Cambridgeshire County Council
Cambridgeshire County Council has a designated page detailing the ways in which Covid-19 may result in changes to local services. Please see this page.
After the Government last week ordered the immediate closure of all businesses that are not providing essential services as a way of minimising the spread of the Coronavirus, Trading Standards in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are offering free advice to support local businesses who have been affected.
Any business that is unsure whether the rules apply to them should contact Trading Standards urgently for advice free of charge.
Consumer concerns, increase prices - There have been reports that some businesses have been increasing the prices of goods during the Coronavirus outbreak. Whilst local businesses are free to set their own prices, the Competition and Markets Authority has set up a taskforce to examine the scale of the issue and are asking people to report instances via an online reporting form or via email to covid.monitoring@cma.gov.uk
East Cambridgeshire District Council
East Cambridgeshire District Council have established a support hub and will manage requests for assistance to ensure the most vulnerable members of the community can access help as soon as they need it.
Volunteers and support groups who come forward will be linked with over 70s and others identified as vulnerable, to assist the most at-risk groups during the outbreak.
The hub will also focus on signposting access to food, medicines and other supplies, as well as organising friendly phone calls to anyone feeling lonely.
The council will also liaise with other voluntary and community partner organisations to ensure other needs, including health and social care, are met as quickly as possible.
Anyone who needs help can contact the co-ordination hub by emailing covid19@eastcambs.gov.uk or calling 01353 665555.
The call centre is open between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday.
Cllr Steve Count’s Vlog – Cambridgeshire County Council Leader Cllr Steve Count has a regular video blog, which has some helpful information about home learning (here) and a group which has been set-up to help businesses across Cambridgeshire (here).
Dr Liz Robin vlog, Cambridge County Council’s Director of Public Health, is sharing regular videos explaining the public health advice about dealing with the Coronavirus. Click here to watch the video blog.
Parking enforcement in Cambridge - From Monday 30 March, Cambridgeshire County Council will be suspending parking enforcement in Cambridge, for the remainder of the COVID-19 crisis.
This is being done in partnership with Cambridge City Council and will complement the measures they are taking, which includes providing free car parking in their car parks for key workers. Together, this will help key workers access their places of work in order to protect the vital services they provide.
Cambridgeshire libraries are now closed. Library buildings will not be open, but the County Council is working to create an alternative service offer including:
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- Appointments to use IT for those who most need it
- A drop off / collection service for item reservations on an appointment basis – with items quarantined for 72 hours between loans
During the closure period, there will be no fines for overdue materials. Loans will also be extended until isolation advice is lifted for everyone.
Also, for the very first time, library members can access Ancestry and Find My Past from home – a time limited offer available from these companies throughout the Covid-19 outbreak.
Digital library services also include: eBooks, eMagazines, eAudiobooks and eNewspapers to download, all free of charge. The benefits of reading in terms of wellbeing, relaxation, entertainment and education are well known. Subjects include meditation, relaxation, gardening, cookery as well as fiction for adults and children. Find out more here.
Advice on Covid-19 scams – The National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team has produced some materials to promote scams awareness around Coronavirus (Covid-19) scams. The team has published various tools that will help spread the message that criminals are exploiting fears about Coronavirus to be able to prey on members of the public, particularly older and vulnerable people who are isolated from family and friends. Please help us to share these across your media platforms: https://www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/
There is also information for specific individuals and groups that need assistance.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Co-ordination Hub
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Co-ordination Hub is co-ordinating efforts to support local residents who are in need of assistance. They are currently requesting volunteers. The hub will have a specific focus on providing access to food, medicines and other supplies in the first instance. As well as co-ordinate the need to make sure there is adequate staff and resource capacity to serve a significant increased level of demand in critical service areas, such as the NHS and social care. To find out more information, please e-mail communityCV@cambridgeshire.gov.uk to sign up, or visit this page for more information.
The Cambridge and Peterborough Local Resiliency Forum is a body made up of emergency services, local government organisations, and public health officials. Their website contains emergency information and other details.
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority is regularly disseminating local information on its Twitter feed (@CambsPboroCA.) In addition, it is also sending regular updates to local businesses, which you can sign up for here.
Local Community Groups
Here are details for a number of groups that have come to my attention where individuals are offering to help vulnerable residents - collecting their shopping, walking their pets, or helping in other ways. If you need assistance you could see if there is a local group that can help. Please exercise caution when asking strangers for assistance.
In addition, if you are aware of any other support group pages, please do tag them in the comments section. And do feel free to share this post.
By helping one another we can all make a difference.
