COVID-19

Information

and Help

20 March 2020

Newsletter This is the first edition of a weekly newsletter aiming to give information, advice,

guidance and details of useful contacts during these challenging times. Information

is available on the Cumbria County Council website Coronavirus which will be

updated daily.

Social Media A number of social media groups are offering help and support at a local level; you may

wish to search for and follow:

West Cumbria Covid-19 Mutual Aid

Around the Combe

Caring in Frizington

Cleator Moor Covid-19 Mutual Aid

Egremont (Cumbria) Covid-19 Mutual Aid

Moresby Parks Covid-19 Mutual Support

Seascale Covid-19 Mutual Aid

Cumbria County Council

2 Serving the people of Cumbria

West Cumbria Covid-19 Mutual Aid

The West Cumbria Covid-19 Mutual Aid support group was set up on Facebook to help older

and more vulnerable members of the community who may need to self-isolate.

The West Cumbria group has hundreds of members and topics full of useful advice, community

care guidelines, things to do during isolation, family fun activities, daily recipes for people to try

and uplifting stories of hope from people who have been through this and survived.

They now have a dedicated helpline number for those who cannot access the internet and have

no other means of support: 0333 33 55 226. They have volunteers who will be available to

answer calls between 9am and 9pm every day of the week and they will do what they can

through the group members to help in any way they can.

Volunteering in your community

Vulnerable people and elderly people in your community who are social distancing or self-

isolating may need the support of volunteers - could you help?

Support Cumbria are looking for volunteers of all levels to support local charities and

organisations in local communities.

You might have specific skills to offer or may want to help with tasks like shopping, dog walking,

collecting prescriptions or other help.

Go to SupportCumbria.org.uk to register as a volunteer or to register a volunteer group.

Copeland Borough Council

For current information on services affected please visit www.copeland.gov.uk, where you can

find a list of departmental contact numbers.

ACTion with Communities in Cumbria

Please visit our website for updated ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19), Communities and Community

Buildings’ guidance, including 10 simple ways you can help people in your community.

Visit: www.cumbriaaction.org.uk/News-Events/News

In response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve made some changes to how we’re

operating with all staff now working remotely from home. We have IT systems in place so you

can continue to contact us as usual by phone and email.

Visit: www.cumbriaaction.org.uk/Contact-Us for details.

Third Sector Organisations and Volunteer Groups

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Cumbria CVS has created a resource page to help support the third sector organisations in

Cumbria access information around the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently there is not a lot of information from national government around the needs of small,

local third sector organisations (it has been focused on businesses and individuals). This

webpage aims to direct you to the information that is available, and to fill some of the gaps,

bringing together information from the TSNE, Cumbria County Council, Public Health along with

national government and charities advice.

You can access the resource here at www.cumbriacvs.org.uk/coronavirus.

Cumbria CVS Health and Care Project Funding Officers will be supporting groups to apply for

funding for support needs around Coronavirus.

www.cumbriacvs.org.uk

Cumbria County Council

4 Serving the people of Cumbria

Mental and Physical Health

Active Cumbria

Unfortunately we have taken the decision to postpone the delivery of many of our services

during this time, including Cumbria School Games, Walking for Health, Activate, Satellite Clubs,

School engagement, and our courses programme.

Additional guidance for the sport and physical activity sector is being updated regularly by Sport

England and can be viewed here and we would advise sports clubs to check their national

governing body of sport website for additional sport specific information. Sport England have

also released some good guidance on how to stay active at home during the outbreak, this is

available here

Together We (CIC) Fitness and Wellbeing Centre

Together We CIC provide mental and physical health support throughout West Cumbria.

Free virtual workouts and live-streamed fitness classes and psychoeducational workshops can

be found on their website http://www.togetherwe.co.uk/

They are still taking referrals for their 1 to 1 mental health support, assessment will be held via

phone/skype/zoom etc

Refer via social media/telephone/text or email:

Referral@togetherwe.co.uk

01900 66375

07969497258- Janine (psychological practitioner)

07593952384- Sam (Exercise practitioner)

Health

Blue Sky Trust

People living with HIV: if you are concerned that you are infected with the Coronavirus, call

helpline 111, follow the guidelines and self-isolate.

HIV specialist doctors are saying that if you are on effective treatment with a healthy CD4 count

(immune system) and an undetectable viral load then you should be ok, but saying that, HIV

has been placed on the high-risk list, probably because they don't know much about the

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Coronavirus and HIV impacts on the immune system. We are being cautious and advising

anyone with HIV to social distance themselves asap.

For further information, advice or a chat, contact julieanne.kelly@blueskytrust.org Referrals

can also be made into the HIV NHS Cumbrian team if further support is needed.

