Posts from June 2019

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Families move into new energy efficient homes in Eyemouth

The keys to Berwickshire Housing Association’s latest modern affordable homes at Acredale in Eyemouth have been…

5th June 2019

General, Our Community, Our Developements, Your Tenancy

Get involved in volunteering with BHA BeFriend

This week is National Volunteers’ Week (June 1st – 7th), our opportunity to celebrate all the…

3rd June 2019

General, Our Community

Do you want to make a difference and help create thriving rural communities? We are currently on the search for new members to join our Board of Trustees.

We are looking for enthusiastic, community-minded people from all walks of life. While you don’t need to have previous board-level experience, we do require people who can support our team in delivering our ambitious business plan. In particular, we would like to hear from people who have, or have held, positions in finance, business transformation, marketing or customer services.

If you think you would be interested in becoming a trustee at BHA please visit our website for more information;

www.berwickshirehousing.org.uk/about-us/become-a-trustee/

Alternatively, you can give us a call and speak to our Company Secretary on 01361 884000. ... See MoreSee Less

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Scotland Starts Here - exciting new campaign to encourage visitors to come to the Borders and Midlothian is underway. ... See MoreSee Less

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Scottish Borders Alert - Beware of Scammers

In recent days we have been made aware of several potential scams that are on the go. A common one that we have seen before is an email that says you have a refund due from HRMC and to click on the link to process your claim. Another is a regular scam and is very similar but this time the email claims to be from the TV Licensing saying you are due a refund and to click on the link etc. They tend to be very similar and look very official offering you a refund but you have to follow a link etc. If you are in any doubt do not respond to the email by clicking the link but go to the official website if you can and contact them through the correct number and ask if this is true.

We have also been made aware of an incident in Hawick yesterday where two females were calling at houses claiming to be canvassing for the Council. SBC are not currently carrying out any canvassing and again if you have cold callers at the door always ask for identification and if in any doubt politely say no and do not invite them in.

There is some good advice on various websites on how to deal with scams

www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/scams-fraud/

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/scams/reporting-a-scam/

If you think you have been the victim of a scam please inform Police Scotland

Message Sent By
Brian MacFarlane (Local Authority (SBC), Assistant Emergency Planning Officer, Scottish Borders) ... See MoreSee Less

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Are you interested in becoming a Trustee at BHA? We are looking to further enhance the strength and diversity of our Board of Trustees and are looking for enthusiastic, community-minded people from all walks of life.

While you don’t need to have previous board-level experience, we do require people who can support our team in delivering our ambitious business plan. In particular, we would like to hear from people who have, or have held, positions in finance, business transformation, marketing or customer services.

If you think you would be interested in becoming a Trustee at BHA please visit our website for more information;

www.berwickshirehousing.org.uk/about-us/become-a-trustee/

Alternatively, you can call us and speak to our Company Secretary on 01361 884000. ... See MoreSee Less

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Tickets £6 at the door or book in advance by calling 01361 884 935 or email admin@aheartforduns.org. ... See MoreSee Less

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Why not pop along to Duns Volunteer Hall between 10-11am today (Wednesday 15th Jnauary) and have a go at a FREE walking netball session.Here at Befriend we love getting out about in our local community to see what’s new & what’s available for older people. This morning a small group of us are heading to this walking netball taster session - will you join us?
BHA
Netball Scotland
#befriending #befriendingwell #volunteer ... See MoreSee Less

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Scottish Borders Alert - TSB Phone Scam Alert

We are once again urging the public to be vigilant following an TSB phone scam reported to us by a Peebles resident. On Monday 13th January a phone call was received claiming to be from TSB. The male caller said there had been a number of suspicious transactions on their account and requested that they transfer money from both current and savings accounts to another account in order to safeguard them. Unfortunately several thousand pounds were transferred before suspicions were raised and on contacting the bank they confirmed this was fraudulent.

