Community Connectors newsletter

 

Community Connectors 23 December 2020 View this email in your browser

Tightest restrictions for Sevenoaks District      It wasn’t the news any of us wanted to hear just days before Christmas. But with rising cases of COVID-19 across Kent and much of the south-east of England (largely attributed to a more contagious strain of the virus), the Government put Sevenoaks District in Tier 4 from 20 December. Under the new rules, we cannot leave or be outside of the place we live unless we have a reasonable excuse. We cannot meet others indoors, including over the Christmas and New Year period, unless they live with us, or they are part of our support bubble. Outdoors, we can only meet one person from another household. These rules will not be relaxed for Christmas. We can no longer form a Christmas bubble. Non-essential retailers must also close. We offering financial support to affected businesses. View the Tier 4 restrictions in full and download poster and social media graphics to share with your contacts.     Tier 4 and Council services   During Tier 4 restrictions, our services will continue as normal, including waste and recycling and garden waste collections. However, following Government advice, we have closed our reception to the public. You can still access our services by phone, post or online and arrange an appointment if there is a need to speak with one of our colleagues. Call us on 01732 227000 or visit www.sevenoaks.gov.uk     Accessing your GP during the pandemic     With more pressure on our health service than ever, the NHS is running a campaign to promote the many ways the public can safely access their GP. In light of Coronavirus, GP practices have had to adapt and change the way they deliver services and it is important that the public understand these changes and are confident in reaching out to their GP practices for help. In short, the public are being asked to: Contact their GP practice online, by an app or by phone to be assessed before turning up Follow the Government safety advice if they visit their local practice for an appointment Not to visit their GP if they have symptoms of Coronavirus or are self-isolating. They should instead contact their GP practice for advice. You can download the publicity materials from the PHE website to share with your contacts.     Help is a click or a phone call away     The ‘Care for our Community – Sevenoaks District’ voluntary scheme is available if you or someone you know need help during the current restrictions. Around 1,500 volunteers have signed up to the scheme helping those in need by collecting their shopping and prescriptions, having a friendly chat and more. Help may also be available for those who are struggling financially to buy food. Sign up at www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/requesthelp or by calling us on 01732 227000.     Happy Christmas! See you next year!   This is our last issue of Community Connectors for 2020. We want to say a big thank you from everyone at the Council for sharing the newsletter with your contacts, helping to keep us all safe. You’ll hear from us again in January for what, hopefully, will be the start of a better year! But until then, have a safe and merry Christmas and a happy New Year.     Latest local COVID-19 data   The latest data from Public Health England is accurate up to 17 December. It tells us that positive cases have increased across all Kent districts in the past week.   In Sevenoaks District, the seven day count of positive cases was 559, up from the previous week’s count of 289 and at a rate of 462.9 per 100,000, up from last week’s rate of 239.3. The average rate for England is 299.2 cases per 100,000 population.   There are currently 694 active cases across our District, up significantly from 358 last week. The Health Protection Board tells us that most of the active cases in the Sevenoaks District are associated with clusters in residential dwellings and care settings.  View the latest national COVID-19 data.     Boloh - The Black and Asian Family Covid-19 helpline   Barnardo’s has launched a new support service to support Black, Asian and minority ethnic children, young people and their families impacted by Covid-19. The new service is a free telephone helpline and web chat facility for children, young people and families from these communities who are suffering the long-lasting and wide-ranging impact of Covid-19. Barnardo’s advisors will aim to provide on-going support on a complex range of issues including mental health, bereavement, family break-down, neglect, back to school, parenting advice, counselling, family stress, discrimination, barriers to services and more. Call Barnardos on 0800 1512605 or chat online at https://helpline.barnardos.org.uk     What do you think of this newsletter?   Drop us a line at communications@sevenoaks.gov.uk

Please feel free to share this newsletter with your friends, family, work colleagues and contacts.

Update from Laura Vince

 To all Community friends,

 

I hope that this email finds you all safe and well,

 

This has been a challenging year for everyone and with Kent being put into Tier 4, it is not going to be an easy time.

 

I have attached some links which I hope may answer any questions you have, please feel free to share these links and information with friends, family, colleagues and communities.

 

Government guidelines:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tier-4-stay-at-home,

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/advice-for-clinically-extremely-vulnerable-in-new-tier-4-areas

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-a-support-bubble-with-another-household.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-for-the-christmas-period 

 

https://www.mencap.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-12/Tier%204%20guidance.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1B07A9WZ82opOY6Paws1m2FwfOEzarkCKIJGMuJlxJ1Omi9AXQqLeEMlg – Link to MENCAP’s easy read guide.

