YOUR WAY
Eco-friendly
Eco-friendly choices can sometimes feel like a luxury but Telford Repair Café combines sustainability with saving money. “We’re part of an international repair café movement to fight climate change by joining communities together to repair things and prevent waste,” says marketing lead, Jade Poole. “Our motto is: Don’t bin it, stop loving it or wearing it. Instead, bring it to Telford Repair Café so one of our volunteers can fix it.” “We meet once a month at a different local café. Visitors bring broken items for repair and our expert and enthusiastic volunteers fix them or show people how to fix them themselves. “We fix items such as broken vacuum cleaners, watches, jewellery, radios, furniture, hems and seams, blunt knives and more.” Councillor Carolyn Healy Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Green Spaces, Natural and Historic Environment and Cultural Services, said: “Repairing is a great way to save money and the environment. Heartfelt thanks and congratulations to the Repair Café’s volunteers for their brilliant work which supports our mission to see a carbon neutral borough by 2030.”
on a budget
“Giving old things a new lease of life is a great way to save money and all do our bit to protect the environment, especially at a time when we are looking for ways to get the most out of every penny.” Councillor Carolyn Healy Cabinet Member for Climate Change Green Spaces, Natural and Historic Environment and Cultural Services
Find out more at www.telfordrepaircafe.co.uk
Gadgets and tools make a huge difference to everyone’s lives but if you are experiencing changes in your life such as ageing, memory loss or physical or mental impairments, these tools take on a whole new meaning. Finding what works for you can be tricky, so the Independent Living Centre is the ideal place to start exploring the many options available for people with all sorts of needs. The Independent Living Centre, a joint venture between ourselves and Telford & Wrekin CVS (Council for Voluntary Service), provide free information and guidance about support with independent living. Councillor Andy Burford, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, Integration and Transformation said: “The centre is a valuable free service for people of all ages, needs and abilities. “Most people are fiercely independent and the advice and guidance available here can help people keep their confidence and stay where they want to be – in their own homes.” The centre also provides the opportunity to try out different gadgets in a home setting and equipment that can help people be more independent at home and when they’re out and about. Why not pop along and see if you can find something that might provide a solution for you? www.telford.gov.uk/independentliving Telephone: Mainline 01952 457181. Mobile text SMS for people with hearing impairments 07797 875385. Opening times : 10am-5pm weekdays, Thursday until 6pm. Go your own way
Energy Saving Tips
Boil a full kettle and pour that into a well-insulated flask so it stays hot all day.
Draught-proofing your home.
Insulate tanks, pipes and radiators.
Drop-in sessions: There are different sessions throughout the week for those with particular needs, no appointment needed.
Turn appliances/devices off standby when not using them.
Only turn on heating/radiators in rooms that are being used.
Replace halogen bulbs with LED’s.
If you can afford to upgrade one large household appliance to a more energy efficient one, prioritise wet appliances (washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers account for 14% of a typical energy bill) and cold appliances (fridges and freezers also account for around 13% of the average household’s energy bill). Using a microwave is more energy efficient than an oven. When using an oven to cook, batch/bulk cooking will help reduce consumption as more of the oven’s space is being used making it more efficient, and the oven will be used less across the week.
“The centre is a valuable free service for people of all ages, needs and abilities. Most people are fiercely independent and the advice and guidance available here can help people keep their confidence and stay where they want to be – in their own homes” Councillor Andy Burford Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, Integration and Transformation
TOTALLY TELFORD
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