Please be extremely wary of unsolicited calls or emails claiming to be from financial organisations or HMRC etc. Never engage with this type of caller or click on links in emails. Never agree to transfer money between accounts or to new accounts. Terminate the call or delete the email and contact the organisation using the number you would normally contact them on NOT the number given by the caller. Ideally do this using a different phone than the one the original call was received on, as the scammers can sometimes leave the line open for a short period. Do not be deceived by the incoming phone number displayed on your mobile or home phone as these are easily spoofed.

What else can I do that will help protect me from Bogus Phone Callers?

Make your phone number ex-directory.
Register with the Telephone Preference Service
Install a call-blocker to automatically screen unwanted calls
Don't give personal information unless you are the one who made the call and you are certain of the identity of the person you are speaking to.
Don't give your credit / bank card details to strangers on the telephone.
NEVER tell somebody your bank PIN number, even if they claim to be the bank or police. If the caller is genuine they will never ask for this information.
Don't give out information which may infer that you live alone, are older or vulnerable.
Never send money to anyone who claims to have a prize for you.

For more information on Identity Theft, Fraud and Scams please visit www.scotland.police.uk/keep-safe/personal-safety/identity-theft-fraud-and-scams and www.getsafeonline.org/

www.facebook.com/731272593595440/posts/2854957077893637/?substory_index=0

Message Sent By
Nick Walker (Police Scotland, Constable, Scottish Borders) ... See MoreSee Less

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Did you know the following bus routes will be removed later this year?

Kelso Community Council are looking for feedback from service users or any comments from the wider public.

www.facebook.com/Kelsocommunitycouncil/posts/1576909715789312 ... See MoreSee Less

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Vehicle Security Advice

Theft of vehicles and theft from vehicle happens every day across Scotland. Take some simple steps to protect yourself from the heartache, inconvenience and financial impact these crimes can cause.

Most vehicle crime is preventable. It can take as little as 10 seconds for a thief to steal something from your car. The best way to protect your belongings is to lock your car whenever you leave it.

Other things you can do include:

Removing everything from the car; don't even leave a jacket where it can be seen

Closing the sunroof along with the windows when you leave

Not storing things in the boot; take them with you

Storing car ownership information in your home, not your car

Having a routine to ensure you always take the keys out of the ignition

Taking removable stereos and sat nav equipment with you

In addition, using secure (theft resistant) number plates can make your plates less attractive to thieves

Parking your car away from home

Where you park can make a big difference to the safety of your car and your belongings. Look out for car parks approved by the police Safer Parking scheme. You can find them by looking for their distinctive 'Park Mark' signs. www.parkmark.co.uk/

How to keep your car safe at home

Thieves sometimes break into houses looking for car keys. They can also use wires and hooks 'to try and drag' your keys through the letterbox.

Keep your keys away from doors and windows, and tucked away out of sight.

Have your vehicle's windows etched with its registration number or the last seven digits of the vehicle identification number (VIN). This can put criminals off, as it makes your car more difficult to sell. It also makes it easier for police to get your car back to you if it is stolen.

Get help when buying a used car

If you're thinking of buying a car it's a good idea to do a little research before you buy. Some vehicles are more secure than others.

The insurance research company Thatcham allows you to compare the security of new cars, motorcycles and trucks. It gives each vehicle a point score. That score can show you how the car you're thinking of buying compares to others on the market. www.thatcham.org/

If you're buying a used car, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency can also tell you what it knows about the vehicle. That information can include the make and model, the year it was built, and whether tax is owed on the vehicle. www.gov.uk/get-vehicle-information-from-dvla

Message Sent By
Mark Armstrong (NHWN, Community Support Officer, NW Scotland) ... See MoreSee Less

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Did you see our wonderful BHABeFriend team on ITV Border's last week? Great coverage on how the team are combatting loneliness and isolation among the elderly in Berwickshire and Kelso.

If this feature has inspired you to become a Volunteer or if you know an elderly friend/relative that would benefit from regular visits from a member of our BeFriend team please contact us today.

For more information and contact details just click on the link below.

www.berwickshirehousing.org.uk/our-community/befriending/ ... See MoreSee Less

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