Prescription & Medicine Delivery Service

For patients using Seascale Pharmacy, Gosforth Taxis will deliver prescribed medicines to your

door, accompanied by a professional from the Pharmacy. For more information please contact

Dawn on 019467 25308.

West Cumbria Carers

They would like to make all carers aware that due to the coronavirus outbreak they have made

changes to their work practices in order to protect the carers that they work with and the

vulnerable people that they care for. They are now operating a telephone service only. They

will still be offering carer’s assessments and one to one support but these will be done over the

phone rather than face to face. Unfortunately, this has also affected events that they were due

to hold in the coming weeks and they have had to make the decision to reschedule these for a

future date. Please still contact the office to speak to a member of the team for information and

support Tel: 01900 821976

Transport

Changes to Bus Services across Cumbria

We have been advised by Stagecoach of some changes to their bus services across Cumbria

during the current health emergency.

This is due to fewer drivers being available, and also significant falls in bus usage.

A summary of the Monday to Friday changes in each District can be found from links at the top

of the County Council’s website page for bus services www.cumbria.gov.uk/buses

The links also appear for each District at top of their own timetable page (e.g.

www.cumbria.gov.uk/buses/Copeland )

This information will be updated and refreshed as extra information becomes available,

including for Saturdays, Sundays and for other operators services

As the new timetables become available, they will be added to the website, but with the likely

high volume of change, this may take some time.

The revised timetables will come into effect from next Monday 23rd March

Cumbria County Council

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Services are maintained to all areas. On routes with low frequencies existing timetables have

been maintained, whilst more frequent services may run less often.

All the normal summer timetable enhancements have been postponed until the end of the

isolation period.

The Muncaster Microbus

Shopping Service – Muncaster Microbus are appealing for drivers and volunteers to provide a

shopping service for regular users living between Ponsonby and Bootle who go to Whitehaven

for their shopping. It would be to collect their shopping and bring it back to them. Drivers are

needed for the two minibuses with a couple of volunteers to go with the driver to shop. It is

hoped to extend this offer if there are enough volunteers.

Anyone with a car driver’s licence can drive vehicle, a Volkswagen Vito.

Please telephone 01229 717229 or email info@muncastermicrobus.org.uk

Advice and Welfare

Citizens Advice Copeland

Citizens Advice Copeland are still offering a service to clients but will be using telephone and

email appointments.

Face to face appointments at Egremont Food Bank will not be delivered until further notice.

Tel: 01946 693321

North Lakes Foodbank

North Lakes Foodbank is open as normal. See web site for details at Whitehaven and

Egremont: https://www.thefoodbank.org.uk/

The only significant change is that Whitehaven will not operate on a Wednesday for the

foreseeable future to allow for volunteer flexibility and restocking.

This week’s appeal is for

1ltr UHT Fruit Juice

Tinned Custard

Tinned Fruit

Sponge Pudding

Tinned Tuna

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Whitehaven, Egremont & District Credit Union

Currently, WED Credit Union Whitehaven office is ‘business as usual’, face to face at present,

currently manned by staff. Share withdrawals, deposits, and loan applications will continue as

usual. We have one active member of staff based in Millom.

Tel: 01946 66755

Website: wedcu.co.uk

Email: info@wedcu.co.uk

Cumbria County Council

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Older Adults

Copeland Age and Advice Service

Due to recent developments and the subsequent government guidelines they have suspended

face to face assessments with their clients for the time being.

A telephone assessment procedure has been set up and they will be continuing to provide as

much support as possible remotely, either over the phone or online.

They are working closely with local support groups and agencies, housing providers and care

coordinators in relation to identifying those at risk due to the current situation and providing

information, advice and support to these individuals who are affected by self- isolation or a lack

of support from other sources.

They are in the process of contacting all their clients to check their level of need and to obtain

permission to pass on their details to relevant support groups should they wish to access

support during this time. They are also offering information and advice and signposting where

appropriate.

If there is anything else they can do to work with other organisations or agencies to support the

community during this period of uncertainty, please let them know:

referrals@caasteam.com

01946 552166

Funding

Copeland Community Fund

If your community, services or organisation are affected by the Covid-19 outbreak, and you

receive grant funding from Copeland Community Fund, they are committed to:

• Adapting activities – they recognise that you may experience difficulties achieving some of

the outputs or outcomes agreed for your grant during the outbreak, and would like to be able to

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maintain grant payments to you at originally-agreed levels during this period, so please have a

conversation with them if you are affected in this way;

• Reporting deadlines – they don’t want to add pressure, so if you think you will struggle to

meet a reporting deadline please get in touch with them so that they can agree a more realistic

time for you to get things to them wherever possible;

• Financial flexibility – they know you may need to use your funding to help cover sickness,

purchase equipment, or deliver services differently, and will be reasonable if you need to move

money between budget headings to ensure your work can continue;

• Listening to you – they are here if you want to talk to them about the situation you’re facing

If you need any help, have any issues or concerns please get in touch so they can have a

discussion about your needs. They are encouraging everyone to contact them in the first

instance via info@copelandcommunityfund.co.uk to ensure you receive a timely response

from one of the team.

