Coronavirus (COVID-19) update | Help with your council tax | Business support schemes | Support for vulnerable adults and more

The latest Government guidance about coronavirus is available on the Gov.uk website.

This includes information and advice about:

• Social distancing and staying at home
•  Households with possible coronavirus infection
•  Shielding and protecting more vulnerable members of society
•  Employees, employers and businesses

It also includes the latest details of financial support for self-employed people, announced by Government at yesterday's daily coronavirus briefing.

Please visit the NHS website for other important information about coronavirus symptoms, how to protect yourself and others and what you should do if you think you may have the virus.

We have today launched new measures to help families in need throughout the COVID-19 outbreak.

• Working age residents who already benefit from our current Council Tax Support Scheme will receive an additional £150 reduction to their bill. This is the local rollout of the Government’s hardship fund which was announced earlier this month. If you already receive Council Tax Support, you don’t need to do anything. Your bill for the year April 2020/21 will change automatically.
• If you do not already receive this support and are struggling to pay your council tax, you may be able to make a claim. Visit our website to find out more.

We also have options for you to help spread your council tax payments:

• If you’re on a 10 month direct debit then you can opt for April/May this year as your non-payment months instead of February/March 2021.

• If you’re currently on a 12 month direct debit then we can condense your payments over 10 months, so you do not have to pay anything in April/May this year.

If you are struggling to pay your council tax or your rent then please get in touch with us so that we can discuss the support available. Visit our website for more information.

The Government has announced a series of measures to support businesses throughout this period of disruption. From today the systems are in place and the support schemes are now live for Southampton City Council to deliver business rates relief and grant funding to local businesses in Southampton. These include:

Business Rates for Retail, Hospitality, Leisure and Nurseries 

Businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors and nurseries will not have to pay business rates for the 2020/21 tax year. This reduction will be applied automatically to businesses' bills by 1 April. If businesses have not received an amended bill by 3 April 2020, they should email business.rates@southampton.gov.uk

Small Business Grant Funding and Cash Grant for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure

Businesses can find out more and apply here.

To find out more about these national schemes, click here.

Further information for businesses is available from the council on our website.

We are working closely with Southampton Voluntary Services (SVS) and NHS Southampton City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to co-ordinate a voluntary, community and social enterprise response and direct help to those that most need it. If you are currently offering, or planning to offer support services, please take part in a short survey to build a picture of the support available across the city and how we can collectively support these organisations to help our community.

For information on where you can get support and / or help your community, So: Linked have created a dedicated page regularly updated with the Community Links for support during COVID-19. You can also stay tuned for further updates on our website.

Schools in Southampton have pulled out the stops to provide more than 900 places for the children of key workers, including frontline medical staff and many others whose work is critical to the response to the coronavirus epidemic.

Nearly 1,000 school pupils were looked after by primary and secondary schools in Southampton this week. This number includes children of key workers as well as those identified as vulnerable children and those on Education, Health and Social Care (EHCP) plans. An important role has also been played by other childcare providers and education providers, although figures for these are not yet available.

Thank you to all our schools and hardworking teaching staff who have come together during this challenging period to support the fight against coronavirus. Visit our website for the latest updates on schools and learning.

We are offering the opportunity for people new to the care industry to play a key role in the delivery of care and support to the most vulnerable in the city, with several Reablement and Rehabilitation Care Assistant roles available. This is a flexible role, with hours to suit you and your availability.

The role will be varied and could involve tasks such as preparing meals, ensuring medication is provided accurately and on time, through to personal care.

If you are interested in supporting people with care needs in the city, this is a good opportunity to provide support, be trained to a high standard, learn the role of Care Assistant and could also be a gateway to caring roles in the future. For more information and to apply, click here.

Our staff are working extremely hard during these unprecedented times to ensure we continue to protect and support our most vulnerable residents to stay safe, independent and healthy. 

Many of our residents have asked questions about the care family and friends will receive during these times. We will continue to keep our website updated with the latest situation and there are FAQS which will provide answers to many of these questions about vulnerable adults.

A helpline will be available to call from next week that will be dedicated to taking calls from residents who have specific issues that relate to the current situation. Every household in Southampton will receive a letter from next week with details of this. For residents in critical need, our aim is to be able to link them to an appropriate service which may be provided by volunteers or the council.

Social distancing and thorough and frequent handwashing are key in stopping the spread of the virus. Only go out when necessary (such as for a grocery shop or urgent medical care) and ALWAYS try to stay two metres apart from others. Handwashing with soap and water should follow any trip outside the home and should be for at least 20 seconds. Stay home, save lives.

Please only use your local pharmacy when you need to and do not go to a pharmacy if you have COVID-19 symptoms such as a dry, persistent cough, fever or shortness of breath. Instead you can use NHS 111 online and follow the guidance on the NHS website. 

In the first instance, vulnerable patients are asked to have their medicines collected by a family member, friend or neighbour. When using a pharmacy please keep a distance of at least two metres from other people, including when queuing.