 

 

Scam / Fraud updates – Please see attachments..

The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau  – DPD Phishing Scam

Kent Fraud Alert System – Pet Scams, Fraudsters impersonating On line internet providers, Fraudsters impersonating Kent Police.

 

 

Short 10 minute video from Sue Larken (age UK) on how to maintain or improve balance:

 https://youtu.be/dNaBTYtSr3A!~OMSelectionMarkerStart~!!~OMSelectionMarkerEnd~

 

 

 

Attached is a list of support groups and organisations where information, advice and support can be found.  

 

 

I would like to thank you all for your support this year. I wish you all a safe Christmas break and a Happy New year.

 

Stay safe, Kind regards

 

Laura

 

 

 

Laura Vince

Community Liaison Officer

Sevenoaks District

 

Office (: 01322 422531

Internal (: 02 4431

Mobile : 07772 226027

laura.vince@kent.police.uk

  

Police, Council and Partners

working together for a safer

Sevenoaks District

www.twitter.com/Kentpolice7oaks

www.kent.police.uk

www.sevenoaks.gov.uk

www.gov.uk

www.actionfraud.police.uk

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

www.ageuk.org.uk

 

 

 

News of vaccination in Sevenoaks

 

Outdoor Carol Service

We can't sing indoors this year, but we can sing outdoors, so we will!

Come along and join us for 30 minutes or so of socially distanced carols in the churchyard, 

on Dec 20 at 3pm.

 

Community Connectors newsletter

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Christmas bubbles with friends and family     Now is a good time to plan ahead if you’re considering forming a Christmas bubble with friends and family from 23 to 27 December. The Government has changed some of social contact restrictions for a short period of time over Christmas, allowing us to meet with up to three households indoors or out. However, we are being advised to reduce any unnecessary contact with people we do not live in the two weeks before we form our Christmas bubbles. When following these new rules, we must each continue to take personal responsibility to limit the spread of the virus and protect our loved ones, particularly if they’re vulnerable. View the Christmas bubble rules in full.     Ambassadors hit the high streets     Our new ‘Town Centre Ambassadors’ are getting ready to help out on our high streets as part of our work to keep our towns safe. The team of four will operate across the high streets of Sevenoaks, Swanley, Westerham and Edenbridge from 8 December 2020. They will be here to answer questions and provide useful advice to businesses and visitors about staying safe on our high streets. The Ambassadors are supported by Government funding up to 31 March 2021.       Vaccination news     In the past week, the UK medicines regulator approved the first UK COVID-19 vaccine. The ‘Covid-19: Pfizer/BioNTech’ vaccination programme began yesterday, 8 December, with health and care workers and the most vulnerable people receiving the jab first. As part of the COVID vaccination rollout, Public Health England (PHE) is providing publicity materials to reassure the public about the safety of the vaccine and to explain who will get the jab first and why. You can download and share the vaccination publicity materials on the PHE website. Find out more about the COVID vaccination rollout plan on the NHS website.       Coronavirus survey   Kent County Council is asking residents to complete an online feedback form to find out residents’ views on why some people are not complying with the coronavirus rules. The data they collect will help inform their communications and hopefully reduce the rate of infection. Take the survey     Latest local COVID-19 data   The latest data we have received from Public Health England is accurate up to 4 December. It tells us that positive cases have increased across all Kent districts bar one in the past week. If this trend continues it remains likely that Kent will stay in Tier 3 restrictions at the next review date of 16 December. In Sevenoaks District, the 7 day count of positive cases through laboratory testing was 157, up from the previous week’s count of 142 and at a rate of 130.0 per 100,000, up from last week’s rate of 117.6. The average rate for England is 148.9 cases per 100,000 population, down from 155.8 last week. This indicates that while rates in the district have risen slightly, rates in the country are continuing to decrease. In total, the data we are receiving tell us there are 231 active cases across our District, up very slightly from 226 last week.  The Health Protection Board tells us that over the last two weeks, most increases in the number of cases in Kent have been school aged children and adults of an age that could be their parents. In Sevenoaks, the cases relate to clusters in residential dwellings and care settings.  View the latest national COVID-19 data.     Concerns about Coronavirus compliance?   If you have concerns about people or businesses not following the COVID rules, drop us a line and we’ll see if we or one of our partners can help. Call us on 01732 227000 or email information@sevenoaks.gov.uk.     What do you think of this newsletter?   Drop us a line at communications@sevenoaks.gov.uk

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