ADVICE AND GUIDANCE FOR VOLUNTEERS WHO MAY BE INTERACTING WITH THE MOST VULNERABLE – HOW TO KEEP YOURSELF AND OTHERS SAFE
Before you volunteer you must make sure you are not a person who is considered vulnerable before you help others. Check the criteria on the NHS website here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/. If you fall into any these categories we appreciate that you want to help and are grateful but please don’t put yourself and others at risk. If are a volunteer and you start to feel unwell you must, stay at home and look after yourself first, this will also protect the most vulnerable that we are trying to help.
Ensure you are familiar with your group’s safeguarding and personal safety policies. Where possible, introduce yourself (carry your ID, driving licenses or corporate ID with you) and let them know which organisation you represent and that you are working as part of West Berkshire Council’s Community Support Hub. Volunteers should ensure they have a low chance of becoming infected. Where possible follow social distancing protocol (keeping 2 metres away) and don’t take unnecessary risks. If possible wash your hands or use hand sanitiser gel after every visit. If you are visiting a person to find out if they need help, knock on the door then step back, ideally 2m, make them aware of the organisation you represent before asking them what they need assistance with. Make sure their request is for one of these things: food and supplies; collecting prescriptions and medicine; sending or collecting post; check-in calls. Confirm their address and how they can pay. Do not take someone’s bank card. You will need to discuss the exact delivery details with them personally. When delivering items Do Not go into any houses. Place the items to be delivered on the doorstep before communicating with the person/family in isolation (call them on the phone, send a text message, ringing the bell or knocking on the door) & take at least 2 meters 3 steps back from the door. Get conformation that the person has received it before you leave. This is to protect both you and the person you are delivering to. Take care when handling food/items to minimise contact and try to wash your hands frequently ideally between each drop off or use hand sanitiser (if you have it). When you have finished your rounds, and before eating and drinking, thoroughly wash your hands with water and soap for 20 seconds.
General Volunteer Safeguarding Advice Let your family and friends know where you are going and what you are doing. Remember you can support family, friends and neighbours via video calling them too. Don’t take on too much. Sometimes it’s better not to offer than let people down. If you have concerns about a neighbour, friend or family member in West Berkshire, please call the Community Support Hub on: 01635 503579 or email on: westberksbct@westberks.gov.uk.
Only share official information given from the main government and NHS sites. If you feel comfortable, challenge misinformation. Follow Public Health England advice. Wash your hands regularly, for at least 20 seconds. Avoid touching your face.
If you are worried about symptoms, please consult the NHS guidance. If symptoms are severe call NHS 111. Do not go directly to your GP or other healthcare environment. Immediately stop carrying out deliveries or in person support work. If you are collecting a prescription for someone else, follow NHS guidance. Most prescriptions are sent electronically direct to a pharmacy from the GP surgery and you can collect the medicine on their behalf if the person has told the pharmacy that they are happy for you to do so. In rare cases where paper prescriptions are used, the patient and person collecting will need to fill out an FB10 form.
This article contains information compiled by our counterparts in Action in Rural Sussex – thank you on behalf of communities in Berkshire for sharing this important and useful information
This article contains information on general guidance, stay at home guidance, advice for village halls, advice for community groups, protecting the isolated & vulnerable, advice for community transport and coronavirus and mental health & wellbeing. Our main references points is official advice from the UK Government and NHS England
Current information surrounding Coronavirus is constantly changing and therefore Connecting Communities in Berkshire recommend that everyone should follow all guidance issued by Public Health England and the NHS and keep abreast of the ever-changing situation.
As of the evening of the 23rd March 2020, the Government has said that everybody in the UK must stop non-essential contact and stay at home.
Most shops and other premises must now close until further notice. This includes ‘community centres, youth centres and similar’, with the exception that ‘Facilities may remain open for the purpose of hosting essential voluntary or public services, such as food banks or homeless services.’
Heed the Governments advice.
Only go outside for food, health reasons or work (where this absolutely cannot be done from home)
A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. Typical symptoms of coronavirus include fever and a cough that may progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
Generally, coronavirus can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease.
Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China.
