Community Connnectors update

 

Community Connectors May 20 2021 View this email in your browser The NHS is 'Open for business' The NHS has launched a new public information campaign to encourage people to contact their GP, attend hospital appointments and use the NHS 111 service if they have urgent care needs or 999 in emergencies. The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in a decrease in people accessing NHS services for a range of conditions that are not related to COVID-19. Public Health England has added new resources to its Campaign Resource Centre that you can download and share with your contacts. Download the resources Vaccine survey The Covid-19 vaccination programme is currently being rolled out and overall, uptake has been good. However, there are a number of communities where uptake is lower or slower and we need to understand why this is. Kent County Council and its partners have asked ‘Activmob’ to speak to residents in Kent, particularly 18 to 40-year-olds, to understand the attitudes, barriers and motivations for getting the vaccine. As part of this work, we would be very grateful if you could take part or share the short Covid-19 vaccine insights survey with others. Step three posters available On Monday, the nation entered ‘Step three’ of the Government’s Roadmap out of Lockdown. While we’ve all regained additional freedoms, many restrictions remain in place and we should continue to follow social distancing guidelines. You can now download the latest ‘Step three’ posters with a summary of the new guidance from the Public Health England website. They’re available to print or to share on your digital platforms. Download the step three posters Local vaccination news Across the Sevenoaks District, a total of 106,263 doses of the vaccination were given between 8 December 2020 and 16 May 2021. Across Kent and Medway, 1,593,304 doses of the vaccine were given up to 16 May 2021. COVID-19 infection data The latest data we have from the Government and Public Health England is dated 13 May.  It remains a mixed picture across the county for rates of infection, but cases are decreasing in the majority of districts and boroughs, including in Sevenoaks.       The case rate in the Sevenoaks District to 13 May was 5.8, exactly half that of last week’s rate of 11.6 per 100,000. There are currently 13 active cases in the District, compared to 31 cases recorded at 6 May. According to KCC, active cases are currently associated with household clusters and single cases in residential dwellings.   Visit the NHS website for local and national vaccination data. Help share the vaccine message To encourage more people, especially younger people, to have a COVID-19 jab, we’re calling on you to help share the Public Health England’s vaccine materials. There’s lots of promotional resources available to reassure anyone who is hesitant about having a vaccine. Download the vaccine promotion materials More than 20 million UK adults receive both doses of COVID-19 vaccine Earlier this week, the Government announced that over 56 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have now been given in the UK, with over a third of adults having received both doses. Health services across the UK gave 56,677,354 vaccines between 8 December 2020 and 2 May 2021, including 36 million people (69%) with their first dose and 20 million with their second (38%). The milestone comes as Government announces that appointments for a second dose of a vaccine will be brought forward from 12 to 8 weeks for the remaining people in the top nine priority groups yet to receive their second dose. This is to ensure people in these groups have the best possible protection from the virus at an earlier opportunity. This is part of the Government’s plans to tackle rising cases of the B.1.617.2 variant of concern first identified in India. The online vaccination booking system is now available to those aged 36 or over and those who turn 36 before 1 July 2021. Vaccination booking system Support for young people The last year has been difficult for most of us but it’s been especially hard on our kids. It’s really important to recognise this and to help young people build resilience to get them through this turbulent time. If you know a young person who is struggling to cope, there is help available. Moodspark is a place where young people aged 10-16 can learn how to look after their emotional and mental health and find ways to help them bounce back when life gets tough. What do you think of this newsletter? Drop us a line at communications@sevenoaks.gov.uk Please share this newsletter with your friends, family, work colleagues and contacts.

National Day of Reflection

  We're marking the anniversary of the first covid lockdown with a recorded service available next Tuesday morning (23rd) in time for the minute's silence at midday. It will include reflections from local people on what this year has meant to them, a Bible reading, a time of silence and prayer. Join us to pause and think of all that has happened in this last year, acknowledging the grief and loss that this year has brought and giving thanks for those who have worked so tirelessly to support others.

You can also from this afternoon, tie a ribbon to our remembrance tree - the yew tree just inside the church lychgate. There will be ribbons in the church porch, or you can bring your own.

Finally, at 8pm on Tues 23rd, you are invited to place a light in your window.

Join in however you are able!

Know Your Neighbours weekly update

 Welcome to this week's KYN update newsletter. It's a day early, so hopefully, this won't confuse you as much as it is me!

Today, we had our 100 Club draw via Zoom, at the Friday Group session. This month's winners are:-

No 14 - Catherine Ella £100

No 35 - Brian Sutton £55.

We are currently drawing from 62 numbers, which is why the second prize is slightly higher this month. We will discuss the prize fund at the KYN/SVA AGM next week.

Which brings us nicely to the second item. We will be holding the AGM of Know Your Neighbours and the Seal Village Fund, on Friday of next week (March 12th), at 11.15am If you would like to attend, please send a return email to this address, and I will make sure you receive your Zoom invitation. During this meeting, we will be discussing how we might spend the money we have in our funds at the moment, (approx £2,000) to enhance our community in some meaningful way. So, please do join us if you can, or send in your ideas to this email address. This is our community fund, and as members of our community, your input is really important. We will be sending our accounts out to anybody who wishes to attend, or who may like to see them.

