Wickhambrook Together…

Today’s infographic provides information about easing of lockdown rule changes that came into effect from 19 July 2021.

view pdf version here

The translated pdf versions will be added to the other translated information that can be found on this web page: https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/about/web-accessibility/interpreting-and-translating-services/covid-19-information-in-other-languages/

You can find information and links to the infographics on the Message Cascaders web page:  www.suffolk.gov.uk/message-cascaders

Be a Message Cascader and help us to Keep Suffolk Safe – please share with your family, friends, colleagues and wider networks!

Stick with it Suffolk: Suffolk County Council have put together the following video to highlight the importance of wearing a mark and sticking with it Suffolk

END OF SHIELDING

Government food parcels and medication deliveries to those who were shielding stopped on 31st July.  Those affected will have already received a letter from Government outlining the changes.

The volunteers of the Wickhambrook Coronavirus Support group have done a fantastic job supporting our more vulnerable residents during lockdown and shielding but many are now back at work themselves, and the group has not been able to offer continuing support after the end of shielding.  If circumstances change due to an increase in cases or restrictions, we’ll keep you updated through the website if its support activities resume.  Thank you to all the volunteers from Wickhambrook Parish Council.

If you, or someone you know, has concerns about the end of these Government services and needs to make arrangements after this time please call the Home, But Not Alone phoneline who will be able to signpost to other services.

For social care support, Suffolk County Council’s Customer First (first point of call) 0808 800 400 5.

Suffolk Infolink https://infolink.suffolk.gov.uk/kb5/suffolk/infolink/home.page

NHS Volunteer Responders 0808 196 3646 for

• delivery of medication or food supplies (shopping or picking up of prescriptions)
• patient transport, NHS Transport, (referral via a health care practitioner)
• check in and chat befriending service (you may not always get the same volunteer calling); and
• check in and chat peer support (same volunteer each time)

Try to give 72 hours notice of need, if your need is urgent call for a progress report on your allocation after a few hours to make sure that they are progressing your request.

You can also contact LifeLink https://www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/community/lifelink/index.cfm to connect to activities, clubs and groups in the area.

Contact one of their LifeLink coordinators Jo Burnett, Charlotte Staples or Elaine Hewes.

• For queries and verbal referrals phone 07976 798194, 07967 670602 or 07967 670592
• Generic email, queries, referrals and referral forms to be emailed to
• If you cannot complete a referral form online, print off, complete and post a PDF referral to: Kim Barnes-Clark, LifeLink, West Suffolk Council, West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds IP33 3YU.

COVID-19 testing in Suffolk
An FAQ regarding testing in Suffolk is now available from Stuart Keeble, Director of Public Health Suffolk. Read more here.

Councils ready with Test and Trace Support Payment for most vulnerable
Read more details from Suffolk County Council website.

Here In Suffolk

New plan sets out how Suffolk will prevent and respond to COVID-19 outbreak: A plan which sets out how Suffolk would prevent and respond to a localised outbreak of COVID-19 has been published today [June 30th]. Suffolk’s Local Outbreak Control Plan will be triggered where there are suspected or confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks in any setting or community within the county. The plan, which was a requirement of Government to all local authorities, outlines measures to prevent, manage and contain outbreaks of Coronavirus and protect the public’s health. It builds upon existing relationships and processes in place with partner agencies across Suffolk. For more information click here

How you can help

We all have a part to play in reducing the spread of Covid-19 and you can help by sharing the following messages and resources through your networks:

• If you develop symptoms of coronavirus, you must immediately self-isolate at home and get a test.
• If you test positive, you must share your recent contacts with NHS Test and Trace.
• If you are advised to self-isolate by NHS Test & Trace, you must do so. By following instructions to self-isolate, anyone who has had close recent contact with someone with coronavirus will be protecting their family, friends, colleagues and other people around them. This will break the chain of infection, helping to avoid a second peak while safely getting community life back to normal.

More information about Test and Trace in Suffolk is available at www.suffolk.gov.uk/testing

New Government guidance

Maintaining records of staff, customers and visitors to support NHS Test and Trace

Organisations in certain sectors should collect details and maintain records of staff, customers and visitors on their premises to support NHS Test and Trace.

Relevant sectors include:

• hospitality, including pubs, bars, restaurants and cafés
• tourism and leisure, including hotels, museums, cinemas, zoos and theme parks
• close contact services, including hairdressers, barbershops and tailors
• facilities provided by local authorities, including town halls and civic centres for events, community centres, libraries and children’s centres
• places of worship, including use for events and other community activities

Planned visits for mobile testing units in Suffolk

Visit www.suffolk.gov.uk/testing for newly published dates for mobile testing units across Suffolk. These dates are for the week commencing 20 July and are subject to change, so please check back regularly. 99.9% of households in Suffolk can now access a test centre within a 30 minute drive.

