Inspiring change together

Feeling stressed about the rising cost of living can have an impact on your health.

From now until 10 September the Council is offering free blood pressure checks to help residents beat a potentially serious condition that has no symptoms.

The checks are taking place across the borough during Know Your Numbers Week, a national campaign run by the charity Blood Pressure UK.

The campaign is supported annually by Cheshire West and Chester Council and Brio Leisure, and the aim is to reach those who have high blood pressure and do not know it. People can then access the treatment and support they need to bring it under control.

Around a third of adults in the UK are estimated to have high blood pressure, but it’s not obvious because it doesn’t have any symptoms. High blood pressure can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and other illnesses so it’s important to find out if yours is high.

It’s never too early and never too late to start checking your blood pressure and taking action to lower it if you need to. A blood pressure check doesn’t take long and is really easy to do.

Brio Leisure is offering free blood pressure checks in a series of drop-in sessions during Know Your Numbers Week. These include:

Free blood pressure checks are also offered by GPs, pharmacies, some workplaces, some gyms and health clubs and as part of an NHS Health Check or Well Man Clinic attendance.

For videos and fact sheets about how to take your blood pressure and understand the results visit: www.bloodpressureuk.org.

If you have received a renewal pack and still need to confirm your circumstances for the current tax year, it’s important that you do this by the annual deadline which is Monday 31 July, or you may be at risk of having your payments stopped.

Circumstances that could affect tax credits include changes to living arrangements, childcare, working hours or a change in income.

Two types of renewal packs were issued, as detailed below:
• ‘reply now’ packs had a red line across the first page and the words ‘reply now’. Customers must confirm their circumstances to renew their tax credits

• ‘check now’ packs had a black line across the first page and the words ‘check now.’ Customers whose details are correct do not need to do anything and their tax credits will be automatically renewed.

The quickest and easiest way for you to renew your tax credits is via the GOV.UK website or via the HMRC app which you can download to your mobile device from the App Store or Google Play Store.
Manage your tax credits via GOV.UK

You can also renew tax credits by phone or post.
Telephone: 0345 300 3900
Post: Send tax credit renewal forms to the address below. You do not need to include a street name or PO box.

Tax Credit Office
HM Revenue and Customs
BX9 1LR
United Kingdom

More information on how to renew tax credits

Even in challenging times, everyone deserves to enjoy a day out.

Spending some quality time with family and friends can boost your mental health and wellbeing. Take a look at what west Cheshire has to offer.

Parks and green spaces
There are a variety of country parks, woodlands, and nature reserves across the borough for everyone to explore and enjoy. From Marbury Country Park in Northwich to Rivacre Valley local nature reserve in Ellesmere Port there are plenty of opportunities to get out in the great outdoors, enjoy a picnic and be marvelled by the nature around you.

Plus, for the younger members of the family there are over 100 play areas across the borough, including Winsford Town Park and Frodsham’s Castle Park where children can have hours of fun.

To find your nearest park and green spaces, visit:
Parks and open spaces | Cheshire West and Chester Council

Love Parks week is from 28 July to 6 August. This annual campaign celebrates parks and green spaces, and the team of dedicated staff and volunteers that look after them all year round. Keep an eye out on social media for more information about what’s planned for the week.

Summer activities for everyone

Jurassic extravaganza brought to the streets of Chester, by Chester BID
Families and dinosaur fans are invited to take part in a trail to find 25 dinosaurs hidden in businesses across Chester city centre. Trail sheets are available from the Visitor Information Centre or can be downloaded via the link below. Plus, there is a chance to meet dinosaurs up close every day until Sunday 30 July. The main dinosaur walkabouts will happen on the final weekend (Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 July). Pre-historic fans are also invited to get into the spirit of the extravaganza and dress up too.
Find out more

Summer reading challenge - Ready, Set, Read!
This year’s summer reading challenge is all about games and sports. Children can join a team of characters (and their animal mascots) using their skills to weave through a summer obstacle course. The aim of the challenge is for children to read at least six books over the summer by visiting libraries across the borough. As well as books from the library, there are also eBooks and eAudiobooks available from our digital collection.
Find out more

Re-Living the Rows
On Sunday 30 July, a group of performers are taking on the roles of historic characters bringing Chester’s historic Rows to life in a fun and exciting way. Chester Young Producers, a group of Chester teenagers supported by The Grosvenor Museum will use objects, sights, and smells in this atmospheric performance.
For more info

Soldier School – DEVA Roman Experience, Chester
March through the streets of Chester visiting the old bath house and Amphitheatre. Learn how Romans kept clean and how they entertained themselves watching Gladiators battle it out for victory. Running every Saturday until the last one in October, Soldier School starts promptly at 1pm and finishes at approximately 2pm. It costs £3 per child with accompanying adults free of charge.
Find out more

Summer Splash Pass
Brio Leisure are offering a Junior Summer Splash Pass for just £20. The pass available to anyone under 18 years of age allows the holder to swim every day throughout the summer holidays from now until 3 September. It can be used at any of the six Brio pools across the borough during casual swimming and lane swimming, family fun sessions, wet and wild sessions and fun and floats sessions. You can buy a Pass online or at any Brio Leisure Centre.