Although it will be different from our normal event, there will be the opportunity to worship in Church again from next Sunday 14th March - so Mothering Sunday in Church. However, there will be restrictions, so please see Anne's newsletter on Sunday for further information.

Tonight sees the third of our fortnightly Zoom quizzes, organised by Frances and Annie Fish. These are free, and lots of fun. If you wish to join us, please contact Frances for your Zoom invitation. We would love to see you there.

frances88@hotmail.co.uk

Now some news from Chris Tavarre of Seal Parish Council:-

Wildflower Verges Project and Talk

Seal Parish Council has embarked on an exciting project to bring back wildflowers into our verges and public areas.

There will be an illustrated talk on Zoom on Wed 28^th April from 7.30 - 8.30pm.

Do join us to learn more about our native wildflowers and what we can do in the Parish to encourage more in our roadside verges and other open spaces.

If you would like to attend the talk please email christavspc@btinternet.com

This sounds like a wonderful project, and I will be putting reminders up on this newsletter regularly, so that we don't forget about the talk on zoom.

Next, we have an appeal from Emily Durling, regarding the retirement of Denise Larkin, our super librarian.

Librarian Denise Retirement Collection

Our lovely village librarian Denise retired during lockdown. Emily (Durling) thought it would be nice to put together a card and collection from the village as Denise was such a friendly, constant presence for so many of us.

To add a message to Denise's card fill in this form here https://forms.gle/Kc1nScDk9BhuqoCe8

If you'd like to donate to the present you can do so via paypal here https://paypal.me/pools/campaign/115573910627197616

REMINDERS- SEAL CHURCH FUND RAISERS

We still have some beautiful hand made Mothers' Day, Easter cards, and in fact, all celebration cards and Easter gifts available, with proceeds going to Seal Church . Frances also has some of her beautiful knitted egg bearing chicks for £1.50 each. Photos of all are available.

For chicks, please email me.

For gifts rsapattullo@gmail.co

For cards c_rampton@hotmail.com

Please remember to complete your census forms by visiting http://www.census.gov.uk

SEAL PARISH COUNCIL ANNUAL ASSEMBLY _ VIA ZOOM MAY 5TH 7.30pm - please email sealparishc@outlook.com for an invitation.

SEND YOUR FAVOURITE LOCKDOWN RECIPES TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS for a book we hope to publish later this year .

GET MOVING WITH LUCI'S DANCE FOR FUN ZOOM CLASSES - ONLY £5 A SESSION - contact Luci at luci.napleton@gmail.com

Please remember to let me know if your organisation has anything planned so that we can help you to get the word out there.

As always, I will be sending Anne's Church newsletter out on Sunday morning, so you have the latest Church news, podcasts, and links to Zoom activities throughout the week.

Have a good weekend everybody.

Best Wishes,

Marion. (On behalf of Know Your Neighbours).

