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If a friend has forwarded this email to you, you can subscribe to email updates about Coronavirus for people who live and work in the Bradford district.
Council services
As we continue to work through the challenges that COVID-19 brings, we are regularly updating our website to reflect changes and closures to council services so we adhere to government guidelines.
Our website provides the most up to date information about council services and how they have been affected and below is a list of services changes on our website;
- Countryside guided walks
- Libraries
- Sports centres and pools
- Bin collections
- Roads and travel
- School closures
- Passenger Transport Service
- Help for vulnerable people
- Website problems
- Council tax and resident permits
- Help for homeless people in the cold weather
- Electoral Services
- Gritting
Update on food parcels for Bradfords vulnerable people
The government has established its direct delivery service to particularly vulnerable individuals who are self isolating and has been working with a partnership of the food industry, local government, local resilience and emergency partners, and voluntary groups, to ensure that essential items can be delivered to those who need it.
Bradford council has also been working hard to ensure that it provides food parcels to all who have been identified as in need in the Bradford District over the coming weeks.
Helpline launched for vulnerable people
A dedicated service to provide help to the most vulnerable people during the present Coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency has been set up by Bradford Council.
As well as providing constituency-based community hubs to co-ordinate helpful volunteers and organisations, the Council also wants to make sure that everyone in need of help and support will have somewhere to turn to when the need arises.
If you are in a high risk group, have symptoms or are in self isolation, then the advice is to ask for help from family, friends, neighbours and established local groups.
If you don’t have anyone or any organisation that you can ask for help, please call the Bradford Council Contact Centre on 01274 431000.
The contact centre is open: 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday.
We will register your need and you will be pointed in the right direction or connected with one of the co-ordinated teams or People Can volunteers in your area who can step in to help.
People can make a difference
Bradford District is a place where the people band together, we help each other in times of need, we are a close knit and supportive community. Now especially is a time when people can get through this tough time together.
We are encouraging people to join Team Bradford's growing band of brilliant volunteers, helping and supporting everyone across our district so that people can get through tough times together.
We will connect you to informal, practical and creative volunteering opportunities – from simply checking on neighbours or delivering supplies, to running projects or supporting care services.
While we are staying home and staying safe, people can still make a difference.
If you are in need of urgent help or support, please call 01274 431000
To find out how your organisation or group could be supported by our volunteers please email info@volunteeringbradford.org
Coronavirus (Covid-19) support for business
We understand that the Coronavirus pandemic has made this a very difficult time and the council is committed to doing all we can to support businesses through the coming weeks and months.
Please comply with the latest Government Covid 19 restrictions on businesses.
For business rates relief, visit our business rates section or email business.rates@bradford.gov.uk or call 01274 437744.
For the Government guidance and support for employers and businesses including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the Self-employment Income Support Scheme, visit the UK Government website.
For the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Statutory Sick Pay contact the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership via email: BusinessSupport@the-lep.com or phone: 0113 348 1818.
The Government is seeking products and services support from business to tackle Covid 19. Visit to see if you can supply products or services to help tackle the outbreak.
West and North Yorkshire Chamber has lots of useful advice. Email info@wnychamber.co.uk or call 08455 240 240.
The Federation of Small Businesses has issued advice on how to deal with the coronavirus to help reduce the risk of major disruption to SMEs.
For the latest general local Covid 19 advice visit the council’s coronavirus page
Coronavirus advice in other languages and accessible formats
Bradford Council now has information and advice about coronavirus available in video format in different languages, thanks to Peterborough City Council which we can now share on our website.
If you require guidance in another language, Doctors of the World have produced advice in up to 34 different languages, in partnership with the British Red Cross, Migrant Help and Clear Voice.
Materials are available for those who require information and advice about Coronavirus in accessible formats such as BSL or EasyRead.
Bradford Council is reinforcing the message that travel to exercise is not essential travel
To help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID 19) and encourage people to limit their journeys to essential travel only, Bradford Council has taken the decision to close its car parks at certain destinations. The closure will take place with immediate effect until further notice.
The decision by the Council reinforces the work of West Yorkshire Police and also reflects action being taken at other beauty spots and national parks around the country.