Visit the Brio Leisure Summer Splash Pass page for terms and conditions or to buy a Pass.
Summer Splash Pass

Cycle the Whitegate Way
Get on your bike and cycle 10 kilometres (6 miles) along the traffic-free Whitegate Way from the heart of Winsford through to Cuddington, and don’t forget to look out for butterflies and dragonflies along the route. There’s even a place to stop and have a picnic at the old Whitegate station.
Find out more

Walking in Cheshire
Explore the stunning scenery and wildlife on foot, with hundreds of walks to suit all ages and abilities. Whether you’re up for a short stroll or prefer a more challenging hike, check out the many walking trails available using the link below.
Find out more

More information about events across Chester and Cheshire

And don’t forget… several restaurants and cafes are offering free, or £1, meals for kids during the summer holidays. Make sure you check out whether your local restaurant or supermarket is offering this deal.

Many residents are facing financial challenges due to the continued rise in the cost of living. If you’re finding it difficult to make ends meet, then it’s worth checking whether you’re eligible to support from the Government’s Household Support Fund.

It’s also important to note that any payment you receive from the Fund does not impact on any benefits you may be claiming.

The Household Support Fund is available to help a wide range of low-income households including families with children, pensioners, unpaid carers, care leavers and disabled people, with food, energy, water and other essential household costs.

The current round of funding is for the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. You can apply once in any six-month period.

More information on whether you’re eligible, and how to apply, can be found on the Council’s website, using the link below.
Household Support Fund

If you have friends or family who may be eligible but don’t have home internet access, then please ask them to telephone the Council directly.

Tel: 0808 175 3599

If you live with an adult with a severe mental impairment, you could be missing out on a Council Tax discount. The discount is 25 per cent minimum off your Council Tax bill.

To qualify for the discount, the adult with a severe mental impairment needs to be receiving at least one of the following benefits and have a certificate from a GP. Although being severely mentally impaired is a medical diagnosis in itself, the underlying cause could be a condition such as dementia, profound learning difficulties, the result of a severe stroke, or something else.

• Incapacity benefit
• Attendance allowance
• Severe disablement allowance
• Disability living allowance (higher or middle-rate care component)
• Increase in disablement pension (due to constant attendance being needed)
• Unemployability supplement or allowance
• Constant attendance allowance
• Income support (which includes a disability premium)
• Personal independence payment (standard or enhanced daily living component)
• Armed forces independence payment
• Disability working allowance (based on getting income support including disability premium)
• Universal credit (including an element for limited capability for work or limited capability for work and work-related activity).

Adults who have been diagnosed as severely mentally impaired may be entitled to a Council Tax discount or if they live alone exempt from paying Council Tax altogether. This means that their households could be entitled to claim one of the following Council Tax discounts.

• If you are an adult with a severe mental impairment who lives alone or with one or more other adults who also have a severe mental impairment, you are exempt from paying Council Tax altogether.
• A 50 per cent Council Tax discount may apply if you are an adult with a severe mental impairment living with an adult carer.
• A 25 per cent Council Tax discount will apply if you are an adult with a severe mental impairment and you live with one other adult who is not severally mentally impaired.

When an adult with severe mental impairment lives with two or more other adults who are not severally mentally impaired then no Council Tax discount applies.

How to apply

1. You can read more about Council Tax discounts for adults with a severe mental impairment and apply online using the link below.
2. To complete the application, you will need a certificate from a GP showing that the individual has a severe mental impairment.
3. You might also be asked to provide evidence that you receive relevant benefits to qualify for the Council Tax discount.

Severely mentally impaired | Cheshire West and Chester Council

If you would like more information, you can contact Citizens Advice Cheshire West. You can also ask them about other benefits you might be eligible for.

Tel: 0808 2787 806

The Government has launched a new online Midlife MOT tool to get people thinking about their work, health and money and plan for a more secure retirement.

The Midlife MOT includes a five-minute money survey for people aged 45 to 65 who want help in identifying actions to improve their finances. It can give you tips about what to prioritise and where to turn for help before retirement.

You don't need any documents or extra information to use the free tool and any information you input will be kept completely anonymous. You can download your results to help you improve your finances.

Additional resources around getting your finances back on track, including a budget planner and debt advice is available on the Money Helper website.

