WIREDGOV

Charity and Voluntary Sector

BHF:  Last week was National Vegetarian Week and some of you might be considering some time-off from meat and eating more vegetarian alternatives like beans, lentils, tofu or nuts.  The British Heart Foundation's senior dietician Victoria Taylor suggests 3 delicious and healthy vegetarian meals for you to enjoy.

While a heart healthy diet doesn’t need to exclude meat, this is the perfect time to take the chance to try some different, meat-free meals that not only taste good, but will also add some variety into your diet.  To replace meat, try incorporating alternative sources of protein like beans, lentils and tofu.  As well as providing fibre & protein, these foods contain essential minerals like iron and one portion a day counts towards your five a day.

Press release & Links

AUK:  New research shows that half of people over 60 have never had any contact with their local councillor, highlighting the huge challenge councillors face to reach out and make contact with older people.  The good news is that the research also shows when they are in contact with councillors, older people are more likely than younger age groups to think councillors do a good job.
 
In a survey conducted by TNS on behalf of Age UK, 65% of older people said they were satisfied with the contact, compared to just 57% of 16-59 year olds.  It also reveals more than 4 in 10 people over 60 believe that local councillors are working to improve the community in ways that will benefit older people.

Press release & links

DUK:  Diabetes has launched a unique annuity comparison service aiming to give people with diabetes the very best deal on their pensions, without any need for a GP assessment.  They are urging people approaching retirement to act now to find the best possible deal as retirement income from pension plans has slumped by a third in the last five years.
Press release & links

DUK:  Diabetes , along with the British Heart Foundation, Children’s Food Campaign and Which?, has written to Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, calling for clear & easy-to-understand food labels to allow people to tell quickly & easily what’s in the food they’re buying. 
 
The organisations have come together, ahead of an EU vote on 5 July 2011, to urge that representatives call strongly for mandatory front-of-pack (FOP) labelling which includes information on energy, fat, saturated fat, sugar & salt.
Press release & Links

DCMS:  The Government has unveiled new Big Society plans to make it easier & more attractive to give time and money to good causes.  The Giving White Paper seeks to renew Britain’s culture of philanthropy by working with charities and businesses to support new ways for people to contribute – See ‘ Policy Statements & Initiatives’ section for more information.