Category Archives: News

OPAL Matters – June 2021

OPAL has published issue 11 of the OPAL Matters newsletter with news and updates on the reopening of some services.

Read Issue 11 here.

Marshes Community Benefit Fund Award

OPAL Services is delighted to have been awarded £7,000 by the Marshes Community Benefit Fund towards its ongoing OPAL In Touch project which is developing digital inclusion services for older people and their carers.

By providing people who currently have limited or no access to the digital world, the project will give older people and their carers an opportunity to sample a variety of communication platforms and equipment selected, based on their individual needs and capabilities.

The project supports access to online banking, shopping, and to health and well-being related services and importantly will also give people a chance to increase their day-to-day social interaction with family and friends via Facetime, Skype, Zoom etc. This funding will support participants in the MCBF area of Frodsham and Helsby to receive 1-2-1 mentoring support, tailored to their specific needs.

OPAL’s thanks go to the MCBF for their invaluable support.

OPAL Matters – March 2021

To read the latest news from OPAL, download Issue 10 of our OPAL Matters newsletter.

OPAL In Touch receives a funding boost from the Masonic Charitable Foundation.

OPAL In Touch, a new service to support older people who currently have little or no experience of using technology has received a generous boost of funding from the Masonic Charitable Foundation (London Office), and the Cheshire Province. This funding will be invaluable in helping OPAL to help older people in rural communities in west Cheshire, who do not yet benefit from having the skills and equipment to access the internet, to keep in touch with family and friends during the pandemic.

The service will be run through our very successful OPAL GoOnLine service and will transform the lives of older people caught in a cycle of isolation without access to the digital world. Each client will be allocated a suitable volunteer who will support them on their IT journey. The service will begin in April 2021.

OPAL to provide Carer Break services through to 2022.

OPAL is delighted to announce that Cheshire West and Chester Council has awarded us a new contract to provide carer breaks through to Autumn 2022.

Further funding on £30,000, also from the Council, will allow us to relaunch our carer services as BreakTime Plus. We will provide an enhanced befriending service as we emerge out of lockdown, comprising our OPAL Reach newsletter, activity packs and our phone befriending service. The new service begins on 1st April 2021.

CW&C LTTA grant awarded to OPAL Services

OPAL Services is pleased to announce that it has received £2500 from the Cheshire West and Chester Council LTTA fund to support OPAL In Touch. OPAL In Touch is an exiting new service that is designed to help older people in rural communities who have no experience, or very limited experience, of using technology. More information will be appearing on our website very soon.

OPAL Matters – December 2020

To read the latest news from OPAL as 2020 draws to a close, download Issue 9 of our OPAL Matters newsletter.

Unprecedented Times – Cheshire West launches a budget consultation in the face of unprecedented economic challenge – OPAL responds.

Cheshire West and Chester Council is asking for views on how the Council can set a balanced budget in these unprecedented times. Since March they have faced the biggest public health emergency in living memory and there is considerable uncertainty about future budgets. It is estimated that the Council faces a financial gap of between £34 million and £43 million over the next four years.

To register your views on the Council’s proposals go to:

https://participatenow.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/unprecedented-times

OPAL has submitted it’s response which you can view by clicking here.

David Briggs, Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, formally hands over Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service to OPAL volunteers.

On Wednesday 11th November, David Briggs, Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, formally handed over to OPAL volunteers the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. The virtual event took place prior to OPAL’s Annual General Meeting and
attended by over 60 guests.

Jane Colville, Chair of Trustees, received the award on behalf of all OPAL’s volunteers. “We are delighted to have been recognised by the Queen for the work we undertake for older people and carers in rural communities. Although we received notification of the award in March, COVID-19 has meant we need to adjust the ‘usual’ presentation of the award. It was amazing to see so many faces on the Zoom session”.

David Briggs commended our volunteers saying “You are truly stars. OPAL is a special charity and you are spreaders
of happiness. This is the highest award a group of volunteers can be given—the equivalent of an MBE”.

Get Online Week 19th – 25th October

OPAL has teamed up with Cheshire West and Chester Council Libraries and Age-friendly Digital Inclusion group members to stage Get Online Week from 19th to 25th October.  Activities include ‘Get Online and Try Something New’ on the 21 October as well as encouragement and support to get online including one-to-one support by friendly volunteers. OPAL GoOnLine volunteers will be available throughout the day on 20th and 21st October to help you get connected to the activities and help answer any queries.

To book or attend an event go to https://livewell.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/Information/onlineday or to the Libraries Facebook page at @cwaclibrary

view the flyer here