There is a lot of information out there regarding Covid19: from regular news articles, fake news articles and even Number 10’s “daily briefing.”
We’ll be posting links here to resources for e.g. the self-employed, those that need to claim benefits, or how to access volunteer support. Daisy is already sending out (near) daily updates via her newsletter. Sign up to receive her newsletter and these Covid19 updates at www.daisycooper.org.uk/newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link at the bottom of every email.
COVID-19 – LINKS ADVICE AND SUPPORT
Below, there are links to sources of national and local advice and support on the following topics:
- Community support
- Physical health and wellbeing
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Vulnerable and extremely vulnerable groups
- Advice for older people
- Foodbank help for low-income
- Key workers
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Renters, landlords and moving house
- Welfare, paying bills, and consumer advice
- HMRC taxation
- Business and commerce
- Self-employment
- MOTs
- Police and crime
- Daisy Cooper MP
If you have any suggestions of additional links to include, please email me at daisy.cooper.mp@parliament.uk
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Volunteering – Communities 1st
www.communities1st.org.uk/covid-19-community-signup or
Tel: 020 8207 5115 (1pm – 3pm, Monday to Friday)
Communities 1st – for help and support
www.communitiest1st.org.uk/covid19support or
Tel: 020 8207 5115 or
Email: help@communities1st.org.uk
Radio Verulam #sidewithstalbans – to promote community initiatives
www.radioverulam.com/sidewithstalbans
Herts Libraries virtual reading group
www.facebook.com/hertslibraries/
Distance SINGALONG for adults with learning disabilities
www.facebook.com/ElectricUmbrella
Harpenden Cares – supported by Harpenden Town Council
www.harpendencares.org
HertsHelp – network of community organisations helping to find independent support
Tel: 0300 123 4044
Email: info@hertshelp.net
Hertfordshire Independent Living Service
Tel: 0300 123 4044
St Albans and District Foodbank
stalbansdistrict.foodbank.org.uk
Tel: 01727 613 019
Email: info@stalbansdistrict.foodbank.org.uk
Carers in Herts – advice and support for unpaid carers
Tel: 01992 586969
Email: contact@carersinherts.org.uk
Herts Young Homeless
Tel: 03333 202 384
Email: info@hyh.org.uk
Relate – couple and family relationships
Tel: 0300 003 2324
Email: info.inwh@relate.org.uk
London Colney Good Neighbourhood Scheme
hwww.londoncolney-pc.gov.uk/?p=2623
Tel: 01727 261104 (Monday or Friday, 10am – 1pm)
Redbourn Care Group
Tel: 01582 794550
Email: info@redbourncaregroup.co.uk
Support For All – for isolated and vulnerable in Wheathampstead
Tel: 01582 380910
Tel: info@wheathampstead-pc.gov.uk
Libraries – service updates
www.Hertfordshire.gov.uk/libraries
Sports England – #StayInWorkOut campaign
National Education Union – Education advice for parents and carers
Film resources for home schooling
www.bbfc.co.uk/Films-and-resources-for-discussion-and-home-schooling
#ITVKidsCreate Project
www.itv.com/itvcreates/articles/itv-kids-create
Eat Farm Now – education resources
PHYSICAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
NHS medical advice
www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
NHS 111 advice -telephone service
Dial 111
West Herts Hospital – closed to visitors and all non-urgent appointments
Minor injuries
Tel: NHS 111 to find out if you need hospital treatment first
Attend the Urgent Care Centre at Welwyn Garden City’s New QEII Hospital (not St Albans or Lister hospitals)
Hertfordshire Stop Smoking Service
Tel: 0800 389 3998 (free from landline) or 01442 453 071 or text SMOKEFREE to 80818
Covid-19 symptoms self-reporting app
covid.joinzoe.com
Asthma UK
www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/coronavirus-covid-19
Cancer Research UK
about-cancer.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/coronavirus-and-cancer
MacMillan Cancer – patient advice
www.macmillan.org.uk/coronavirus
British Heart Foundation – patient advice
www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/coronavirus-and-your-health
Kidney disease patients
www.kidneycareuk.org/coronavirus
Crohns and colitis
www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/news/coronavirus-covid-19-advice
Independent fact checking service
fullfact.org/health/wuhan-coronavirus
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Mental health advice – Samaritans
call 116 123 helpline 24 hrs a day, 365 days
www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/support-and-information/if-youre-having-difficult-time/if-youre-worried-about-your-mental-health-during-coronavirus-outbreak
Mental health – practical advice while staying at home from MIND
www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing
Mental health for young people – information tailored for young people from MIND
www.mind.org.uk/information-support/for-children-and-young-people/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing
Ollie Foundation – supporting families with suicide
Tel: 07715 311891
Mind in Mid-Herts
Tel: 01727 865070
Email: admin@mindinmidherts.org.uk
Shout – mental health SMS text crisis line
Text ‘SHOUT’ to ‘85258’ to be put in touch with trained crisis volunteer