Coronavirus Scams and Fake News
Unscrupulous criminals are exploiting fears about COVID-19 to prey on members of the public, particularly older and vulnerable people who are isolated from family and friends.
There have been many reports nationally of scams connected to the coronavirus and many different organisations are offering advice on how to spot potential scammers and what to do.
To help the public spot false information the government is running the SHARE checklist and Don’t Feed The Beast campaign.This gives the public five easy steps to follow to identify whether information may be misleading:
- Source - make sure information comes from a trusted source
- Headline - always read beyond the headline
- Analyse - check the facts
- Retouched - does the image or video look as though it has been doctored?
- Error - look out for bad grammar and spelling
Telecommunications
The UK’s major telecommunication providers yesterday agreed to a set of commitments to support and protect vulnerable consumers and those who may become vulnerable due to circumstances arising from coronavirus. The providers agreed:
- That they will remove all data allowance caps on all current fixed broadband services.
- To offer some new, generous mobile and landline packages to ensure people are connected and the most vulnerable continue to be supported.
- To work with customers who find it difficult to pay their bill as a result of coronavirus to ensure that they are treated fairly and appropriately supported.
- To ensure that vulnerable customers or those self-isolating receive alternative methods of communication wherever possible if priority repairs to fixed broadband and landlines cannot be carried out.
Supporting mental health
In recognition of the unprecedented challenges which the outbreak and extended periods of self-isolation can pose, Public Health England has published new online guidance setting out principles to follow to help people to manage their mental health during this difficult time.
Parents and carers will also benefit from tailored advice on how to support children and young people with stress during the coronavirus outbreak, which includes providing clear information, being aware of their own reactions and creating a new routine.
The government has also announced a £5 million grant for leading mental health charities, administered by Mind, to fund additional services for people struggling with their mental wellbeing during this time. This could include telephone and online support services for the most isolated and vulnerable in our communities.
Guidance for the public on mental health and wellbeing is available now
Guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing is available now
Further information can be found on mental health during
Key messages for your residents - Letter from the Prime Minister
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is writing to every UK household to urge them to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. This letter will land on the doorsteps of 30 million households across all four UK nations from next week.
Update from Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick
Over the weekend, the Communities Secretary provided an update on the government’s response to coronavirus and shielding the most vulnerable. In this speech, the Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP outlined the plans he has put in place to ensure that every corner of the country can confront the coronavirus epidemic and what the government is doing to shield the most vulnerable people in society.
Support for self-employed
Last week the Chancellor outlined measures to support the self-employed and details are available online. The Prime Minister issued a video message last week confirming he was self-isolating in Downing Street after testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).
Renting
Non-statutory guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities in the private and social rented sectors in the context of coronavirus was published on Gov.uk over the weekend.
This guidance provides advice to landlords and tenants on the provisions in the Coronavirus Act 2020, and further advice for landlords, tenants and local authorities more broadly about their rights and responsibilities during the coronavirus outbreak.
GOV.UK WhatsApp Coronavirus Information Service
A new GOV.UK WhatsApp Coronavirus Information Service has now been launched. The purpose of this product is to combat the spread of misinformation propagated through WhatsApp on an Official Government channel.
To use the service, members of the public simply add +44 7860 064422 to their contacts and send a WhatsApp message saying “Hi”. Please promote this service through your channels.
Do you need help or support?
If you need help or have a particular need please ring and talk to one of our friendly team who will take some details and pass them onto the relevant service. Call 01274 431000.
We can help by:
- picking up shopping
- delivering a hot meal or food parcel to eligible people
- ringing for a friendly chat
- problem solving
See our website for more information about local support and volunteering to help others.
Stay safe while out for exercise
Please follow the Government’s advice when leaving your home for exercise. It is fine to walk on paths and bridleways during exercise outside, as long as people observe the 2m rule for staying a safe distance apart. For more information, visit our public green space and rights of way guidance page.
Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service
Only call 111 if you cannot get help online. Use the NHS 111 online service if:
- you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home
- your condition gets worse
- your symptoms do not get better after 7 days
Use the 111 online coronavirus service at 111.nhs.uk/covid-19/
Helpful links
Government advice: what you need to do
NHS coronavirus advice and information
Bradford district coronavirus advice and information
Support for businesses
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