With thanks to Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action
Dundee Voluntary Action
Pen Friends Project!

From Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action :
“We are pleased to announce a collaboration with the Companionship Society at the University of Dundee and are overwhelmed by the number of students keen to be pen friends with older people. They have their pens and notepads poised but we need pen friends for them to write to. Can you help?
Why not make it our New Year’s resolution to sign up to something completely different and make friends with someone you wouldn’t normally be in contact with.
Do you know someone who might like to do this? Why not sign up yourself or refer a friend. You will be matched up with people bases on your hobbies and favourite pastimes.
We will provide you with paper and stamps and you can reply at your own leisure.
Get in touch on with Clare on 07983 707168 or Jordan on 07983 706626 if you would like to find out more.”
Removal of Universal Free TV Licence – some helpful advice
Residents may recall my recent Facebook article on 30th July expressing my concern and disappointment that, from the 1st August, the free TV licence for all over 75s was removed.
Instead, the BBC has introduced a new scheme that offers free TV licence assistance to only some over 75 households.
Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action has given some helpful advice about how to continue to get a free licence :
“To be eligible, the licence holder must be 75 years or older and you, or your partner living at the same address, must be in receipt of Pension Credit.
Pension Credit is one of the benefits that is not well claimed.
To check if you qualify for this or other benefits such as Housing Benefit, council Tax Reduction or Attendance Allowance you can contact either Welfare Rights at Dundee City Council on 01382 431188 (option 2) or by email on welfare.rights@dundeecity.gov.uk or you call the Age Scotland Helpline on 0800 12 44 222.
Being in receipt of Pension Credit not only enables you to receive a free TV licence, but also allows access to other benefits too.
If you had a free TV Licence up to 31 July, you don’t need to do anything just now to stay licenced.
TV Licensing has started to write out to all those affected asking them to pay or apply for a free one. This may take a couple of months. They will explain in their letter to you what you need to do to set up your next licence. These letters should arrive within the next couple of months and the licensing authority has confirmed that currently you continue to be covered.”
The following information is from Age Scotland :
“We want you to be aware of how to spot a scam letter or email regarding this, so please be advised that TV Licensing will only ask you to pay using the following options:
By post using the address: TV Licensing, PO Box 578, Darlington, DL98 1AN
Online at www.tvl.co.uk/75pay or www.tvl.co.uk/75apply
Over the phone on 0300 790 6151
If you are contacted and asked to pay for your TV licence using a different phone number, a different website or by posting your details to a different address you have been contacted by a scammer.
If you are unsure about anything, you can call TV Licensing on 0300 303 9695 to speak with someone who can help.
If you have been scammed then we need to know about it, so please report this to Police Scotland on 101.”
Everyday Packs
Thanks to funding received from the Big Lottery Supporting Communities Fund Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action has been able to support a really good project for Dundee’s older people.
Have A Go Activity Packs!
A really useful update from Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action :