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Dear resident,

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to keeping us all safe by staying at home and keeping your distance. Under normal circumstances we would all be looking forward to a sunny weekend outside, but this weekend it remains vital for us all to keep following the rules about staying at home and social distancing.

If you go to one of Southwark’s parks this weekend for your daily exercise and to enjoy some fresh air, please make sure you:

• only go by yourself or with members of your household
• keep at least two metres away from anyone else
• don’t meet up with friends or family members who you don’t live with
• only go out for exercise once a day.

Thank you to everyone in Southwark who is doing everything they can to help stop the spread of COVID-19. By following the rules we are protecting the NHS and saving lives.

In this newsletter you will find some key updates about council services. You can also check our website for updates at  www.southwark.gov.uk/coronavirus.

Cllr Peter John

Do you know a vulnerable resident who needs help?

If you know of a vulnerable Southwark resident who can’t leave the house due to coronavirus (COVID-19), and who may not have friends, family or neighbours who can help with the delivery of essential supplies, please tell us straight away so we can help them.

Waste and recycling collections

We are hugely grateful to our committed staff and agency workers who have helped us maintain our regular waste and recycling collections. We know some councils have already scaled back their service, but we really want to continue to deliver these services for residents. We have had nearly 100% staff coverage all week, and as a result we are currently collecting waste and recycling from well over 99% of Southwark homes on their scheduled date.

Some residents will have experienced missed bin collections, often as a result of agency workers not knowing their patch as well as our normal staff. If these can be reported on our website, it will help us fulfil the collection and improve training to avoid it being repeated.

What you can do to help

• You can help by making sure your bin or bags are in a clearly visible place - we are using more temporary workers who may not always know our routes as well as our experienced collectors.
• Continue to separate recyclable materials from general waste – keep them clean, do not contaminate your recycling and flatten items to take less space.
• If your collection is missed please check our website for any updates on services in case anything has changed.
• Keeping calls and emails to the council to a minimum will help us focus on delivering a good service, and supporting our most vulnerable residents. If you need to please report a missed collection on our website.

Thank you for your patience and support at this difficult time.

Are you worried about domestic abuse?

If you are feeling isolated at home and are worried about domestic or sexual abuse, help is available. The Solace Advocacy and Support Service is available to women and men in Southwark aged 16 or over in Southwark.

Looking after your wellbeing

During this time, you may be bored, frustrated or lonely. You may also feel low, worried, anxious, or be concerned about your health or that of those close to you. Public Health England has produced a new guide to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing during the Coronavirus outbreak.