It is important that anyone with coronavirus symptoms starts isolating and gets tested. Tests can be booked at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119

Please take a moment (honestly, it’s only ten questions!) to complete this questionnaire so that we can ensure that everyone gets the help that they need at this time.  Let us know of anyone that you think might need assistance, as not everyone has access to, or uses the internet regularly.  And do please let us know if you are able and would like to help at this time.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LZMYVSH

Wickhambrook Parish Council

USEFUL LINKS AND INFORMATION

USEFUL LINKS – WORK / BUSINESS / EDUCATION

USEFUL LINKS FOR HEALTH & WELLBEING and ACTIVITIES

Advice from Community Action Suffolk:

Here is some advice from Community Action Suffolk
Be a good neighbour – and link up with neighbours you already know

Sally Connick, head of community and voluntary action at Community Action Suffolk, already oversees a host of Good Neighbour Schemes, where volunteers help with everyday tasks.

She said: “It’s great to see such a response from so many people across the community wanting to help their neighbours. We really are seeing people prepared to give of themselves, which is so heartening.  The top priority has to be keeping everyone safe.

“That means ensuring that the people we are supporting, who are isolating and vulnerable, can trust the help that’s on offer.

“We encourage Suffolk residents to make contact with their immediate neighbours to let them know that they can help with a bit of shopping or a chat over the phone if self-isolating. We suggest to keep to neighbours who will recognise you and trust your offer is genuine.”

She added: “As well as being neighbourly, we are encouraging people to go a step further and volunteer in their community.

“Suffolk community groups and charities have seen their volunteering force depleted by up to 80% as many fall into the over 70 category or one of the other groups advised to self-isolate.

“The volunteering portal Volunteer Suffolk will be updated over the coming weeks to show where there are groups looking for volunteers even if it is in a temporary capacity during the Covid-19 crises.

“We are supporting the network of Suffolk Good Neighbour Schemes to respond to the crises to ensure they are sustainable and can cope with demand as well as supporting new groups to set up.”

To register as a volunteer, visit https://volunteersuffolk.org.uk/

Suffolk Libraries Re-opening

Suffolk libraries start to reopen from today (Mon 6 July) with measures in place to ensure visitors are kept safe. The mobile library service will also resume from today. For more information click here

(06/07/2020)

Child immunisation

Local clinical commissioning groups are urging parents not to put off getting their child immunised. They point out – measles is more contagious than Coronavirus. Your local GPs are available and happy to talk if parents have concerns.

(06/07/2020)

Life after lockdown

Join the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce for a free webinar ‘Life after lockdown: what businesses need to know’  to help prepare businesses for the ‘new normal’. They will be joined by experts in all fields sharing their knowledge and top tips! Find out more about this webinar and others offered by the chamber here

(06/07/2020)

Community Action Suffolk’s Governance and Community Buildings Advisor Jayne Vaughan will be available via zoom sessions to respond to questions and issues raised regarding the reopening of village halls and community buildings

Details of the sessions;

WEDNESDAY 1 JULY 11.15AM – 12 NOON for Parish and Town Councils please book https://crm.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=910

THURSDAY 2 JULY 10.30AM – 11.15AM for Management Committees and Trustees please book

https://crm.communityactionsuffolk.org.uk/civicrm/event/info?id=937&reset=1

(30/06/2020)

PPE

The New Anglia LEP have pulled together a database of 180 PPE suppliers and for any organisation in Norfolk or Suffolk to use if they are looking for equipment to help them reopen their business. For more information click here (30.06.2020)

Careers Hub

All secondary schools and colleges in Norfolk and Suffolk will have the opportunity to join a Careers Hub in a move aimed at transforming careers education and supporting skills for the Covid-19 recovery. Click here for more information.

(26/06/2020)

Anglian Water Reservoirs reopened

Anglian Water reservoirs have reopened to the public and as the temperature rises Anglian Water are reminding visitors to their reservoirs not to enter the water. The water may look inviting on a hot day but there are hidden dangers, currents and cold temperatures below the surface. Please stay safe, enjoy their water parks and maintain social distancing. Help us spread the word by sharing this message.

