Coronavirus Response
Posted on: March 17, 2020
Content from Rainbow Services
A useful tips guide for any hyper local groups emerging offering support to self-isolating people. You will all have seen the new directives from government last night. Please note the following regarding your health, that of your staff/volunteers/beneficiaries, and your close family members:
All people displaying cold symptoms are to self-isolate for 7 days.
If any of your family (living with you) display symptoms (even if you are well) you are to self-isolate for 14 days. See below:
www.gov.uk/government/news/new-guidance-for-households-with-possible-covid-19-infection
You do not need to call NHS 111 to go into self-isolation. If your symptoms worsen during home isolation or are no better after 7 days, contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.
From this weekend all people aged over 70 and those with additional health issues which make them more vulnerable are being asked to self-isolate. In response to this, Rainbow are closing all of our Community Builder activities as of today (VAEF had already stopped theirs and has been maintaining other contact) but we are co-ordinating a system whereby volunteers and staff will maintain phone contact with them and will be offering any additional support needed to those who lack support systems during this challenging time. We are setting up a system to enable us to record these people as well as organisations and we are working closely with other groups, the council and the CCG to share resources and co-ordinate support efforts. We have set up an expression of interest form for anyone who would like to help – see below please share this with your volunteers and networks. We are also looking at how we join up the various amazing support efforts across the town. We remind everyone that the Live Well Link Well system is still in place and is accepting referrals of people requiring support, especially if they are seen to have multiple needs. This can be done easily using the Frontline portal: https://www.harlowfrontline.org.uk/ip-selector
Additionally, we are all being advised to reduce our unnecessary social contact. As such, we will be implementing new arrangement within the Rainbow Centre. We will be cancelling all meeting bookings, groups and activities to reduce footfall in the main office building. Because Rainbow Services is a community organisation and is seen to guide and support other organisations we do still need to have a presence in the office and we will therefore remain open but with limited staffing. You can therefore still call us, drop items off, send post etc.
We are working with local groups emerging across Harlow offering support and if you come across any please send them our way and offer them the Tips and Advice document in this newsletter.
We will keep you updated as things develop, but let us know if you have a need or come across anyone and we will do our best to co-ordinate the responses to support them appropriately. If you can offer help or have volunteers who would like to help, please let us know too.
And remember – please be kind to each other in these hard times. You are all doing an amazing job but it is tough right now, uncertain, and stressful – and supporting each other right now is so important!
If you are an individual wishing to volunteer please use this link: forms.gle/MSTEaxMihZCtS4kv7
If you are a business wishing to support the response please use this link: forms.gle/PtMafzboLZiSGA298
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