Vaccine Scam Warning
Vaccine Scam Warning

We have received reports that a fake NHS text message is circulating, telling people that they are eligible to apply for the COVID-19 vaccine.

When you click on the link, you are taken to a convincing fake NHS website that asks for personal details including bank account information. Any text message containing a link should be treated with caution. The best way to find information from GOV.UK, or any other agency, is to visit that particular website via a trusted source (such as through Google or Bing) and do not click on links in unsolicited texts or emails.

There have also been reports of criminals making telephone calls and asking for payment over the phone before you can attend your vaccine appointment. The vaccine is free. If you receive such a call, please hang up immediately.

These scams appear very convincing. If you think you have been a victim of fraud:

Please let your bank know immediately.
If you are receiving unwanted phone calls, please let your service provider know. You may wish to consider a landline phone with inbuilt call blocking functions. These are available via some supermarkets and online stores.
Contact Police Scotland on 101 or contact Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000

For information on the COVID-19 vaccine, visit:
https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/immunisation/vaccines/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine or call 0800 030 8013

Message Sent By
Willie Clark (NHWN, National Co - ordinator, NW Scotland)

Information - Age Scotland - Friendship Line

Times are difficult so when we saw the information below we thought it may be of use to you, your family, friends and neighbours. Please pass this to anyone that you think might find the service and number useful.

Please click here to read the December Parish newsletter for Aberlemno, Guthrie & Rescobie.

Do you shop on Amazon? If yes, read on....

When users shop on AmazonSmile, the retailer's foundation contributes 0.5% of eligible purchases to the charity of your choice. For frequent Amazon users, this additional perk is a great way to give back to charities effortlessly.

There is no cost to the charity or to you, the customer, and 100% of the donation generated from eligible purchases goes to the consumer's charity of choice.

Why not consider using Amazon Smile and select the Aberlemno and District Hall Fund as your charity of choice. You can use the link above to take you there.

Remember to go to smile.amazon.co.uk each time you shop on Amazon for all of this to work, although you will usually be promoted each time to log in to your normal Amazon account.

We thank everyone for continuing to support the Aberlemno Village Hall in these challenging times.

We are delighted to let you know that the Aberlemno Pictish Stones, incorporating the Pictish Room, have been included as a location in the Hidden Gems category in the brand new ‘Insider’s Guide to Angus’.

As you may be aware, over the summer months there was a campaign on Visit Angus inviting residents and past visitors to Angus to tell them about their favourite places in Angus across ten different categories.

They have used this information to create an ‘Insider’s Guide to Angus’ which will be featured on visitangus.com. In addition, they will be producing a number of new blog pieces and will be promoting this on the Visit Angus social channels. We hope this will create a buzz around Angus and encourage people to visit us so they can experience these places for themselves."

Check out visitangus.com

Resources that can help with fatigue, sleep and anxiety:

The central theme of the National Wellbeing Hub is: You look after us so we’ll look after you

The wide-ranging content is aimed at encouraging everyone in health and social care services, wherever they work, and unpaid carers, to look after themselves and seek help seek when they need it.

It contains information on (evidence-based) resources to enable self-care and the most comprehensive information on services available (e.g. helplines, peer support) at national, regional and local levels.

A number of key resources (free for health and social care workers) are available on the National Wellbeing Hub, including apps and online programmes:

Sleepio (click to access the evidence based sleep improvement programme)
Daylight (click to access ways of improving general wellbeing)
Silvercloud (click to access a structured programme based on CBT focusing on supporting your wellbeing, including managing your mental health, resilience, stress and sleep. Use code NHS2020)

For more info, follow @PRoMISScot @scotgovhealth on Twitter.

URGENT UPDATE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE RECEIVED UNSOLICITED PACKETS OF SEED IN THE POST

The following message has recently been circulated by NFU Scotland:

Significant numbers of Scottish households have been receiving unsolicited packets of seeds in the post from China/Singapore as part of a likely scam. Following contact with Scottish Government, it urges those receiving seeds to take the following actions.

If the packet of seeds has not been opened, please leave it sealed.

DO NOT PLANT OR COMPOST THESE SEEDS - It is possible that these seeds could be a harmful invasive species or harbour a disease both of which if released could pose a threat to agriculture and the environment.

Do not handle the seeds - These seeds may have been treated with a chemical pesticide. Please wash your hands if you have handled them without gloves.

Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) is collecting these unsolicited packets of seeds for analysis. It is asking for your co-operation to send these seeds to SASA.

Email your details and a postal address to info@sasa.gov.scot

You will be sent a pre-paid self-addressed envelope and zip-lock bag. When you receive the envelope and zip-lock bag please insert the packet of seeds into the zip-lock bag and seal. Then place the zip-lock bag and contents into the envelope and post it back to SASA.

If you receive further unsolicited packages, please report them again using info@sasa.gov.scot

Guthrie Manse.

