SHOPPERS EXPRESS

Issue 2 Winter 2012

STIRLINGSHIRE

NEWS for you

Stirling Food Train is 1 year old! The service has been running for over a year and now delivers shopping to 112 local people in Stirling and the surrounding area, as well as into the rural villages of Gargunnock, Kippen, Balfron, Killearn, Aberfoyle, Gartmore, Drymen, Doune, Callander, Brig O Turk and Killin. What a great beginning! And we couldnt have provided this essential service without the superb volunteers that have offered their time, commitment and enthusiasm. Volunteers get together to celebrate Food Trains FIRST birthday on 14th November 2012! CONTACT your local FOOD TRAIN Tel 01786 450536 or email us at stirling@thefoodtrain.co.uk

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For your HEALTH & WELLBEING

Issue 2 Winter 2012

ageScotland & NHSScotland Be ready for winter campaign

Find out what services are open. Stock up your medicine cupboard to prevent coughs and colds spoiling the holiday season. Talk to your local pharmacist for good advice on what medicines you can get over the counter without prescription for minor ailments or illnesses. Remember to re-order any repeat prescriptions before Tuesday 20th December so you dont run out over the festive season, when GP surgeries are closed. Keep the NHS24 number handy in case you need professional advice on any health problems you may experience when your GP is not available.
General advice and information on how to stay healthy this winter can be found at www.nhsinform.co.uk/winter or contact NHS Inform on 0800 22 44 88. This year, GP Surgeries will be closed for 4 days at Christmas (Dec 24th Dec 27th) and 4 days at New Year (Dec 31st Jan 3rd).
Food Train customers will soon be able to benefit from a free fire safety check from Central Scotland Fire and Rescue Service. More news soon

Reduce your risk of stroke! Stroke is a serious medical condition where the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. You can help prevent stroke. These are the 6 most important steps you can take to lower your risk of stroke:
Keep your blood pressure in the normal range

If you smoke quit

Keep your cholesterol levels in the normal range

If you have heart disease, treat it

Stay active and maintain a healthy weight

Keep your blood sugar (glucose) in the normal range

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Issue 2 Winter 2012

Mr Donald McCabe, pictured on the left, has been a customer of Food Train since June 2011. He relies on the Food Train service as his family does not live close by and it saves him depending on others to help out. Mr McCabe thinks the service is very good and finds our volunteers very helpful. Our volunteers think Mr McCabe is a lovely gentleman

There are many ways you can give your order to Food Train. You can have it collected, you can

SPONSOR a BOX! Would YOU like to SPONSOR a Food Train shopping box for 10 a year? If so, please hand your donation to a volunteer when you next receive your delivery. You will receive a receipt and a thank you note through the post.

telephone it in, you can email it in or we can hold a repeat list in the office for you if you order the same things each week. Call the office if you would like to change the way you give your order 01786 450536.

A reporter asked an 104 year old woman And what do you think is the best thing about being 104? She simply replied No peer pressure

In the summer, Food Train asked you to complete a survey about our services. Here are some of the results for the Stirling area: 94% 88% 76% 38% 32% 29% 21% 76% 70% 62% thought our service was good or excellent said they would be unable, or find it difficult, to access a shop without us felt we helped their independence felt we helped their social contact felt we helped their mobility Wrinkles should felt we helped their health merely indicate felt we helped their general wellbeing improve where smiles have of our customers live in a lone household been Mark Twain of our customers are female of our customers are aged over 80 years

If you would like a copy of the full report please call the office on 01786 450536.

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Issue 2 Winter 2012

Useful information & local services

Get Ready for Winter with WRVS
01786 450718 www.wrvs.org.uk forthvalleyhub@wrvs.org.uk WRVS volunteers can assist with transport to appointments, prescription collection, shopping, befriending and telephone support. (a charge applies for some transport tasks (45p per mile), please enquire when you call) WRVS also offer a Home from Hospital service. If you or someone you know is discharged from hospital during the winter months, and need a bit of additional support, then please contact Katie Murray on 01786 450762 for more information on how WRVS can assist.
WRVS Volunteering - If you would like to help older people in your community, please get in touch with Sharon Norman on 01786 450750 to find out more about the rewarding volunteer roles available within WRVS

THE RSVP Forth Valley Handy Person Service

We carry out small and minor jobs for the elderly, people with a disability, and people not able to do little jobs for themselves This could be anything from hanging curtains, rails or pictures, changing tap washers, fitting new light bulbs to changing batteries in smoke alarms, unblocking sinks or putting up shelves and assembling flat pack furniture (gardening and interior decorating are NOT included) Parts should be paid for by the householder, otherwise our services are free. Volunteers are also authorised to accept donations towards running costs. Contact us on 01786 475800 rsvpscotstirling@csv.org.uk

Central Scotland Police Non emergency contact number

01786 456000
Stirling Council

NHS 24 contact

0845 277 7000

08454 242424

Volunteering can be both fun and rewarding. Do you know anyone who could volunteer with Food Train? If so, ask them to give us a call. We will be very pleased to hear from them. Tel 01786 450536