November Newsletter

Domestic violence and coercive control

If your relationship feels challenging, have you considered whether it might be abusive? People often think that their relationship cannot be considered abusive if there is no physical violence, but domestic abuse also includes many different forms of control and emotional abuse.

Women’s Aid identify coercive control in the following way: An act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation, or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten the victim. If you think you may be experiencing coercive control in your relationship, you can seek support from Women’s Aid.

The government website has a great deal of advice and guidance if you, or someone you know is suffering from domestic abuse. With information available in multiple languages and an easy read version, as well as a sign language video, there is advice for any situation.

If you are concerned that your activity online is being monitored by an abusive partner, you can access information about how to search for information more safely.

The Women’s Aid website has an “exit site” button positioned on the right hand side so you can leave the site quickly if needed.

Visit Women's Aid

Domestic abuse: how to get help

Men become victims of domestic abuse less frequently, but some men are victims of serious domestic abuse. If you’re a man who is being abused by your partner, you can find help and advice on Men's Advice Line.

Men's Advice Line

Whether you are male or female, if you recognise that you may be abusing a member of your family you can ask Respect for help. Abuse can be mental or physical and support is available to help you stop.

Respect Phoneline

Diabetes

Did you know that you can do a diabetes risk score to check your likely risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future? Your age, height and weight, as well as having relatives with diabetes, all affect your level of risk.

Taking the right steps can help to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by around 50% and Diabetes UK has some fantastic resources to help.

Diabetes UK

Stay well in winter

With the cost of living and energy prices causing concern for many, the NHS has advice to help keep you safe and well through winter.

If you’re struggling to pay your energy bills, there is help available. Martin Lewis and Money Saving Expert have put together a list of the support that may be available to you.

Heat the person, not the home, is one way to reduce your heating requirements, but there are always compromises. Eating a hot meal can help, and porridge or soup cooked in the microwave can be a quick and relatively cheap option.

Did you know that there are five alert levels for cold weather, and that from 1st November the alert level automatically increases until 31st March. If you’re more vulnerable to cold weather, for example members of your household are over 65, under 5 or suffer from a long-term health condition, or if you have responsibility for someone who is vulnerable, you can get cold weather alerts sent to you.

If you have elderly or vulnerable neighbours who might be affected by the cold weather and may find it harder to manage, please consider checking on them to make sure that they are okay.

NHS - How to stay well in winter

Money Saving Expert

Met Office - Cold Weather Alerts

The National Careline

Lung Cancer Awareness

Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK. Just under 50,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer each year in the UK, and around 45 in every 100 people are 75 or over. Over 70% of lung cancers are caused by smoking, so if you do smoke, there’s no better time to consider quitting than right now.

The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation has produced a booklet called “Follow my Lead” which aims to raise awareness around how the things we say when someone tells us they have cancer aren’t always helpful. Aimed at those who know someone diagnosed with lung cancer, it’s relevant for all cancers and is well worth a read.

Cancer Research - Lung Cancer

Roy Castle - Follow My Lead

Stay safe at bonfire night

(1st week of November)

It’s safer to attend an organised display, but if you’re planning to have your own bonfire, Manchester Fire Service has some advice to help you manage your bonfire more safely.

RoSPA has advice about managing fireworks safely. Injuries from fireworks can be very serious and, even if you’re being very responsible, accidents can and do happen.

Bonfire Safety - Greater Manchester

Firework Safety - ROSPA

Published: Oct 31, 2022