01241-828243

Dear friends,

As you will be aware the Scottish Government has now allowed the opening of Churches for worship under strict guidelines. Our two Kirk Sessions have agreed that we should try to open for worship. We have now received permission from Presbytery and the first service will be at Aberlemno at 10.00. A.M. on Sunday 9th of August. We will then follow the calendar as published at the beginning of the year.

However, if we wish to hold services it is essential that we follow these guidelines in order to keep everyone safe.

1/ Face coverings must be worn whilst in the building.

2/ Hand sanitizers will be provided and must be used on entry and when leaving.

3/ A one-way system will be used in all three churches.

4/ Only those from the same household or “bubble” may sit in the same pew.

5/ Certain pews will be taped off in order to make social distancing easier to maintain.

6/ Only those pews with a poster can be used. If you are not from the same household you must not use the area between posters. An Elder will be on duty to guide you if you are unsure where you can sit.

7. There will be no hymn singing during the service.

8. The toilets will not be open for use and there will be no access to the galleries at Aberlemno.

9. The collection will not be taken during the service but there will be a plate for your offering on your way out of the Church.

If you have any questions please contact me for further guidance. I am now allowed to do pre-arranged pastoral visits if you need to see me to talk about anything. We are pleased to be able to gather for worship once more but if you are unsure or anxious about coming to these services please be assured that I understand completely how you feel and will not be disappointed if you decide to wait for some time. I do not want anyone to feel pressurised in any way to return before they feel ready.

God bless you all,

Brian

If you are running out of ways to keep your children entertained as the weeks of lockdown roll on, you need not worry.

There are plenty of fun ways to pass the time as a family and make some long lasting memories while you do it.

From encouraging your child’s inner Van Gogh with arts and crafts, to unleashing their star potential with karaoke (just to name a few), click here for 50 activities that can be done in the comfort of your own home, garden or local area.

Update from Home Energy Scotland: We are currently operating a comfort fund – the comfort fund is for vulnerable people who are on low income or who have perhaps experienced a loss of or decrease in their income, due to the current situation, and require some additional help towards their energy bills or heating their property. Please, if you know anyone who you believe may be eligible for this fund then signpost them to get in touch with Home Energy Scotland via the free phone number: 0808 808 2282 or, if you are currently on our online referral portal refer them through this measure to discuss this option with one of our advisors. The Energy Saving Trust, who manage the Home Energy Scotland contract, are providing free heaters to anyone who does not currently have heating in their property. If you again know of anyone who would benefit from this then just refer or signpost as discussed above.

A bit of light entertainment - a few things to consider trying ...........

Free Garden BirdWatch during lockdown

Stay connected to nature, learn about your garden wildlife and contribute to important scientific research without leaving your home. We're giving everyone free access to BTO Garden BirdWatch (GBW), a national-scale citizen project, during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Hospitalfield Free on-line drawing school

Join the Free Drawing School live online every Monday at 10am. A different drawing challenge is announced each week for you to get involved with at home between 10am-12pm guided live with an artist. The Free Drawing School led by illustrator in residence Laura Darling, is now online and attracting more activity than ever before. Laura Darling has been leading Hospitalfield’s Free Drawing School brilliantly for twelve months but now her residency is coming to an end with a new artist taking on the mantle for a further twelve months starting later this year.

New partnership service to support our most isolated and vulnerable people

Angus Actively Cares

A new website and phone number has been launched to help any isolated and vulnerable Angus residents get the confidential support they need during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.

If you need help and support, or if you are worried that someone else (a friend, relative or neighbour) needs help and support, for whatever reason, during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic then go to: https://www.taysidecares.co.uk/

Tel: 03452 777 778

The phone lines are open Mon-Friday 10:00-20:00 and Sat/Sun 10:00-14:00

If you are self-isolating and need any help or support with shopping, picking up medication or just want someone to chat to, please do contact us or call 07551 779347 and we will do whatever we can to help. Below are several other organisations that you can also contact:

Scottish Rural Network - COVID-19 Rural Information Hub

Charities Aid Foundation – Coronovirus Emergency Fund

Angus Council - services, welfare, advice

Age Scotland

Angus Foodbank is open as normal, with normal procedures for collections. A delivery can be arranged and will be delivered by a member of voluntary Angus where someone is showing symptoms of Covid-19. If anyone would like to make a donation then this can be done via Tescos, Lidls etc, dropped off at the food bank during opening hours, or if out with opening hours can be left behind the wheelie bins as this is checked every morning.

If you are interested in getting involved in some of the activities that take place in Aberlemno through the Village Hall Committee, please do get in touch with us. We are a friendly group of people and would welcome you along to get involved as much or as little as would suit.

We hope to soon be able to provide details of our Christmas Craft Fair which we plan to have on Saturday 28th November.

If you want to know more, please call Jacqui on 07551 779347.

Click here to download a copy of The Aberlemno Chronicle 2000

Church News:

Click here to download a full copy of the March 2020 parish newsletter for Aberlemno, Guthrie & Rescobie.

There is now a defibrillator at the Church.

For more information Contact us

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