporters enable the clinicians to buy advanced equipment before it is available through NHS funding,with the aim of prevention, early detection and better treatment.

Pharmacy opening times over Christmas and the New Year holidays

Pharmacy opening times

Find out which pharmacies are open in South Gloucestershire over Christmas and the New Year holidays

- See more at: https://www.southgloucestershireccg.nhs.uk/your-health-local-services/health-services/gp-pharmacy-opening-hours/?utm_source=hootsuite#sthash.cjDJlwRs.dpuf

Find out which pharmacies are open in South Gloucestershire over Christmas and the New Year holidays.
Make sure you're prepared for changes to opening times by:

• Booking routine appointments well in advance.
• Ordering and collecting repeat prescriptions while your GP practice and pharmacy are open.

- See more at: https://www.southgloucestershireccg.nhs.uk/your-health-local-services/health-services/gp-pharmacy-opening-hours/#sthash.X32FTNiJ.dpuf

Find out which pharmacies are open in South Gloucestershire over Christmas and the New Year holidays.
Make sure you're prepared for changes to opening times by:

• Booking routine appointments well in advance.
• Ordering and collecting repeat prescriptions while your GP practice and pharmacy are open.

- See more at: https://www.southgloucestershireccg.nhs.uk/your-health-local-services/health-services/gp-pharmacy-opening-hours/#sthash.X32FTNiJ.dpuf

Find out which pharmacies are open in South Gloucestershire over Christmas and the New Year holidays.
Make sure you're prepared for changes to opening times by:

• Booking routine appointments well in advance.
• Ordering and collecting repeat prescriptions while your GP practice and pharmacy are open.

- See more at: https://www.southgloucestershireccg.nhs.uk/your-health-local-services/health-services/gp-pharmacy-opening-hours/#sthash.X32FTNiJ.dpuf

Click here to find out which pharmacies are open in South Gloucestershire over Christmas and the New Year holidays.

Please don't forget to book routine appointments well in advance, and order and collect repeat prescriptions while your pharmacy and GP are still open.

Pharmacy opening times

Find out which pharmacies are open in South Gloucestershire over Christmas and the New Year holidays

- See more at: https://www.southgloucestershireccg.nhs.uk/your-health-local-services/health-services/gp-pharmacy-opening-hours/?utm_source=hootsuite#sthash.cjDJlwRs.dpuf

Survey - TV interference caused by phone masts

Since the summer, people have been contacting the Focus Team about problems with their Freeview TV signal following the installation of new 4G phone masts in the place of old 3G ones.

There is a service, at800, that was set up to help with these problems. However, they won't help if you have access to an alternative service on one TV - such as Sky or Virgin Media - even if you have other TVs in the house that can only use Freeview. We've also heard of a number of cases where the filters they've supplied have not been enough to fix the problem and people have ended up having to take time off work to wait in for engineers to visit.

We're trying to gather evidence of the extent of the problem and have created a short survey. If you've been affected, please fill it in here.

Free Christmas events at South Glos libraries

Once again libraries across South Gloucestershire are getting into the festive spirit during December and the Christmas holidays with a fun-filled programme of activities, including storytimes, rhymetimes and crafts. All activities are free unless otherwise stated.

Here are our local events:

Friday 11 December
Christmas rhymetime
Yate Library, 10.30am to 11am
Festive songs and rhymes for pre-school children.

Saturday 12 December
Festive family singalong
Yate Library, 11.30am to 12pm
Seasonal songs for everyone to join in and enjoy.

Wednesday 16 December
Christmas storytime
Chipping Sodbury Library, 2pm to 2.30pm
Festive fun for pre-school children

Thursday 17 December
Stories and songs around the tree
Yate Library, 5.30 to 6.30pm
Christmas fun for 3 to 8-year-olds.

Tuesday 22 December
Just chillin’
Yate Library, 10.30am to 12pm
Winter crafts drop in for 4 to 9-year-olds.

Low-cost computer scheme launched in South Gloucestershire

A low-cost computer scheme is being piloted across South Gloucestershire in a move at helping targeted groups access the internet more easily.

A range of starter desktop and laptop PCs are being made available to anyone who is on low income, receiving certain benefits or experiencing other disadvantages.

The equipment, which is available through an IT provider is professionally refurbished, ready to use and includes a 12-month warranty.

The aim of the scheme is to help people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford a PC with a view to using it to look for work or access online training and learning.

Councillor Heather Goddard, Chair of the Communities Committee, said: “Not owning or having ready access to a computer can be an obstacle to people who are looking to find work or to acquire new skills or knowledge through online learning.

“This pilot scheme will help those unable to afford a computer through subsidised and supported assistance.”

Prices start from around £85 which includes a fully-licensed version of Microsoft® Windows 7, Microsoft® Office 2010, 12-month warranty and free delivery.

Residents must receive at least one of the following to be eligible for these special Microsoft® Office system prices:

·       Income Support
·       Jobseekers Allowance
·       Pension Credit
·       Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
·       Attendance Allowance/Constant Attendance Allowance
·       Carer’s Allowance
·       Incapacity Benefit/Employment and Support Allowance
·       disability element of working tax credit

Registered UK charities can also take advantage of this special deal.

For anyone who meets any of the following criteria there are computers available without Microsoft® Office 2010 but still including Microsoft Windows 7 and starting at around £100:

·       65 years or older
·       receiving means-tested benefit
·       are an unpaid carer
·       are registered disabled
·       living on a low income
·       have a child entitled to free school meals

More information on the scheme is available at https://www.southglos.gov.uk/lowcostcomputer

To take advantage of this special deal please visit any of the organisations listed below. You will be asked to complete a simple application form and may also be asked for proof of eligibility for the scheme.

To order you will need either a valid PayPal account, credit or debit card or, alternatively, you can pay in cash at any of our libraries.

Assistance with ordering is available at these organisations. All of our libraries also offer an introductory session on setting up your new computer and a range of free online courses to help you through the basics.

For more information and how to order visit:

Any South Gloucestershire library

For details of your nearest library visit www.southglos.gov.uk/libraries or phone 01454 868006

Banjo Island Community and Sports Association
The Batch Community Centre
8a Park Road
Warmley
BS30 8EB
07984 073968 (Jackie)

Southern Brooks Community Partnerships
Coniston Community Centre
BS34 5LP
01454 868570

Carers Support Centre
Vassall Centre
Gill Avenue, Fishponds
Bristol BS16 2QQ
0117 939 2562

Juice Community Project
56-60 Newton Road
Cadbury Heath
BS30 8EL
01454 302 302

Age UK South Gloucestershire
67 High Street
Thornbury
South Gloucestershire
BS35 2AW
01454 411 707

Have your say on cycling strategy

This week South Glos Council launched a consultation on its draft Cycling Strategy.

The council’s vision for cycling is that South Gloucestershire will become a place where people of all ages and abilities will feel happy to cycle, from ages 8-80. The strategy aims to deliver that vision. You can view it and have your say on the South Glos website until 15th January 2016.

If you would like someone to talk to your group or organisation about these proposals, please email consultation@southglos.gov.uk or telephone 01454 868195.

Over 50s facilities in Yate - survey and prize draw

If you are over 50 you are invited for a free cup of tea or coffee in the Pop Inn Cafe, Yate in exchange for completing a survey. You don't have to live in Yate itself to answer it, just be a user of the services in the town.

All surveys completed before Wednesday 23rd December will be entered into a prize draw. The winner will be advised and all results will be posted online.

You can download the survey here.