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Our phone lines will be open as usual until the 24 December when they will close at 1pm. We then remain closed until 8am on the 4 January. Throughout this period our Out of Hours service will be available for any emergencies. This is the reached on our normal number: 0300 304 8000.
The building will be closed from the 24 at 1pm until the 4 January for Council Business. The Police Enquiries Desk, located in the same building, will be open on the following dates:
24 Dec 0830-1630
29 Dec 0830-1630
30 Dec 0830-1630
31 Dec 0830-1630
Our news can be found here:
 Grant funding is being made available for Holiday Activities and Food (HAF). This funding, from the Department for Education, will pay for children and young people who receive Free School Meals to engage in holiday activities which include a healthy meal.
This is for the Easter, Summer and Christmas holidays in 2021. A team has come together to encourage and coordinate possible activities and they are holding an information session on the Tuesday 15 December at 10:00am. See attached poster.
To join this Teams event, please click here
Most EU citizens living in the UK (as well as those from the EEA and Switzerland) need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to gain Settled Status so they can continue to live and work in the UK after 30 June 2020. The pandemic is having an impact on application times to the EU Settlement Scheme, so it’s vital that people apply as soon as possible.
Although there is no obligation for employers/ groups to remind staff to apply, it’s worth considering that despite the pandemic, the Scheme will not be extended. You should consider the impact on your organisation if staff do not have Status. You can also play an important role by sign posting your service users to the Scheme, as some people in our community may not be aware of the need to apply or may need help.
Local charity Diversity Voice, are providing free help from regulated advisors for those who need it, including vulnerable people and employers. They can provide posters, hand-outs for service users and 1:1 help for applicants in any language. There’s no charge for this service.
Contact euss@diversityvoice.org.uk, 0300 075 0105.
The RRF was launched at the end of last week, as mentioned in the December bulletin. The fund is being managed by Somerset Community Foundation and is to support / enable community groups and organisations to run activities that support people over the winter.
There has already been a strong response from a wide variety of organisations.
If you think this funding could help you please follow this link.
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Somerset charity CCS (Community Council for Somerset) called on the generosity of Somerset’s people to donate their second-hand cars, that are in working order but that they no longer need, to help get West Somerset moving.
In their first weeks of asking they received two great cars and they are now searching to match them with new owners from West Somerset!
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If you have a car to donate please contact Community Involvement Officer Katherine via email katherine@Somersetrcc.org.uk with your name, phone number and a brief description of the car, or call 07985 744623, to discuss the donation further.
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The festive season can be a particularly challenging time of year for anyone who has lost someone from their life. The Somerset Bereavement Support Partnership offers telephone support through Marie Curie Companions and Mind in Somerset if desired.
This support is available to anyone in Somerset who has been bereaved since the pandemic began. The number to contact is: 0800 3047 412 from 9am-5pm. Free bereavement support will be available throughout the festive season.
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The Somerset Suicide Bereavement Support Service is also operating as normal throughout the coming weeks.
They run a 24hr helpline 0300 330 5463 and a monthly Suicide Bereavement peer support group, to contact the group call: 01823 334906 or email Bereaved@MindTWS.org.uk
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