Remember they are here to help if they can, which also means linking to Cumbria Exchange

and other platforms / groups that have been set up to support everyone through this time.

Cumbria Community Foundation

Cumbria Community Foundation is promoting a new Cumbria Covid-19 Response fund and can

be contacted at Cumbria Community Foundation COVID-19 Response Fund

Cumbria CVS will help people fill in application forms.

Cumbria Community Foundation

Office: 01900 825760

Registered Office: Dovenby Hall, Dovenby, Cockermouth, CA13 0PN

Utilities

Electricity North West

Self-isolating households may be unable to top up pre-pay electricity or gas meters, so the

Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy have made a press announcement

outlining the commitment of suppliers to ensure people are not left off-supply

Govt Energy Support

Cumbria County Council

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Trading Standards - Scams

Scams related to COVID-19

Unfortunately, scammers are taking advantage of the spread of Coronavirus to exploit and play

on the fears of consumers across the country.

There have been an increasing number of reports of potential scams which could affect you. We

want to make sure that whilst you may be self-isolating and spending more time at home, you

do not become a victim.

To report a scam please contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

For all consumer advice please contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223

1133

Coronavirus support for employees,

benefit claimants and businesses

A range of extra support and measures will be in place to help workers, benefit claimants and

businesses affected by coronavirus.

Following announcements in the Budget, the Department for Work and Pensions is making

temporary arrangements to support those impacted by coronavirus.

Changes to jobcentre appointments (19 March 2020)

People receiving benefits do not have to attend jobcentre appointments for at least 3 months,

starting from Thursday 19 March 2020. People will continue to receive their benefits as normal,

but all requirements to attend the jobcentre in person are suspended.

People can still make applications for benefits online if they are eligible.

Jobcentres remain open, and will continue to support people who are not able to use phones

and online, including homeless people.

For people already claiming support

Special arrangements will be in place for people in receipt of benefits who cannot attend

reassessments or jobcentre appointments because they are required to stay at home or are

infected by coronavirus.

The arrangements are:

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disabled and sick claimants who cannot attend a reassessment for Personal

Independence Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal

Credit will continue to receive their payments while their assessment is rearranged

people who need to claim ESA or Universal Credit because of coronavirus

will not be required to produce a fit note.

when claimants tell us in good time that they are staying at home or that they have been

diagnosed with coronavirus, they will not be sanctioned – we will review their

conditionality requirements in their claimant commitment, to ensure they are reasonable

claimants who are staying at home as a result of coronavirus will have their mandatory

work search and work availability requirements removed to

account for a period of sickness

For people who need to make a new claim for financial support

We understand people who are required to stay at home or are infected by coronavirus may

need financial support, and quickly.

We announce that:

those affected by coronavirus will be able to apply for Universal Credit and can receive

up to a month’s advance up front without physically attending a jobcentre

the 7 waiting days for ESA for new claimants will not apply if they are suffering from

coronavirus or are required to stay at home – so it will be payable from day one

Employees and self-employed people

To make sure people in work can take the necessary time off to stay at home if they are

suffering from coronavirus or to prevent its spread, changes have been made to Statutory Sick

Pay and how Universal Credit supports self-employed claimants.

This includes:

people who cannot work due to coronavirus and are eligible for Statutory Sick Pay will

get it from day one, rather than from the fourth day of their illness – we intend to legislate

so this measure applies retrospectively from 13 March 2020

Statutory Sick Pay will be payable to people who are staying at home on government

advice, not just those who are infected, from 13 March 2020 after regulations were laid

on 12 March 2020 – employers are urged to use their discretion about what evidence, if

any, they ask for

if employees need to provide evidence to their employer that they need to stay at home

due to coronavirus, they will be able to get it from the NHS 111 Online instead of having

to get a fit note from their doctor – this is currently under development and will be made

available soon

self-employed claimants on Universal Credit who are required to stay at home or are ill

as a result of coronavirus will not have a Minimum Income Floor (an assumed level of

income) applied for a period of time while affected

Cumbria County Council

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Businesses

The government wants to ensure businesses are supported to deal with the temporary

economic impacts of an outbreak of coronavirus.

Employers with fewer than 250 employees will be able to reclaim Statutory Sick Pay for

employees unable to work because of coronavirus. This refund will be for up to 2 weeks per

employee.

Find out about other government support for businesses.

More information

Read more information about coronavirus and claiming benefits.

Follow DWP on:

Twitter – www.twitter.com/dwppressoffice

Facebook – www.facebook.com/dwp

LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/company/dwp

YouTube – www.youtube.com/dwp