Useful Contacts and Information - North Somerset
Fraud Prevention Reminder
A type of fraud that is becoming commonplace is The fraudster, purporting to be a supplier, they ask for ‘their’ bank details to be changed in order to divert funds. Please see the information below and remain vigilant.
Change of Supplier Details
Fraud In normal cases, fraudsters contact businesses pretending to be from genuine suppliers, asking for their bank details to be changed in order to divert funds.
The best form of defence to a scam like this is to be extra vigilant and to remember the following points:
if an email/ correspondence doesn’t look right or is unexpected then take time before acting upon it and speak to someone in your organisation.
do not update any details without verification do not verify details by phoning the new numbers or emailing the new email address.
always go back to the public domain and the client’s website, or refer to previous genuine invoices.
Electric bike fleet to expand:
free trials available Our e-bike fleet is expanding to help staff at more workplaces trial this zero-emission and queue_busting form of transport. In recent months, staff at a range of local businesses have successfully borrowed the bikes, with electric cargo bike trials underway with Culture Weston.
Zak Aravantinos, from Access your Care, said: “Staff using the e-bike reported a significant improvement in their independence at work. They no longer need support to travel to and from work from friends, family or work colleagues. E-bikes are very comfortable, safe and easy to operate.”
Anne Hayes from Bristol Port Company said: “Ten Royal Portbury Dock employees clocked up over 1,100 miles during our trial.”
Two Port employees trialled the e-bikes for their commute then purchased their own e_bikes through the Port’s Cycle to Work scheme. One commuted over 540 miles.
An Engineering Intern cycled 265 miles on their commute over the trial period.
A Port Operations Supervisor trialled the e-bike as a means of easing himself back into the commute and has since purchased a road bike on the Port’s Cycle to Work scheme (and his dad bought an e-bike having debated it for years!).
One nervous older cyclist was eased back into cycling for a Port social cycle on the e_bike after over 40 years.
You can borrow an e-bike for free for two weeks via the Better by Bike website (a refundable deposit is payable).
Kerry O’Neill, Sustainable Travel and Road Safety Officer, 01275 884 605
Home Energy
Free home energy advice is also available to all households through the Centre for Sustainable Energy, with targeted additional support for more vulnerable households.
Their website www.cse.org.uk/advice/advice-and-support has a range of factsheets, funding advice and lots of energy-saving tips.
It’s always worth checking out National Energy Action www.nea.org.uk and Simple Energy Advice Service Simple Energy Advice for further advice and information.
Handyperson service
If you are Over 60 or have a disability? Need help with small repairs or odd jobs?
Tel: 01934 520 116 Email: info@amselectricalservices.co.uk
Subsidised rate of £15.60 per hour
Small plumbing jobs
Small electrical works
Fitting key safes
Grab rails and bannisters
Minor repairs and improvements – internally and externally
And much more