COVID-19 (Coronavirus) – information
Update on GOV.UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab gave the 30 March 2020 daily press briefing on the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. See: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/foreign-secretarys-statement-on-coronavirus-covid-19-30-march-2020?utm_source=698df6e0-d34d-4c8e-a73c-9da9d044fa4c&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate
Some good news – protecting staff and customers in the Shop
The idea of installing safety screens in the Shop arose late last week – the aim being to distance shoppers and staff at the two tills. Mick Dyton of Christian Mobey in Kingston Lisle reacted extremely quickly to our request for assistance and with great skill, and within 2 days he had the screens installed on Friday afternoon. Shoppers and staff alike should now feel much safer when standing at the check-out and PO counters. So, this is a public thank you to Mick and Christian Mobey for a wonderful job.
The screens have been funded by Uffington Parish Council in the first instance, but in the hope that we may be able to get a refund in the form of a grant from the Vale once the Emergency Grant Funding system is up and running.
Foodbanks
Faringdon food bank currently have the greatest need in our area for donations so I am collecting for them. Please drop off any items you could donate to Elizabeth Ehrmann Erskine, Benjy's Cottage, Uffington, in the box at my front door (opposite the Church on Broad Street). If you would prefer me to collect from outside your front door please phone me on 01367-820284 or text to 07952 020472. Donations will be very much appreciated. For more information on what is needed, see attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/a4bbba38-7a84-46a0-82de-b95aa400dbe8/FOOD_BANK_COLLECTION.pdf
From the Police
Action Fraud Have Received Reports of Covid19 Related Scams. The majority relate to the online sale of protective items such as facemasks and other items in short supply due to the outbreak, that don't exist.
https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/alert/coronavirus-related-fraud-reports What scams are we seeing? The majority of reports are related to online shopping scams where people have ordered protective face masks, hand sanitiser and other products, which have never arrived. Other frauds being reported include ticket fraud, romance fraud, charity fraud and lender loan fraud
Coronavirus update 27 March 2020 COVID-19 (Coronavirus) – information
Late last night, The Vale published two important statements.
Firstly, a communications announcement for "Shielding our most vulnerable". See attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/c5cb8bc3-1e84-4fd1-9b1c-80c353f21e9a/Shielding_our_most_vulnerable.pdf
This provides details of the helplines and support network. The websites Oxfordshire All In is available for the whole county for access to local initiatives and points of contact. There are also 2 Call Centre helplines and email addresses.
FOR THOSE "HIGH RISK" and part of the "Shield" should call the County Council on 01865 89 78 20 or email shield@oxfordshire.gov.uk
For those NOT HIGH RISK but in need of help without a local support network should call 01235 422600 or email communitysupport@southandvale.gov.uk Full details are in the press release.
Hours of operation: The phone lines will be open:
8.30am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday.
Food parcels/support packs for vulnerable are planned to be sent out directly from the County Council. The District Council has a back-up plan in case needed.
Secondly, a communications announcement for "Volunteering in Oxfordshire" which details and pulls together our volunteer network. See attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/dbb3ff64-18c0-44d9-8e9e-a7c27b5010f2/Volunteering_in_Oxfordshire.pdf
This is the "supply side" behind the above communication. The Community Support Group for Uffington, Baulking and Woolstone (Parish Council and Parish Meetings) and the Uffington Viral Kindness Group have been loaded up onto "Oxfordshire All In Response Map".
It remains to be seen how all this will work, but please ensure that any cases of need are brought to the attention of the support group volunteer looking after each household. Please call Uffington Viral Kindness on 01367 820878 for prescription collections if you are vulnerable or self-isolating.
Other matters:
Uffington benefice
The Weekly Sheet for Sunday 29 March is here: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/b2143ce3-f686-4152-8a37-d82ca5cfe15a/wsh_2020_03_29.pdf
If you are unable to access the link in the Weekly Sheet to take part in the Sunday service - you may need to type 'control' at the same time you click - the link is here: https://youtu.be/LJ1C0-ShAkM You will just see Uffington Church at the moment but it will become live on Sunday at 10am.