The following symptoms may develop in the 14 days after exposure to someone who has COVID-19 infection:
Cough
Difficulty in breathing
Fever
General Guidance
Common sense is key in a situation like this and are things you can do to help stop germs like coronavirus spreading:
The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of a new continuous cough and/or high temperature. If you have these symptoms, however mild, stay at home and do not leave your house for 7 days from when your symptoms started. You do not need to call NHS 111 to go into self-isolation. If your symptoms worsen during home isolation or are no better after 7 days, contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.
Wash your hands more often than usual, for 20 seconds using soap and hot water, particularly after coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose, or after being in public areas where other people are doing so. Use hand sanitiser if that’s all you have access to.
To reduce the spread of germs when you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, or your sleeve (not your hands) if you don’t have a tissue, and throw the tissue away immediately. Then wash your hands or use a hand sanitising gel.
Clean and disinfect regularly touched objects and surfaces using your regular cleaning products to reduce the risk of passing the infection on to other people.
The following sites will give you further information:
The advice from Government is clear: People should stay at home except for one of the four reasons permitted.
Shopping for basic necessities
One form of exercise a day
Any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
Travelling to and from work when absolutely necessary
Therefore, village halls and community buildings MUST close unless there is an essential service operating from the hall e.g pre-school that is open for children of key workers, food bank, medicine delivery – in which case precautions need to be taken – see below.
Village Hall Management Committees running charitable halls have a duty of care in providing a safe facility for the community to use. Therefore, if you are running an essential service and need to remain open, your committee must bear in mind that extra precautions need to be made as your hall may provide services for those groups who are most at risk from the virus.
Precautions include:
Take notice of the Government and Public Health England websites and keep up to date with the ongoing situation
Visitors to the hall must keep at least 2m distance (6ft) away from each other – If need be mark this distance out so its clear to everyone, especially if you have a queuing system in place
Ensure the hall has a one in, one out policy
Keep the Hall very clean and ensure that soap and/or hand sanitiser is available, paper towels are available and hand driers are working efficiently – one person to use the toilet at a time
Avoid the use of hand towels for the time being
Put up a notice about hand washing, particularly in toilets and kitchen areas. Poster available here: Catch it bin it kill it
Advise visitors that they are expected to act responsibly and take notice of Government and Public Health England advice which includes who is and isn’t allowed to be in public spaces
Regarding cancellation of any bookings follow the steps in their hiring agreement and activities in the event of the hall having to close, we suggest that you contact your insurance company to discuss what may be covered under your insurance policy regarding cancellation of events
The Government has indicated there may be help regarding loss of income for certain businesses. As yet we do not know if village halls and community buildings will be eligible. Further information will be supplied to halls once we have confirmation.
Village Hall Insurance
Norris & Fisher statement:
“Coronavirus Advice for Village Halls
We have received a number of enquiries as to whether Village Halls would be insured should they be forced to cancel activities or if hirers cancel their bookings owing to COVID-19. The Business Interruption cover under the policy would not provide cover for this type of loss so there is no insurance for loss of earnings. If there were to be a pandemic it would be beyond the capability of insurers to pay for such losses.
Some of our halls have asked their hirers to ensure that, if one of their members is ill, they should not attend the Hall. Should a visitor have been in contact with anyone suffering from the virus they should self-isolate. However, if an outbreak of COVID-19 were to be traced to the Hall it would not be possible for you to be held liable. In addition it may be best to ensure you have a good supply of soap, hand sanitisers and paper towels”.
Allied Westminster statement:
“Coronavirus and Village Halls:
Loss of revenue cover comes into force only after damage to property caused by an insured peril. It is designed to cover loss of income when the hall is closed for a period of time in order for repairs to be carried out. Unfortunately, if the hall has to be closed due to a breakout of the virus, no property damage has occurred so there is no business interruption cover in place.
Property insurers would not cover closure due to pandemic.
Protecting Your Village/Community Hall at this time:
Halls will become unoccupied or operate on a significantly reduced level.
Normally you would have to let us now, but this is the picture nationally. Allied Westminster (VillageGuard) will accept this as the norm for the moment for our clients, however you normally have to let your insurer know.
For Allied Westminster VillageGuard clients, please only notify us if the closure is previously planned due to works or the hall has been unoccupied more than 45 day. Other halls should refer to their insurers
There are some considerations that should be kept in mind to protect their assets and people:
Risk assessments must be carried out on the changing risk/lack of supervision in place
Heating left ‘ticking-over’ but other critical services powered down if not required, unless to support protection or detection systems
All external areas must be clear of waste and combustible materials
Consider waste build-up and the controls needed if waste collection services are affected
All fire protection, detection, and security systems to remain active and monitored remotely where possible
Maintenance on all protection and/or detection systems (where in place) must be a priority to protect the property
All physical security and locking devices are working and in place
Public Health England have produced a range of sample posters and it would be wise to use one of these as the basis for putting on the front door a poster asking people who have possible Coronavirus symptoms not to come into the hall.
