DID YOU KNOW?
EMERGENCY ALERTS SYSTEM
- Emergency Alerts is a UK government service that will warn you if there’s a danger to life nearby.
- In an emergency, your mobile phone or tablet on a 4G or 5G network will receive an alert with advice about how to stay safe. The alert system will not be sent to phones on the older 3G network nor to devices running iOS 14.4 or earlier or Android 10 or earlier.
- The government does not need to know your phone number or location to send you an alert.
On Sunday 23 April 2023, at 3 pm for England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, there will be a national test of the UK Emergency Alerts service.
The alert will say:
This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby.
In an actual emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe.
Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information.
This is a test. You do not need to take any action.
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VOTER IDENTIFICATION
Next time you go to a polling station to vote the procedure has changed.
Voter identification will require you to prove your identity by showing a form of photographic identification, before being given a ballot paper in a polling station across Great Britain at national UK-wide elections, and at local elections in England. The change takes place from MAY 2023
A broad range of documents, both in date and expired, will be accepted in order to prove your identity to vote.
More information can be found here by clicking the coloured text.
* Government Advice Tells you the forms of photographic identification that are acceptable.
* Thurrock Council Information
You could always apply for a POSTAL VOTE?
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There's is help for every household now
The UK Government can give you a range of extra support. If you are eligible, you get support automatically. Again if eligible, schemes are available with the cost of bill, housing and more. There is a leaflet available but the link is to the government website which has further links to the information. Please click Help for every Household
Please also be aware of SCAMS. For some schemes you do not need to apply and never give out your bank details.
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DO YOU HAVE A BT PHONE LINE?
BT are reporting that there Landlines in the UK are going digital. By 2025, the existing analogue technology (the PSTN - Public Switched Telephone Network) which has supported phone and broadband services for decades will be switched off and replaced with newer digital technology.
You may have noticed an increase in the amount of cables and boxes attached to the top of telephone poles in our streets. These are the Fibre Optic systems that will deliver the new digital technology to our homes.
There is a lot of technology and new words involved but BT assure customers they will be fully informed of any changes and the option available to them.
Our existing Copper Cable system provided a telephone connection, broadband and connections to other telecare devices, alarms etc. Other companies who operate these systems will be able to offer advice when the time comes to change. If your are considering purchasing a new telephone, ensure it will be compatible with the new digital technology.
More information is available here BT Upgrade