VULNERABLE AND EXTREMELY VULNERABLE GROUPS
HM Government advice on shielding and the medically extremely vulnerable
www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19
HM Government advice on social distancing and vulnerable people
www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people
ADVICE FOR OLDER PEOPLE
Age UK – advice for older people
www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/coronavirus/staying-safe-and-well-at-home
Tel: 0800 055 6112 (8am-7pm, 365 days a year, free to call)
Age UK – Advice on staying safe at home
www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/coronavirus/staying-safe-and-well-at-home/staying-safe
Age UK Herts:
Tel: 0300 345 3446; Email: info@ageukherts.org.uk
Social care provider hub – Herts County Council
www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/adult-social-services/adult-social-services.aspx
Social care – Herts County Council call centre
Tel: 0300 123 4042
Adult Care Services helpline (Herts County Council)
Tel: 0300 123 7577
Abuse of older people helpline
Tel: 0808 808 8141, Monday – Friday, 9am to 5pm
FOODBANK HELP FOR LOW-INCOME
St Albans and District Foodbank
Tel: 01727 613 019
Email: info@stalbansdistrict.foodbank.org.uk
stalbansdistrict.foodbank.org.uk/2020/03/13/coronavirus-covid-19-foodbank-operations/
St Albans Hygiene Bank
Email: tbstalbans@gmail.com
KEY WORKERS
Schools coronavirus helpline
Tel: 0800 046 8687
Key workers – schools support for children
www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision
Clinicians returning to NHS and care professions
www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/returning-clinicians
NHS and social care workers – free parking
www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-provide-free-car-parking-for-nhs-and-social-care-staff
NHS and critical workers – free parking app
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – British Medical Association healthcare staff survey
RENTERS, LANDLORDS, MOVING HOUSE
Government advice on renters and landlords
Moving house
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-advice-on-home-moving-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak
Caravan and park homes sites
WELFARE, PAYING BILLS AND CONSUMER ADVICE
Statutory sick pay, Job Seekers Allowance, Employment Support and Universal Credit
Council tax support
https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/council-tax-support
Affinity Water – support for paying bills
www.affinitywater.co.uk
Citizens Advice St Albans District
To book telephone appointments, Tel: 01727 811118 (10am to 4pm)
Local webchat and email advice, www.castad.org.uk
Citizens Advice Bureau – national website or advice and chat online
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Which? – Consumer rights advice – insurance, cancelled travel and events
Visa & Immigration advice
Refunds for cancelled EasyJet flights
Email: customer.support@easyJet.com
Pregnancy and maternity leave rights and benefits
St Albans Commuter and Passenger Action Group (Facebook group)
HMRC TAXATION
HMRC advice for Employees
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-guidance-for-employees
HMRC Covid-19 tax bills helpline
Tel: 0800 0159 559 (8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday)
HMRC Loan Charge difficulties
Tel: 03000 599110 or
Email: loancharge@hmrc.gov.uk
BUSINESS, COMMERCE AND EMPLOYMENT
HM Government – Coronavirus financial support for Business
HM Government – Coronavirus job retention scheme
HM Government – Advice for charities
HM Government – New starter employees on furlough
St. Albans District Council Small Business Grants portal
Federation of Small Businesses
https://www.fsb.org.uk/campaign/covid19
Institute of Directors
https://www.iod.com/iod-coronavirus-support-hub
Money Saving Expert advice
ACAS – free employment law helpline and webinars
Tel: 0330 123 1100
Jobs at Ocado and Feed the Nation
SELF-EMPLOYMENT
Self-employment grant
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme
TV and film freelancers’ relief fund
MOT TESTS
MOT tests
POLICE AND CRIME
National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Tel: 0808 2000 247 (freephone 24 hours)
Dial: 999 in an emergency
The male domestic violence hotline: 0808 8010327.
Scams and price hikes – report to Herts Trading Standards
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/report-to-trading-standards/#h-how-to-report-a-trader-to-trading-standards
Scams – National Trading Standards advice
https://www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/article/505/beware_of_covid_19_scams
Scam and phishing – HMRC advice
https://www.gov.uk/report-suspicious-emails-websites-phishing
Telephone scams – police advice
Crime or public gatherings – reporting to police
www.herts.police.uk/report
Reporting disability hate crime
Reporting nuisance bonfires
DAISY COOPER MP
Daisy Cooper MP community e-newsletter sign-up
www.daisycooper.org.uk/newsletter
Daisy Cooper MP – contact address for urgent personal issues
Email: Daisy.Cooper.MP@parliament.uk – please include your name, telephone number and contact details including address and postcode, as well as a description of your issue. Please note, I can only deal with local constituent issues. If you are not a local constituent then you can find your own MP here: https://www.writetothem.com/