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Message from Council Leader Pete Marland
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As you know, Milton Keynes Council is currently working with the government and our local partners on our response to the Coronavirus (Covid 19) outbreak.
I am sending you this email as Leader of Milton Keynes Council to let you know how you can stay safe, protect others and how to get help if you need it.
Stay at home, protect others, save lives
Yesterday the Prime Minister announced severe restrictions on the movement and interactions between people. It is essential we all follow those rules which can be found at www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Following this advice will save lives. We all have friends and loved ones in at risk groups, and you cannot take your own health lightly.
Keep in touch
You can keep in touch with all of our updates and messages by visiting our Facebook page, our Twitter feed or by signing up for e-alerts at www.milton-keynes.gov.uk.
At this time it is also important to ensure you are getting information from trusted and established news sources.
Our services
Milton Keynes Council has taken steps to ensure our vital services are maintained as best we can. Our main focus is on critical and essential service delivery such as social care, safeguarding vulnerable adults and children, and maintaining waste collections.
Following guidelines, and ensuring the wellbeing of our colleagues and service users, does mean we have had to stop or reduce the way we are delivering services.
You can find a list of our current service provision here.
Protecting extremely vulnerable people
A set of further measures for extremely vulnerable people in Milton Keynes are now in place and the government is strongly advising them to stay at home completely. They have been notified directly and will have received a letter from the NHS.
Helping others
Milton Keynes is a fantastic place, and that is never more evident than in the many people who want to help others.
It is now clear that the government rules means you should only help people you know well and limit all social contact. Members of the public moving between households of people they do not know or establishing new arrangements that would facilitate increased contact with people, especially vulnerable people, is not appropriate. We will be working with partners and organisations to enable existing networks such as faith groups and charities to help people who need it.
Working with the MK Community Foundation we have established the MK Emergency Response Appeal 19 Appeal to raise funds for these groups. MK Council has donated £50,000. You can donate here.
If you have a concern about the welfare of someone please contact Milton Keynes Council on 01908 691691.
Please forward this email to anyone who many need this help.
Staying safe
Please do not do anything that could put you, or others, at risk.
For instance do not share your bank details and it is not advisable to display, or ask people to display, posters or notices asking for help.
Please do not pass on the details of vulnerable people to anyone other than trusted organisations. If you need help, or are concerned about someone’s welfare or safety, please contact 01908 252835. If the concern is about a child, then call our Safeguarding Hub on 01908 253169/70. In an emergency please call 999.
If you want to report an issue such as fraud please contact 0808 2231133 or email us.
Please forward this email to anyone who many need this help.
Food Bank Xtra
Milton Keynes Council is working with MK Food Bank to try and ensure that the most vulnerable people have support as they need it. You can find details on our website shortly.
Emergency financial support
Working with the government we are ensuring that people can access financial help quickly if they need it. You can find information on our website now.
If you are a business and want to know more about the support that is in place to help you at this time take a look on our Facebook page (where you can find a live stream business briefing originally broadcast on Friday 20 March) or visit the gov website.
Please forward this email to anyone who many need this help.
Thank you
I would like to thank everyone for their on-going support at this time. It is a very difficult period. Pulling together, following advice and ensuring vulnerable people are supported will enable us to get through this tough time.
In our city today we have thousands of people working to help people.
People who work for the NHS, care workers, council staff and our emergency services. I know these people do an amazing job for us on a day in and day out basis and are currently going above and beyond at a time of crisis.
However, what we have also seen is that people in other roles, such as people who supply and work in our supermarkets, our volunteers, and so many others, are playing a vital role in helping us get through this.
Milton Keynes is a great place. We are very lucky as a city to have such an amazing base of people and networks in a unique physical space. I would urge you to stay safe and by following guidelines for protecting yourself and others we can get through this, and will be a stronger, more resilient place in the months and years to come.
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