KYN newsletter Sat Feb 13

Hello Everybody, Welcome to this week's Seal Know Your Neighbours update. Hopefully, everybody over 70, and those that have been identified as clinically vulnerable, have now been vaccinated, or at least, have appointments booked. Now, according to local information, all over 65's can book their places, so please see the Community Connectors newsletter, to see how to book your slot.This is very exciting for many people, especially those who have spent the best part of this year shielding. It has been an incredibly tough year for everybody, but, at last, we are beginning to see some light at the end of that particular tunnel. As ever, please do get in touch, if you, or anybody you are concerned about, might need a little support right now. So, it may all still be via Zoom, but we do have a couple of events to mention:-  Tuesday morning 10.30 - Luci Napleton's Dance For Fun class. Contact Luci for joining instructions and more information lucinapleton@gmail.com There is more information about Luci's commitment to dancing for wellbeing, below. Wednesday 17th February - Seal Village Hall AGM 7pm - please let us know by responding to this email, if you would like an invitation, and your email address will be passed on. Friday 19th February - 2nd Fun Quiz 7.30pm. Please contact Frances Fish - frances88@hotmail.co.uk  This was great fun last week, and I'm sure there will be more of you wishing to join in this week. It is a great way to spend a dreary lockdown evening, in the virtual company of others! Thank you to Frances and Annie Fish for organising these events for us. Talking of Annie Fish, we should mention this! Annie is doing a walk to raise money to support Alzheimer's Society. Find out more about the walk, and how to sponsor Annie,at  www.justgiving.com/mw565979 There are still Easter cards and gifts available from members of Seal Church, with proceeds going to the Church. Please contact c_rampton@hotmail.com or rsapattullo@gmail.com.who have photographs of available items. Derek is still doing a great job of resurrecting old laptops, and preparing them for the use of pupils at Seal School, to use at home. If you have a device which you no longer use, and feel you could donate it, please contact me, and I will arrange to collect and deliver to Derek. We are still ever hopeful of producing a Lockdown Recipe book, where we can share our favourite recipes that have been faithful friends, or just unplanned gems, that have got us and our families, through lockdown. Please send me your recipes, with just a sentence or two, about how your recipes have been invented, or helped you through this time. I will forward Anne's Church newsletter tomorrow, as usual, where you will find all the Church news, along with links to podcasts, services and Zoom social events for this week.  And now, I asked last week what you are up to right now. If you have been taking part in any activities which you feel might help motivate others, please let us know. I think this lockdown, many people have been saying how much more difficult it has been to get motivated to do anything, and how home schooling, for instance, has been even more challenging this time around. This is hardly surprising, when we consider how much beautiful weather we enjoyed during the first experience. I know the snow may have been an interesting diversion for the children for a week or so, but there is only so much time we can spend in the bitterly cold winds, even if we are sledging! Please, please, share your thoughts and ideas. And finally, as  Luci is doing such a great job of getting some of us moving through this time, I have asked her to give a little resume of her background, and tell us what exactly she does, and who else she is working with. I am sharing her response with you, and look forward to hearing what others do - both in and out of lockdown. Thank you Luci. Luci Napleton is a professional freelance community dance facilitator and postural stability instructor. Since the pandemic, like the majority, Luci has begun to deliver online zoom dance for fun sessions for over 50s’ to help benefit people to maintain physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing. Those who are not online, motivational phone calls and within government guidance when lockdown’s have eased, 2 metre distanced doorstep visits to help reduce social isolation and loneliness and just to check in all is ok has taken place. Luci has also spent this time trying to secure future freelance work (whether online or live-in-person within government guidance and when safe to do so) and planning some future projects which are all funding dependent. Some of this work and projects include working in partnership with the Forget-Me-Not online café and the Medway Parkinson’s and Neurological Networks. If you wish to find out more information you can contact Luci by phone or email, details are below: Luci Napleton | freelance dance facilitator | postural stability instructor Mobile: 07748008431 Email: lucinapleton@gmail.com Follow on twitter: @lucinapleton Follow on Instagram: lucinapleton Like on Facebook: http://bitly.ws/bFXj ReplyForward

Community Connectors newsletter

 

Community Connectors 11 February 2020 View this email in your browser

Vaccination news... On Monday, the Government announced that anyone aged 70 plus who has not had their jab yet can now book one with the NHS. You can book a vaccination online or call 119 for free. In other vaccination news, as of today, the NHS Kent and Medway CCG has given 370,289 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to residents in Kent and Medway. Finally, a fourth large-scale vaccination centre is set to open in Kent at the end of the month. The latest centre is in Thanet. In addition, local vaccination centres are opening all the time across the county. View the vaccination centres in Kent. Councillor says yes to test! Cllr Lesley Dyball, our Cabinet Member for People and Places, agreed to be filmed taking a COVID-19 test at her local centre in Swanley. The video was released today and shows how quick and easy it is to book, take the test and get the results. The video is on our social media accounts, including YouTube. If you get the chance, please share with your contacts too. Book a test Taking on the COVID conspiracies Sadly there is a great deal of misinformation about COVID and the vaccines, most of it online. Some of the theories falsely claim that COVID does not really exists or is exaggerated. Others suggest the vaccine has not been property tested or it can make you infertile. One even claims the vaccine includes microchips that somehow implant in themselves in the brain so people can be tracked by others. To most of us, the theories sound bizarre and implausible, but they are gaining traction, especially with certain communities. There is some concern these theories could make people hesitant about having the jab. However, we can take action to stop the spread of this misinformation. The Government’s SHAREChecklist website provides guidance and advice on how to spot fake news. We can also share the PHE resources that promote confidence the vaccines including the image above.   Financial support and advice The Coronavirus outbreak has affected different people in different ways. Many people have found themselves in financial difficulties but there is support available. The NHS Test and Trace payment scheme helps people on low incomes who have been asked to self-isolate. Those entitled could receive £500. The Kent Support and Assistance Service may be able to help families who need help with food or utility vouchers. The Money Advice Service can give advice on how to manage money and list support available from service providers. Every Mind Matters has advice to help with the stress and anxiety that money worries can bring. Kent Citizen’s Advice branches are now offering advice on employment or financial matters over the phone and online. Latest local COVID-19 data The latest data we have from the Government and Public Health England is dated 4 February and COVID-19 rates are continuing to fall in all districts of Kent and Medway. The case rate in the Sevenoaks District to 4 February 2021 was 119.3, down significantly from 329.6 per 100,000 on 24 January. The current case rate in Sevenoaks District is now lower than the England rate, which stood at 211.8 per 100,000 on 4 February.   There are currently 256 active cases in the District, also a significant drop from 546 recorded previously. These are associated with clusters in residential dwellings and care settings. Although the decrease in rates of infection is welcome news, it still remains incredibly important that we follow the guidance and make use of symptom free testing at this critical period.     View the latest national COVID-19 data. What do you think of this newsletter? Drop us a line at communications@sevenoaks.gov.uk