The Governments list of vulnerable residents
As you may have heard the government has contacted over 1.5 million across the country who are defined as vulnerable to check that they have support in place during isolation so to shield them from the virus. Those who have received a direct government communication can register for food and prescription assistance by registering for this service at gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-
vulnerable. This is being co-ordinated centrally and not locally. If a member of the public has received one of these communications and requires further assistance they are to contact North Yorkshire County Council thorough their customer contact centre at 01609 780780. They are triaging calls and many of those will be known to NYCC Adults Social Services already as will be an existing customer.
Similarly if a resident is vulnerable or already known to NYCC they should ring the above number for assistance.
Local provision and Community Support Organisations in Harrogate district
There are many residents who are in isolation that aren’t on the governments vulnerable list who still require support, some of which will be known to the council and will be already having regular calls to check on them through service provision.
The key message remains that people should turn to friends, family or neighbours in the first instance where possible so that they remain safe within the community. This includes getting other family members or friends to pay for shopping online if residents can’t make online payments or access money, we know this is a growing issue.
We have been working with our partners both statutory and voluntary to establish some key Community Support Organisations across the district that will act as a single point of contact for residents who don’t know where to go for help or who wish to help through volunteering. You may be aware of your nearest organisation, there is one for every town locality. The details are below:
Harrogate 01423 813096 help@harcvs.org.uk 9am – 4pm mon – fri (answer machine)
Boroughbridge & surrounding villages 01423 324504 boroughbridgecommunitycare@
gmail.com 9am – 1pm Mon- Fri Knaresborough & Villages 07593882340 info@knaresboroughconnectors.
org.uk 8am – 8pm (answer machine) Ripon & surrounding villages 01765 603631reception@
riponcommunityhouse.co.uk 9am – 4pm Mon – Fri Masham & surrounding villages 01765 680 200 info@visitmasham.com Tues-Sat 10am – 3pm from 30th March – Mon-Fri 10am 3pm
Pateley Bridge & Villages (Nidderdale valley) 01423 714953 admin@nidderdaleplus.org.uk 10am-4pm Mon – Fri
We have been working with the Community Support Organisations (CSO’s) to document local provision, we have been linking in with churches, local community groups and parishes where ever we have local contacts. The information you have already provided us has been shared with the relevant CSO. We still have a few gaps and we may be in touch with some of you over the next few days to ask for assistance on this. We are really fortunate that we have active communities and many have come together due to the crisis.
Both Harrogate Borough Council 01423 500600 and North Yorkshire County Council 01609 780780 customer contact centres are currently triaging calls to the appropriate organisation. Calls and referrals are being monitored daily and additional resources to support the CSO’s can be put in place as and when required. Current levels are reporting as manageable for now across the district but we expect this may change over the next few weeks.
The CSO’s will have access to food e-vouchers for those who are isolating who can’t pay for food. If someone rings for food and can’t pay they need referring to the relevant geographical CSO.
Sign up to Harrogate Borough Council Residents e-news for all the latest news for the Harrogate district
We have been providing regular Coronavirus e bulletins for residents. You can now sign up for the newsletter without having a customer account and we would encourage as many people to do this. Please click on the link below.
https://public.govdelivery.
com/accounts/UKHARROBC/ subscriber/new?qsp=CODE_RED Volunteering opportunities
Harrogate And Ripon CVS particularly want to hear from any neighbourhood groups and churches in Harrogate town and the surrounding villages providing support to local people, so they can signpost to local help. Please pass this request on to anyone you know who is involved in a group and please encourage them to sign up to receive the HARCVS e-bulletin too.
If you know of a new Mutual Aid or self organised group they would also love to hear from you and ask that they please also get in touch with your local CSO, if they haven’t already done so. Again if you know anyone organising or involved in a group, please pass this on and also encourage them to sign up to receive this e-bulletin. Thank you.
Support organisations that are here for you
Just ‘B’ Hear to Help helpline
Support and advice to those who are feeling anxious or struggling with their emotional wellbeing.
This telephone service from Saint Michaels is available to adults children and young people between 8am-8pm, seven days a week, and is staffed by specialist support workers. Call 01423 856 799.
Tackling loneliness and looking after each other
Many people will be feeling vulnerable and lonely in their isolation because of coronavirus. Our ‘Tackling Loneliness’ web page has helpful tips on how to look after each other – and yourself – during the outbreak.
IDAS Independent Domestic Abuse Service
In response to a 30% increase in calls /emails during the month of March 2020 IDAS have extended their Live Chat service to provide additional support to people who are afraid of their partner or family member. They are also opening an additional chat service for professionals, agencies and our partners. Their helplines and refuges remain open. They are also offering support via online video calls, messaging services, telephone and email.
The Live Chat service will now run from 3 pm – 6 pm Monday – Friday. Additionally, the team will run a chat dedicated to answering questions from professionals, agencies and workers from 10 am – 12 noon on weekdays.
The Live Chat service, which can be accessed directly from the IDAS website
Get in touch with IDAS
York, North Yorkshire and Barnsley 03000 110 110
24-hour National Helpline 0808 2000 247
Where To Turn Directory in Harrogate District
There are hundreds of charity services offering support listed in searchable community information directory. Many will have had to change the way they work but will still be offering email and telephone support, with information and guidance on their websites.
Key Covid-19 messages translated in many languages
Migration Yorkshire have just launched the new Migrant Information Hub – www.migrantinfohub.co.uk.
The Migrant Information Hub aims to offer useful information and resources to help migrants, and those supporting them, to stay safe, connected and informed, and to reduce the harmful impacts of coronavirus (Covid-19) on our region and on people’s lives. It includes new multi-lingual resources, national guidance, local services and support, plus news and updates on specific migrant issues.
In addition information on social distancing translated into a number of languages is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/
publications/covid-19- guidance-on-social-distancing- and-for-vulnerable-people Two Ridings Community Foundation are currently administering this fund. The focus of the fund will be to offer community organisations emergency funding to deal with emerging issues in the community as a result of the continuing threat of coronavirus.
The fund will support the following:
- Community organisations that are preparing themselves to appropriately respond and continue their work in a difficult work environment, and to tailor their specialist services to give help to the people who need it the most
- The development of advice and support initiatives to fill gaps for people and places where there are no current suitable services
- Groups that provide vital community support to maintain some level of viability through these uncertain times where they are experiencing a significant loss of income as a result of the current crisis.
Grants are available of up to £2,000 however the fund has two clear streams of activity and groups can only include up to £1,000 costs under each stream. You can apply under either stream 1 or 2 or both streams 1 and 2.
Stream 1 – Is about costs relating to delivery of your activities and supporting beneficiaries directly–you can include costs here of up to £1,000.
Stream 2 – Is about your organisational running costs or overheads – you can include costs here of up to £1000.Groups must be based in North Yorkshire, York, East Riding of Yorkshire or Hull
Applications to this fund will be assessed on an ongoing basis subject to available funds, with the aim to get a decision to you within 2 weeks of receiving a completed application.
Find out more and apply via The Two Ridings Community Foundation websiteCommunity Safety
Be alert: opportunist fraudsters using Coronavirus to target victims
As Covid-19 continues to spread, sadly fraudsters are likely to continue using the anxiety it generates to trick people out of their personal data and hard -earned money. The BBC have summarised some scams in this article
Fiona Friday
Partnership & VCS Officer
Legal & Governance
Harrogate Borough Council
PO Box 787
Harrogate
HG1 9RW
Tel :01423 500600 (ext number 58608)
email: fiona.friday@harrogate.gov.uk
Website: www.harrogate.gov.uk
Working hours: Monday to Thursday