Dear Milton Covid-19 group volunteers,
Firstly, a quick update on things in Milton. We now have over 170
volunteers, and have handled around 75 requests for help - some as
one-offs, and many as ongoing help. Following the advice we have been
given, we are only matching up requests for prescription collection with
DBS-checked volunteers, but other requests (groceries, dog walking, etc.)
will be matched with the nearest available volunteer.
If you are offering ongoing support, please do *let us know if you would
like to take a break*, as we do have other volunteers available who have
not yet been matched up with requests for help. We are all doing what we
can, and there is no shame in sharing the load with others.
Secondly, South Cambs District Council have sent out their latest updates
and links for local Covid-19 volunteer groups:
- Do remember the importance of *caring for your own mental health *as
well as that of those around you– the national Every Mind Matters
<https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/> campaign spearheaded by
the young royals has some excellent tips. You may wish to share our
Facebook
<https://www.facebook.com/SouthCambridgeshireDistrictCouncil/photos/pb.15304…>
or Twitter
<https://twitter.com/SouthCambs/status/1252256537063677952?s=20> posts
in your community.
- [image: image.png]
Also, do *seek urgent care *for longer-term physical or mental health
concerns that may naturally deteriorate over time, as usual. The sooner
people seek help, the better their outcomes. Please feel free to share our
Facebook
<https://www.facebook.com/SouthCambridgeshireDistrictCouncil/photos/pb.15304…>
or Twitter
<https://twitter.com/SouthCambs/status/1252234204378624001?s=20> posts
to raise awareness.
- Guidance from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Adults and
Children Board:
- ‘If you see something, say something’ – a one page PDF is attached
with information on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
- There are many ways that the current emergency can put strain on
households, and council officers are keen to provide support as
needed. If
you have *any concerns about a friend or neighbour*, please get in
touch via safeguarding(a)allsaintsmilton.org.uk or call Linda Henderson
on 07801 156157. All information will be handled sensitively,
within local
authority reporting structures to access the appropriate source
of support.
- The fire service have published guidelines (attached) about fire
safety in the home - all the more important as people are spending much
more time at home than usual!
- The Police service is asking residents to be considerate and not have
bonfires (again, feel free to share our Facebook
<https://www.facebook.com/SouthCambridgeshireDistrictCouncil/videos/63104774…>
or Twitter
<https://twitter.com/SouthCambs/status/1252593991260024837?s=20> posts
on this element), and to encourage residents to be aware of ‘Distraction
burglaries
<https://www.scambs.gov.uk/coronavirus/support-for-residents/#A15>’.
- You can view all current FAQs
<https://www.scambs.gov.uk/coronavirus/advice-for-communities/frequently-ask…>
on the South Cambs website. Updates in the attached FAQ document include:
- Support for unpaid carers who may be struggling to cope
- Updates on working with pharmacies, including how volunteers can
collect residents’ prescriptions from hospitals, and how
residents can pay
online for prescriptions
- Support for carers with a focus on caring for those with learning
disabilities / autism
- Support for residents seeking supermarket vouchers. A fact sheet is
also attached to this email
- Some guidance for people who are bereaved
Finally, don't forget that a lot of information is available via the
website for the Milton support group:
https://www.milton.org.uk/milton-covid-19-support-group/
Thanks,
Mary-Ann
Dear Support Group volunteers,
*ID Photos*
Thanks to all of you who have been sending your photos for ID cards. We're
working through the list, prioritising people who have already been linked
with a request for assistance. If you haven't sent in a photo yet, and
would appreciate an ID card while shopping for others, please send it to
mvv(a)milton.org.uk.
*How the Group Works*
A few people have been asking for more details on how the group is
running. Thanks to help from a local software developer, we have a system
that's now running pretty well. Requests come in via email (
covidmilton(a)gmail.com) or by phone (07933 550989). These is covered by a
rota of 9 people doing a few days at a time. The software matches each
request to a few nearby volunteers, and the person "on call" will ring
volunteers to check whether they are happy to cover the particular request.
We've now been able to respond to nearly 60 requests for help of various
sorts - well done! We have around 150 volunteers, so don't worry if you
haven't been asked yet for something specific - it's a good sign that we're
not yet overwhelmed!
I've attached the latest version of our "Information for volunteers", which
is based on the latest advice from government and national charities.
*Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)*
If you have the capacity to make or supply PPE for either Milton Surgery or
Edmund Trust (supported living in Milton for adults with learning
disabilities), please get in touch via email: admin.miltonsurgery(a)nhs.net or
info(a)edmundtrust.org.uk.
*Supporting You*
Finally, while we are matching up individual requests with volunteers, we'd
also like to help support all of you with the more ad-hoc help for
neighbours and friends that we know is also going in in the village in
great amounts.
I'm attaching again the letter you can show local shows asking them to
waive item limits if you're *shopping for multiple households*.
We can help you with the following:
- Hand sanitiser
- A thermometer
- Feminine hygiene products & incontinence pads
- DVDs, jigsaws
- Free B&B rooms (no breakfast!) for anyone who needs to be away from
others/closer to a relative
We are also putting useful *links on the website*:
https://www.milton.org.uk/milton-covid-19-support-group/. They include
information for businesses and residents on a range of topics, such as
financial support, anti-scam information and voucher schemes. Please do
pass these links on to anyone you know who might find them useful.
There are many ways that the current emergency can put strain on
households, and council officers are keen to provide support as needed. If
you have *any concerns about a friend or neighbour*, please get in touch
via safeguarding(a)allsaintsmilton.org.uk or call Linda Henderson on 07801
156157. All information will be handled sensitively, within local
authority reporting structures to access the appropriate source of support.
All the best,
Mary-Ann
