|
This is your regular Living in Havering email bulletin designed to keep you up-to-date with how Havering Council is responding to COVID-19
For all the latest information see our website or follow us via our facebook and twitter channels if you can.
You can find details of any confirmed changes to Council services, or opening hours, as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the regularly updated, service disruption pages.
All the other regular pages with information on reporting, for example, a missed refuse collection or a pothole in a road, are still available.
Save our website as a favourite on your phone, tablet or PC for quick, easy reference: www.havering.gov.uk
|
Havering Council has launched a new free-to-call helpline for residents with urgent needs because of coronavirus.
The helpline - 0800 368 5201 - is now live and calls will be answered from staff redeployed from other council services.
We are asking residents with concerns around care, urgent issues around health and wellbeing, lack of access to supplies including food and medicine to call the helpline.
Residents with less urgent needs or needing advice on other council services should go to the Council's website for a range of contact options.
Cllr Damian White, Leader of Havering Council, said: “This helpline is for residents who have only urgent concerns about COVID-19 for themselves, people in their care or a family member, friend or neighbour. Call 0800 368 5201 if you need help now.
"You can also email: covid19support@havering.gov.uk
"We need anyone with any other concern or question that isn’t about the urgent welfare needs of a resident to contact us in the usual way via the options shown on our website. Calling the 0800 helpline number for a minor issue, no matter how pressing it might feel, might stop someone who needs help urgently from getting through to us.”
|
Havering Volunteer Centre is providing a service where local residents can get support during these uncertain times and talk to a friendly voice at the end of a phone line.
If you would like to get involved and support your community by being that friendly voice on the line please email or call 01708 922214 and they will do the rest.
Once all checks are completed and you are registered, you will be matched to a Havering resident who will benefit greatly from a daily call from you to check they are okay.
If you need to chat to someone please also call them on 01708 922214.
Researchers at King's College, and Guy's and St.Thomas' hospitals in London have launched an app to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
It also aims to identify at risk cases sooner by people self-reporting symptoms daily, if they think, or know, that they have the coronavirus.
Take just 1-minute to self-report daily, even if you are currently feeling well.
Help these scientists identify:
• High-risk areas in the UK.
• Who is most at risk, by better understanding symptoms linked to underlying health conditions.
• How fast the virus is spreading in your area.
Go to their website for more details and information on downloading the app.
|
Big thanks to local business, Tool Station, in Harold Hill, which has kindly provided our parks protection team with a supply of cable ties so our officers can securely close off play areas, outdoor gyms, tennis courts and ball courts in our parks.
These areas will remain closed for the time being but our parks and allotments remain open as we are mindful of the health and well-being benefits of being outside.
However, residents must observe the Government and NHS advice on social distancing - stay 2 metres away from other people.
|
Havering Council has emergency plans in place to keep vital frontline services running. Other services will be subject to change.
Parking
Havering Council will now only seek to enforce parking restrictions that pose a danger to other road users.
Parking enforcement of permit zones, pay and display bays, business and shared use bays has ceased for the time being in order to help people working from home, self-isolating, or shielding vulnerable or sick residents.
Libraries, Children's Centres and the Cocoon
All the borough’s ten libraries, Chippenham Road and Hilldene Children’s Centres, MyPlace in Harold Hill and the Cocoon in Romford are now closed.
Havering Council's Leaving Care Team will continue to support our young adults. Where possible they will be working remotely, using Skype and telephone communication. In essential cases we will still provide home visits to vulnerable young adults who live alone however for the most part this support will be provided through their foster carers or staff at their semi-independent accommodation.
The libraries website is also still available and provides online access to audiobooks, ebooks, magazines and newspapers.
Please contact childrenscentres@havering.gov.uk or 01708 432636 if you require any assistance for any of the services that run from the Children’s Centres in Havering. Staff will be available Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm, to respond to all emails or telephone enquiries.
Langtons
Langtons is only open for registrations of deaths and pre-booked appointments.
Please call 01708 433481 or email registration@havering.gov.uk if you have any urgent queries.
Housing repairs
Our contractors can only offer essential emergency repairs at this time.
We are prioritising vulnerable tenants where possible.
All contractors have Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), hand cleaning facilities and where residents are self-isolating they will be asked to move into a separate room.
Parks and allotments
Parks and allotments remain open as we are mindful of the health and well-being benefits of being outside.
However, residents must rigidly observe the Government and NHS advice on social distancing, i.e. keep 2 metres away from other people.
That is why play areas, tennis courts and outdoor gyms should not be used at this time.
If the guidance is not followed this position on parks and open spaces will be reviewed.
|
For all the latest advice on coronavirus (COVID-19) click on the Government website.
It includes information on how to protect yourself and guidance for employers and businesses.
Vital information on COVID-19 is also available in 32 different languages.
|
Havering Council Leader, Cllr Damian White, has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak MP, asking for government to increase support for the borough’s market traders as the country battles coronavirus.
The letter thanks Mr Sunak for the government’s quick response to the coronavirus crisis but asks for ‘urgent consideration’ of measures that could be put in place to provide financial aid for sole traders and small and medium-sized enterprises.
|
 Have you been identified by the government as belonging to a high-risk group for Coronavirus?
You may be finding it difficult to connect with family and friends.
Connection with others is vital to our mental wellbeing.
There are lots of free ways you can stay connected through video calling and instant messaging while still keeping your distance.
If you or you loved ones don't have one of these apps on your smartphone click to download the app of your choice.
Smart tip: Speak with your family and friends first to find out if they use any of these apps to figure out which app would work best for you.
|