Cambridgeshire Coronavirus Mutual Aid
Wicken, Ely COVID-19 Mutual Aid Support Network
Witchford Residents Support Group
Balsham (Balsham, Carlton, Castle Camps, Horseheath, Shudy Camps, West Wickham, West Wratting, Weston Colville)
Horseheath Parish Council Volunteers
01223892001
Shudy Camps Parish Council Help
sites.google.com/view/shudycampscovid-19help/home
01799 584489
07757 740090
Love Balsham Village Support
local contacts; Prescription deliveries; lunches for isolated people; Balsham Foodbank.
07508 430057
Fulbourn
Fulbourn Community Aid
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2564723170514173/?hc_location=ufi
Histon and Impington (inc. Orchard Park)
HI (Histon&Imp) Covid Chat
https://chat.whatsapp.com/CcmXsI2PeE4BeZ9oPIpHQI
Linton (Linton, Bartlow, Hildersham)
Linton Community Help Team
www.facebook.com/Linton-Community-Board-586413754719725/
01223 901132
Milton
Milton Covid-19 Support Group
07933 550989
Teversham
Teversham Emergency Help Response
tevershamemergencyhelp@gmail.com
07764 608375
07974 834898
The Wilbrahams (Great Wilbraham, Little Wilbraham, Fen Ditton, Horningsea, Six Mile Bottom, Stow-cum-Quy)
Wilbrahams and Six Mile Bottom Community Aid
01223 882874
07710787917
Fen Ditton Community Outreach
www.facebook.com/Fen-Ditton-Friends-109707573984993/
george.devine@fenditton-pc.org.uk
01223 292824
Waterbeach (Waterbeach, Landbeach, Chittering)
Landbeach Covid-19 Support Group
07724 047656
Waterbeach Covid 19 Mutual Aid Group
https://www.facebook.com/WaterbeachAid/
01223 755066
Willingham and Over:
Willingham Hub
https://www.facebook.com/WillinghamVillage/
07826948006
NHS Volunteer Responders
The NHS could need as many as 250,000 volunteers to help with non-medical tasks in the coming weeks. If you are able, please consider putting yourself forward.
Details about the kinds of assistance that could be needed, and who is eligible, are available here.
Over 170,000 have signed up overnight. If we all work together, we can meet and overcome this challenge.
Local Voluntary Support
The coming weeks are going to place an immense strain on older residents, many of whom will be confined to their homes.
This is a difficult time for our country, but there are several charities working in our community to support the most vulnerable and I know that many individuals wish to support their efforts. I have corresponded with several of the charities operating in our area and have collated the details of several others.
The government has published guidance here on how people can volunteer safely in their communities, which reflects the new guidelines on staying away from others.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have questions about volunteering in your local area via enquiries@culture.gov.uk.
Here are the details for a number of local groups that are offering to help vulnerable residents, either by collecting their shopping, walking their pets, or helping in other ways.
Age UK Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
To volunteer contact volunteering@ageukcap.org.uk; for information contact infoandadvice@ageukcap.org.uk
To volunteer contact 01354 691898; for information contact 0300 666 9860
Support older individuals and their carers.
To volunteer contact Margaret Saner: margaret.saner@ccfb.org.uk; for information contact info@ccfb.org.uk
07772 538628
During the outbreak they will continute to operate their three Cambridge City and Cambourne distributions centres, but they have confirmed that they will continute to serve my constituents. Cambridge City Foodbank and Ely Foodbank are both Trussell Trust based and so will accept each other’s vouchers and provide food accordingly.
01353 468626
Currently they are operating 5 distribution centres in Ely, Haddenham, Cottenham, Chatteris and March. They aim to re-open their Soham distribution centre as soon as possible and hope to use the local council building in Soham. Cambridge City Foodbank and Ely Foodbank are both Trussell Trust based and so will accept each other’s vouchers and provide food accordingly.
01353 662228
Have started operating dropping off groceries to isolated individuals.
07939525272
Aim to support those with mental and physical health problems through social media conversations. They are a registered charity and you can request to join through www.facebook.com/groups/TimetoTalkUK/
Voluntary and Community Action East Cambridgeshire
01353 666166
Run several schemes to support the more vulnerable in East Cambridgeshire including continuing their social care scheme to support the elderly and others during the coronavirus outbreak.
volunteering@care-network.org.uk
01954 211919
In order to ensure donations continue to reach the most people most in need, the Charity Commission, in collaboration with the Fundraising Regulator, National Trading Standards and Action Fraud, is asking everyone to ‘give safely’ and donate to genuine registered charities. This plea for safe giving comes as regulators have received reports of charity scammers targeting vulnerable people, for example by impersonating British Red Cross workers.
Ensure your donations end up in the right place and help the vulnerable by giving safely to registered charities. Before donating, check the @ChtyCommission charity register to make sure the charity is registered officially.