Midlife MOT | MoneyHelper

There’s just one week left to redeem your Energy Bills Support vouchers before the Government scheme closes on 30 June.

If you are a customer on a traditional prepayment meter, your vouchers will have been sent from your electricity supplier by text, email or through the post. If you have lost your vouchers or they have expired, you will need to act quickly and contact your electricity supplier who can reissue these.

You can redeem your vouchers at the local Post Office or PayPoint indicated on your vouchers, but remember you will need to take along your ID.

If you’ve already claimed the energy support that you’re eligible for but you are still struggling with the rising cost of food, energy and other essential household costs then additional help may be available to you through the Household Support Fund.

Household Support Fund

Worrying about the rising cost of food, energy and other essential household items can be stressful and have a major impact on a person’s mental health and wellbeing. That’s why it’s important to take time out of your day to relax or do something you enjoy.

Things you could do to help yourself and others

• Talk about stress and its effects – let's work together to reduce the stigma that is associated with stress by talking about the topic openly and freely with friends, family, and colleagues.
• Share your coping mechanisms – if something has worked for you why not share it. It might benefit someone you care about and, in the meantime, it might help you take your focus off your own challenges.
• Be nice to those who are stressed and anxious – we are all undoubtedly going to experience stress and anxiety in our lifetime so treat others going through it with compassion and empathy.
• Look after yourself – we all need to think more about self–care. Take time out of your day to relax or do something that you enjoy. Don’t forget to exercise and eat well, even when you feel too stressed.
• The most crucial thing you can do when you are stressed or anxious is to make sure you are continuing to look after yourself. Make time to relax when you need to and learn to say no to requests that are too much for you.

You can find lots more information and free resources on how to recognise and manage stress on the NHS Every Mind Matters website.

Stress - Every Mind Matters - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

5 ways to wellbeing

The five ways to wellbeing are about making your life that bit brighter without having to make dramatic changes to your lifestyle.

Simple things like connecting with the people around you, going for a walk, wheel or run, being curious about your environment, trying something new, or doing something nice for a friend, can have a major impact on how you’re feeling.

Explore the link below to find out more about what is available in Cheshire West to help lift your mood and improve your wellbeing with ease.

5 Ways to Wellbeing

Several Council, local. and national schemes are available to help residents across the borough to address the energy efficiency of their homes, helping to reduce energy use, lower bills and improve health and wellbeing.

Home Upgrade Grant
This is available to homeowners or private tenants living in properties that are not heated by mains gas and have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of Band D, E, F or G.

To qualify you must meet one of the following criteria:

• You receive an income related benefit, for example, Universal Credit, Pension Credit Guarantee, Council Tax Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or Tax Credits
• Your total combined annual household income before tax, National Insurance and other deductions is no more than £31,000
• Your total combined annual household income before tax, National Insurance and other deductions is no more than £20,000 after your housing costs have been deducted. By housing costs, we mean mortgage payments, rent payments and Council Tax

More information and how to apply can be found using the link below.

Home Upgrade Grant

Home Improvement Agency
This service, delivered by ForHousing, supports older people, people with disabilities or those on low incomes to repair, improve or adapt their homes, ensuring that they can continue to live independently.

Home Safety Grants and Decent Homes Loans can help with urgent and essential repairs. More information on eligibility criteria and examples of the types of work that a grant or loan can be used for is available.

Home Improvement Agency

Details of additional, local and national energy efficiency schemes can be found on the Council’s Home Energy web page along with links to advice and guidance to help reduce energy usage.

Home energy | Cheshire West and Chester Council

Dealing with everyday challenges relating to the cost of living can affect anyone including currently serving troops and their families, veterans, and cadets.

To support veterans and ex-service families, the Armed Forces Community Support charity, with the support of the Council, provide drop-in sessions four times a month in Ellesmere Port and Chester.

The Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) Break Drop-in is open to veterans, Regulars or Reserves, and their dependents, to come together in a relaxed social environment to share similar experiences.

It also offers front-line help where needed and direct access to support, advice, and guidance on topics like employment, debt, benefits, welfare, mental health difficulties, housing, homelessness, drug and alcohol problems.

Location and times
Ellesmere Port Library – second and fourth Thursday of every month between 11am and 1pm

Dale Barracks, Chester – first and third Thursday of every month between 11am and 1pm

Brio Leisure also provides current and ex-members of the military, along with those who are medically discharged, the opportunity to receive a discounted or free membership. Ex-members of the armed forces can benefit from Brio Leisure’s discounted Work Fit Membership, and this is available to those who have left the forces in the last five years.

For more information on employment, housing, health and leisure support, visit the Armed Forces Covenant pages on the Council’s website.

West Cheshire Armed Forces Covenant