Can you help Fenland’s elderly and most vulnerable residents?
Are you able to help and support those most at risk during the coronavirus outbreak? Then please get in touch.
Fenland District Council is mapping out what support is available in every town and village across the district to help ensure the most vulnerable members of the community can access support as soon as they need it.
The authority is asking any individual volunteers, existing community groups and new coronavirus support groups that can help to register their support by filling in the Fenland Community COVID-19 Survey at: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/796WZW3
Information collected will be fed into a new county-wide COVID-19 coordination hub which aims to coordinate support activity across the whole of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
The hub – staffed by a range of council workers – will manage offers of help, thereby maximising support for communities. It will enable volunteers and support groups to be linked with the over 70s, and others who have been identified as vulnerable, as people are told they must stay at home in line with Government guidance.
The hub will focus on signposting access to food, medicines and other supplies in the first instance, as well as organising a friendly phone call to anyone feeling lonely. The council will also liaise with other voluntary and community organisation partners to ensure other needs, including health and social care, are met as quickly as possible.
Councillor Steve Tierney, Fenland’s Cabinet member for emergency planning, said: “It’s incredibly heartwarming to see examples of residents and communities setting up support groups across the district to help those in need.
“It’s important that these efforts are coordinated so we can be certain that those who are vulnerable and most impacted will have support as and when they need it. I’d urge anyone who can help to reach out and get in touch so we can beat this virus together.”
The council is also sending out letters to more than 8,000 over 70s across the district to make them aware of the new hub and that help is available.
Anyone who needs help can contact the hub on 01354 654321 or email: covid19@fenland.gov.uk. The call centre is open between 9am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.
Council leader, Coun Chris Boden, added: “These unprecedented and worrying times mean we all need to pull together to help those in need. We know that there will be many individuals and families in need of help because of self-isolation and others who will have time or experience to give.
“Working together in a collective effort will be crucial in the coming weeks. It will ensure targeted support is available for those at higher risk from COVID-19 and reduce the risk to residents, making sure no one is forgotten and preventing duplication of efforts where possible.”