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Coronavirus update: #Redbridgesmilestogether, online learning support, keep your child's immunisations up to date + more

London Borough of Redbridge sent this bulletin at 27-04-2020 04:29 PM BST

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Monday 27 April 2020

Children inspire through #Redbridgesmilestogether

Children can always be relied on to bring a smile to people’s faces. Now they hold the key to bringing happiness to those who may feel isolated or lonely.

To help brighten a vulnerable or elderly resident’s day, the Redbridge Coronavirus Wellbeing Team has launched #Redbridgesmilestogether.

This new feel-good community initiative is aimed at encouraging children to draw, design or paint colourful and positive pictures or letters. These will then be delivered alongside food bank parcels to vulnerable residents who are self-isolating.

► Be inspired by #Redbridgesmilestogether

Council leader joins our collection crews

Over the past two months, our refuse collectors have been working flat out to make sure our bins are collected, despite the coronavirus pandemic.

To thank our hardworking staff, Council Leader Jas Athwal joined them bright and early on a collection round to lend a hand.

Local people have also been leaving out thoughtful messages for our refuse collectors, including drawings and kind words. These messages mean a lot to our staff, so thank you to everyone who has made the effort to brighten their day.

What to do if your loved one dies

Losing a loved one is difficult at any time, but with so many changes to our usual customs due to the COVID-19 outbreak, it can be even more difficult to cope at the moment.

These changes may mean you have many questions you need answering. We will try to help you where we can, and can also direct you to our partners and charities, who can guide you and your family during this difficult time.

► Information and support

Major package to support online learning

The new school term had a very different start this week, with most families turning their home into a classroom.

To ensure young people have access to essential resources at home, the Government has launched a major package of measures to support online learning.

As part of the package, vulnerable and disadvantaged young people across the country are to receive free laptops. The Government will also provide 4G routers to make sure disadvantaged secondary school pupils and care leavers can access the internet, where families do not already have mobile or broadband internet in the household.

► Support for online learning

Over 80 rough sleepers helped off the streets

We have helped more than 80 rough sleepers off the streets during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The council and its partners have been working around the clock to make sure there is somewhere for all local rough sleepers to stay, be safe and receive the advice and help they need.

If you see a rough sleeper, please report it online at www.streetlink.org.uk or call 0300 5000 914. They will arrange for a local outreach officer to visit and help.

►More on helping rough sleepers

Contact our new domestic abuse service

We know the last place a domestic abuse victim wants to be is trapped at home with their abuser, so we want all residents to know that 'Reach Out' is only a phone call or email away.

The service provides practical and emotional help and support, as well as counselling, whether you wish to remain with your partner or need help to separate. Reach Out also provides support for any child who may be witnessing domestic abuse at home.

►Help for victims of domestic violence

Don’t miss out on vitamin D

With the Government advising people to stay at home during the coronavirus outbreak, you may not be getting enough vitamin D from the sun. To help keep your bones and muscles healthy, consider taking a supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D every day.

Vitamin D supplements can be bought in most pharmacies and supermarkets. Do not buy more than you need.

► Facts about vitamin D

Keep an eye out for vulnerable neighbours

If you’re concerned for the safety of a vulnerable adult who may have learning disabilities or mental health problems, please get in touch with the First Contact Team.

Call 020 8708 7333 Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm or email adults.alert@redbridge.gov.uk

► Report abuse of a vulnerable adult

Are your child’s immunisations up to date?

We’re reminding all parents that baby and toddler immunisations should continue during the COVID-19 outbreak.

By keeping your child’s vaccinations up to date, they will be protected from serious illnesses such as measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), rotavirus, diphtheria, whooping cough, meningitis, polio, tetanus, hepatitis B, TB, and more.

Check the NHS vaccination schedule to find out when your baby or toddler's injections are due.

► Immunisation during COVID-19

► Vaccinations and when to have them

Litter free and safer

Who doesn’t want a safe and clean environment? Now, more than ever, we all need to take extra care of our streets and surroundings.

People dropping used plastic protective gloves and face masks could be increasing the risk of spreading coronavirus, so please don’t discard your disposable gloves and masks in the street once you have finished with them.

We all need to protect each other and our street cleaners from the transmission of coronavirus. Either take them home or dispose of them responsibly in the nearest public bin.

Parking at Hainault Forest

To allow as many people as possible to exercise safely and maintain social distancing, all car parking sessions at Hainault Forest are now a maximum of 90 minutes.

If you’re visiting the park, please pay for a 90-minute session through the RingGo app. Parking for blue badge holders will be free but will be limited to 90 minutes like everyone else.

Please remember that due to COVID-19 guidelines, picnicking and sunbathing are not allowed.

Further advice and guidance

► Visit our coronavirus information hub for updates

► More about the virus: what you need to do

► NHS advice

Stay up to date

We will be keeping residents up to date with latest information on COVID-19 by email.