Talking Therapies – supporting the people of #Berkshire
Co-op introduces gift card scheme for vulnerable customers
The Co-op supermarket group has launched a gift card scheme for those shielding or self-isolating and reliant on others to do their shopping or who are volunteering to help someone they know, including as part of a local support group.
By calling a dedicated Co-op phone line on 0800 029 4592, they can purchase a gift card which can be shared with friends, neighbours or volunteers to pay for shopping in their local Co-op store. If a volunteer group wishes to buy multiple cards to support vulnerable people, they can do this by emailing their requirements to giftvouchers@coop.co.uk
Please do promote the gift card to vulnerable people in your community that it would benefit. Additionally the Co-op Health app connects people in England securely to their GP so they can automatically view and order the medications
Vital Signs Survey- which good causes would you chose to support in Berkshire?
Berkshire is home to just over 911,000 people. Access to safe, healthy environments in which we live, learn, work and play can powerfully affect lifelong wellbeing. But we know that in Berkshire not everyone can participate equally and Vital Signs has reported growing concern about child poverty, pressure on carers, mental health and homelessness. In 2020 we have the additional challenge of Covid-19.
Vital Signs 2020 will explore how people are affected by and can influence environments in Berkshire communities, particularly for those who are vulnerable and at a disadvantage.
Berkshire Community Foundation makes grants to local voluntary groups and charities throughout the county.
This Vital Signs survey is designed to help us understand the priorities of local people towards support for wellbeing and environments throughout Berkshire, to help BCF direct its grant making.
Imagine that within each of the five themes, listed below, you have £100 to donate to good causes, which means you can imagine giving up to £500.
Three lucky winners will each win a £1,000 grant made by BCF to a cause of their choice; to enter this prize draw you must complete at least three out of the five themes.
All the causes are based on actual community organisations active in Berkshire supported through the Community Foundation.
Useful Advice for Village Halls & Community Buildings when re-opening next month
Information courtesy of Wessex Water
The lockdown restrictions in place over the last couple of months has meant several business premises have been forced to close which means water within the building plumbing systems will have been left stagnant. This can cause the water quality to deteriorate within the plumbing system in a number of ways:
Warming of water
Growth of micro-organisms (e.g. bacteria, legionella)
Increased leaching of metals found in plumbing (could cause discolouration)
Taste and odour from prolonged contact with some plumbing materials
We would like to bring to your attention the steps that should be taken to remove any stagnant water and renew your water supply before your workforce return to work and use the water.
Identify all items that use water within the building (taps, showers, appliances, toilets, urinals, drinks machines, bathrooms, etc) and any water storage (tanks and cisterns). Anything storing water should be emptied and refilled first.
Then gently flush all cold-water outlets individually starting with the tap nearest to where the water enters the building and move systematically to the most distant outlet including flushing toilets. Flush until the water is cool to the touch or the same temperature as the water closest to where it enters the building.
Minimise the potential of creating aerosols by flushing gently, removing aerators, shower heads and any other tap inserts or attachments. Close toilet seat lids before flushing.
If there are any outlets that require servicing or cleaning by an external contractor (e.g. coffee machines, soft drinks machines) switch off the supply to them and do not use until a contractor can visit.
Ensure appliances are flushed and internal filters and softeners are checked to ensure they are flushed and working correctly as outlined in manufacturer’s instructions.
Once the cold water has flushed through, repeat the process with the hot water outlets.
If you have a water safety plan for the premises, this should include how to return the building water system to normal following prolonged low/no use.
Complex systems involving chemical dosing systems (eg swimming pools and spa pools) please enlist the services of a professional to service the system and return to normal operation.
For more information please see the link below:
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – Legionella and Legionnaires’ disease
Community Loneliness Survey
How Often Do You Feel Lonely? Feeling isolated or lonely is a problem that most of us will face at some point in our lives. Living in a thriving and supportive community is one of the best ways of reducing the risk of loneliness and isolation, which is why CCB is supporting people to examine the kinds of activities taking place in our villages. We can help to reduce loneliness by encouraging more people to get involved with existing activities and providing help with setting new ones up.
The threat posed by the Coronavirus puts us all in an unprecedented position and ensures that the issue of social isolation is in the forefront of everyone’s minds. Whilst in the short-term we may need to restrict contact with friends and neighbours, particularly those more vulnerable to the virus, it is important to consider how to ensure that we live in well-connected communities in the longer-term.
The link below will take you to a survey form, responses to which will help us with this project. The form asks how easy is it to find and access activities in your community, and seeks your ideas on what you’d like to see taking place. You don’t have to give us any personal details, just your reflections and ideas.
https://ccberks.wufoo.com/forms/community-loneliness-survey/
Please get in touch if you have any questions about the project or are interested in getting involved. Thank you. Tim Parry: tim.parry@ccberks.org.uk
Connecting Communities in Berkshire 