(26/06/2020)

Travel Assistance Cards

Colleagues from the Suffolk Local Offer and Passenger Transport teams have produced Travel Assistance cards which you can download and print if you need a little help with your journey. These include cards for those with a disability to explain why they may not be wearing a face covering. For more information visit click here

(26/06/2020)

Rebuilding Local Lives

Suffolk Community Foundation have launched a new appeal called Rebuilding Local Lives. It is hoped that the Rebuilding Local Lives Appeal will deliver more local giving to the Suffolk Coronavirus Community Fund, which has been created and delivered by the Foundation. The Suffolk Coronavirus Community partnership in Suffolk already includes the National Emergencies Trust (NET), East Anglian Daily Times, Community Action Suffolk, Suffolk Association of Local Councils, Suffolk County Council, District and Boroughs Councils and all those involved in Suffolk’s ‘Home But Not Alone’ initiative. The Rebuilding local lives campaign has today been given a kick start with a major donation from Ed Sheeran. For more information click here

(23/06/2020)

Free business webinar (retail)

The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will be hosting a free webinar this Thursday (28/05/2020) for those in the retail sector. The webinar will cover how to make your workplace COVID-secure: For more information click here.

Other free webinars can be found here.

School transport FAQs

With more children expected on Suffolk school transport from next week please find attached a set of frequently asked questions including a poster. These have been designed to be shared with families and children to help them understand what it will be like on the transport and what is and what is not expected of them to remain safe. This document has been updated with the most recent guidance – which continues to be updated itself. For the most recent information, please refer and direct parents/carers to the Suffolk on Board website. (15.06.2020)

Lets stick with it Suffolk

Leader of the council, Cllr Matthew Hicks has written an article about the campaign Stick with it Suffolk and how our actions together in Suffolk continue to slow the spread of the virus in our response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Click here to read. (15.06.2020)

Suffolk’s plan for more walking and cycling

Following the Government’s announcements on its conditional roadmap to reopen society after the COVID-19 lockdown, SCC has outlined its proposed plans for active travel improvements for walking and cycling in Suffolk. The interventions will ensure those people who need and want to make essential journeys and take daily exercise by foot or bike can do safely whilst maintaining social distancing. In line with the guidance, Suffolk County Council plans include closing off sections of roads to motorised vehicles, widening existing footpaths and cycle lanes, providing temporary footpaths and cycle lanes and changing traffic signal timings to reduce waiting times at puffin and toucan crossings. The Council has been allocated £337k from the Department of Transport, with the potential for further funding if the measures they put in place are successful. SCC are now seeking views on its proposals. For more information including details of the changes being considered click here. (15.06.2020)

Mental Health Support

As we begin to emerge from lockdown, GamCare and other helpline organisations are joining forces to make sure those who need them know their services are still here, still free and still confidential. Click here for more information. (15.06.2020)

One life Suffolk

During this difficult time, OneLife Suffolk is continuing to offer FREE services from home.

Please see OneLife website, https://onelifesuffolk.co.uk/ for more information about how they can support families, or call 01473 718193.

Central Government Guidance for reopening of schools

The government have produced a planning guide for primary school leaders to help prepare them to open their schools for more pupils during the coronavirus outbreak. Click here to read the guidance.

Suffolk Wellbeing service resources

Suffolk Wellbeing Service are continuing to offer a series or regular free webinars exploring how we can all look after our mental health and emotional wellbeing in these challenging times. The session will cover various hints and tips to help attendees look after their understandable worries, stress and low mood during what is a particularly challenging time. This is a live online presentation, where attendees log in on your computer, phone or tablet. A clinician will present the workshop via webcam. For more information on this and other resources available please visit; www.wellbeingnands.co.uk/suffolk/get-support/courses/

Hearts for Care Homes

Not having contact with loved ones has been difficult for all of us during the coronavirus pandemic, but has been particularly hard for people in care homes and on dementia wards. Suffolk Parent Carer network have launched a campaign called #HeartsForCareHomes to help people feel closer to their families while also learning new skills. They are asking people across Suffolk to knit or crochet pairs of hearts. One will then be given to the patient or resident and the other sent to their family, in turn helping bring them together despite the circumstances. For more information visit; https://spcn.org.uk/parent-carer-support/hearts-for-care-homes-3/

Government Cracks down on spread of false coronavirus information online

Specialist units are operating to combat misinformation about coronavirus and five to ten incidents are being identified and tackled each day.  To help the public spot false information the government is running the SHARE checklist and Don’t Feed The Beast campaign here. This gives the public five easy steps to follow to identify whether information may be misleading:

• Source – make sure information comes from a trusted source
• Headline – always read beyond the headline
• Analyse – check the facts
• Retouched – does the image or video look as though it has been doctored?
• Error – look out for bad grammar and spelling

Don’t feed the Beast: https://sharechecklist.gov.uk/