With everything else going on, don't forget that the Clocks go forward on Saturday night; 'Spring forward' and 'Fall back' as those as old as me say.
Coronavirus update 26 March 2020 COVID-19 (Coronavirus) – information
From the Vale
The launch of "Oxfordshire All In" was expected today. This is a co-ordinated effort across Oxfordshire and should detail all the local community initiatives and help. It is still being built for Launch with much of the information already provided and will grow as the network is built out. It is taking a while just from the volume of support teams to load. It is hoped this can help with the demand/supply of help and get the response effort published.
The support model for the 1.5m people on the "At risk" list is becoming a little clearer now. The primary contact point is being managed by the County Council, it MAY be the case that our help locally will be called on if some local help is needed, or a simple check in. (This was received late last night; locally, we do not know who is on these lists).
Shielding our most vulnerable residents. See:
http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/news/2020/2020-03/shielding-our-most-vulnerable
This includes dedicated telephone lines for those who are, and are not, considered 'high risk'.
Some good news…The Vale of White Horse District Council are rolling out an Emergency Grant funding program. I will send further details in the next 24 hours, but as your local councillor I have a small amount of funding available to give as grants to support the efforts of the local communities. Details to follow and we will aim to make it as efficient and effective as possible to make a difference.
Nationally. The Government are allowing people to have a 6 month extension to MOT expiry date, so long as the vehicle is kept in a road worthy condition. Garages are still open to conduct repairs. And for those who are worried about self-employment support, details of support should be released on Thursday by the Chancellor.
Finally a few other updates from the District Council:
Car parking charges suspended. See: http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/news/2020/2020-03/parking-charges-suspended-all-district-council-car-parks-south-oxfordshire-and-val
£500 million hardship fund - more details confirmed. The government has today provided more details about the £500M hardship fund to support people who are struggling to pay bills as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. All those who receive Council Tax Reduction will be guaranteed an award up to £150 off their council tax for 2020/21, in addition to any support they already receive. If someone's bill is less than £150 this means that they will pay no council tax during the coming year unless their circumstances change. As soon as everything is in place and we have identified individuals' level of support, we will send revised council tax bills to all those who qualify.
Planning. Planning activities are being scaled back. There will be no site visits for planning or building control applications over the next 3 weeks.
Other matters
Collection of prescriptions. We now know that White Horse Medical Practice has stopped the delivery of prescriptions in bulk to the Uffington Shop, but they will accept volunteers collecting prescriptions on behalf of others who are unable to do so themselves or do not have other family able to collect for them. If you need a prescription collected please call 01367 820 878 – this is the number on Tina Monk's Uffington Viral Kindness leaflet delivered the other day, who says: 'We will deliver to the doorstep to prevent exposure to the shop. Our couriers are using disposable gloves and sealed bags on paperwork. We do not enter homes. Medicine delivery is our highest priority and they are not 'bothering us' in the slightest to phone for a delivery. Please publicise as widely as you can.'
Stay at home!! We have all seen and heard the new Government rules saying: - Stay at home
- Only go outside for food health reasons or work (if you can't work from home)
- Stay 6 ft (2 m) away from other people
- Wash your hands as soon as you get home
- You can spread the virus even if you don't have symptoms
We have received reports of children enjoying themselves on the shared grass area of Patricks Orchard, rather than remaining in their own homes. This is NOT within the rules, but we are all allowed out once a day to exercise, and children need to let off a bit of steam; we suggest that children should go out with their parents to walk, cycle or play on the common (in family groups, keeping apart from families doing likewise).
Please pass this message to any families you may be in contact with. Be aware that compliance with these new rules is a matter for the Police.
Pets and coronavirus. RSPCA guidance is here: https://www.rspca.org.uk/coronavirus
For dogs, it is walks on the lead only, as they could be a transmission path.
Coronavirus update 25 March 2020 COVID-19 (Coronavirus) – information
UBW Support Group. The vast majority of households have now received a copy of the information sheet put together by the Parish Council and Parish Meetings of Baulking and Woolstone; the last few are going out tomorrow. The purpose of the information sheet is to tell all residents what we can do for them in the event that they do not have family able or near enough to support them. A copy is attached here: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/1630ea97-969e-42aa-8ef5-05b22900c9ff/Coronavirus_support_group_information_March_2020.pdf
If you have not received your copy, please get in touch with one of those listed on the sheet. This has been delivered by a volunteer member of the Support Group, with a contact card showing who you should get in touch with, if you need support. Please keep this card; the volunteers remain available to help you for the duration of this emergency. We should thank all volunteers for their time and efforts on behalf of all residents.
If anybody else would like to join the Support Group, please let me know; it is likely that more will be needed as the emergency develops.
From the Police
Message from Our Chief Constable John Campbell on Coronavirus. Please see below a link to a video message from our Chief Constable on our policing response during these extraordinary times and how we all have a role to play in combating Coronavirus in the Thames Valley and across the nation. To view the video, please visit the Thames Valley Police YouTube channel or click the following link: https://youtu.be/VIUZREEmj-w![]()
COVID-19 scams. Thames Valley Police is urging people to be vigilant against criminals attempting to use the publicity around COVID-19 as a chance to target them with fraudulent emails, phone calls, text messages or door to door services. To stay safe residents should follow this advice on Covid-19 related scams, which you should read and understand too. Residents can also receive regular updates about potential scams in their area by signing up to Thames Valley Alert Community Messaging.
Please could we ask you to be extra-vigilant as you're likely to hear about scams during your work with community groups. If you do hear of anything suspicious, contact the police on 111.
From the Vale
Council tax. We have received a few enquiries as to whether or not we're reducing council tax for people whose income has been affected by the pandemic. Last week, the government confirmed that it has set up a £500m hardship fund. We are still waiting for details of this but anticipate it will provide support for people either using our existing Council Tax Reduction schemes, or an additional scheme. As soon as the government has confirmed the details, we will make any adjustments we need to so we can begin helping people as soon as possible.
Anyone facing immediate difficulties paying their council tax should contact us via: vowh.counciltax@secure.capita.co.uk / 0345 302 2315
Garden Waste. We will not be taking on new customers for the Garden Waste Service until further notice. This is so we can make sure we're focusing on regular household waste collections as much as possible as we're currently experiencing staff shortages due to illness or staff needing to self-isolate.
Supporting the vulnerable. If you have been shopping for neighbours or family members who are vulnerable, elderly or self-isolating, please continue to do so. The government says you are allowed to leave your home to provide care or to help a vulnerable person. Just be careful to follow the usual guidance about washing your hands and keeping a safe distance from others. Where possible, it is sensible to leave the shopping on the doorstep for them rather than handing it to them directly.
Helping the NHS. If you can help the NHS then please sign up for the NHS Volunteer Responder program to help support NHS efforts; see:
https://www.goodsamapp.org/NHS
Support for shops and businesses that have now closed. Many of our shops and other businesses have either closed or will be closing following the announcement last night that all but essential businesses need to do this. If you know of or are contacted by anyone whose business or shop has been forced to shut, please remember to direct them to our South & Vale Business Support website. We already have lots of helpful information on there and our staff are working hard to ensure it is up to date each time the government provides more detail about the help available.
Waste services update. See: http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/news/2020/2020-03/waste-services-update
Yummy spuds. Yummy Spuds is a potato and veg home delivery service, which delivers from time to time in the Uffington area; delivery is free. See attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/images/7198b141-c363-42a3-8797-dab03584c0b2.jpeg
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