Group members must advise the rest of the group if they are self-isolating
The importance of hand hygiene – See general guidance above
Cancellation of events:
Government guidance is to limit the amount of social contact where possible. This is likely to impact large scale events and you should consider whether it is appropriate to continue with your events. If your events depend on volunteers, be aware that some may prefer to stay home
Check cancellation policies for venue bookings you’ve made or are about to make
Do NOT host face to face meetings, therefore consider:
Is the meeting is really essential or can it be cancelled or postponed?
Consider electronic alternatives such as Skype, WhatsApp, FaceTime
As we find ourselves amidst the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, there is justifiable concern for people’s mental health and anxiety, especially those who find themselves in isolation. UK charity Mind, have produce advice on Coronavirus and your wellbeing.
Helen is running a telephone advice line for families who are worried about their bills, or who would like information about ways to reduce their costs, as part of the project outlined below.
She can be contacted on 0773 8887612 on Thursday 26th March between 1pm and 3pm, and on Tuesday 31st March, and Wednesday 1st April between 9.30am – 1pm.
A national charity, National Energy Action are also running a telephone advice line if you need support with your energy bills, or advice on which benefits you need to claim.
You can get in contact with their Warm and Safe Homes Advice Service by calling 0800 304 7159 for free Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm, filling out their referral form (nea.org.uk/advice/wash-advice) or messaging them through Facebook chat via their dedicated Facebook page.
Covid-19 update – the government have agreed measures with all energy suppliers to support customers who are self-isolating. Customers with pre-payment meters who may not be able to add credit can speak to their supplier about options to keep them supplied. This could include nominating a third party for credit top ups, having a discretionary fund added to their credit, or being sent a pre-loaded top up card so that their supply is not interrupted. More broadly, any energy customer in financial distress will also be supported by their supplier, which could include debt repayments and bill payments being reassessed, reduced or paused where necessary, while disconnection of credit meters will be completely suspended.
The ACRE Network needs your help for a crucial census. Carried out once every ten years the survey will provide up to date information about halls and the social and economic impact they deliver for their communities.
This information is vital to secure funding for halls, funding for Network services, and to ensure our services and the information we hold adapts to the ever-changing challenges facing halls and communities.
We want responses from all community buildings; rural village halls, community centres, sports pavilions, church halls, churches providing community use, Miners Welfare Institutes or WI halls that provide meeting facilities for the community.
There are lots of foods that you can put straight in the freezer instead of the fridge. This includes meat and poultry, ready prepared meals, fresh pasta, bread – and did you know you can even freeze butter and cheese? Here’s some examples:
Milk: All milk can be stored in the freezer and defrosted before use. Just make sure it’s still sealed. It should be defrosted fully in the fridge before using.
Cheese: Some hard cheeses freeze very well, firmer types like cheddar, gouda and Swiss cope well with the freezing process and maintaining their structure. You can freeze in blocks or grate it and freeze in handy portion sizes.
Bread: Baked goods like bread, rolls, pittas, bagels and crumpets can all be easily frozen. Loaves of bread can be bought ready-sliced or whole to be sliced yourself before freezing. Most toasters have a defrost function so you can toast baked goods from frozen.
Pasta: Fresh pasta is a great option to keep in the freezer. Some pastas won’t have to be defrosted before use either, they’ll defrost once put in boiling water.
Fruit and vegetables: Our frozen fruit and vegetables in the freezer aisle are not the only option; some fresh fruits like bananas and berries when frozen make great ingredients for smoothies and for baking.
Batch cooking: Consider cooking a larger portion at mealtimes to freeze for a later date. Make sure you freeze the leftovers as soon as possible, once they’ve fully cooled and mark clearly the date it was cooked and frozen on the container for later reference. And only defrost or re-heat the meal once.
Around three quarters of our ready prepared meals and over half our desserts are suitable for freezing and have the logo on pack. Simply freeze on the day of purchase and follow the guidance on packaging for the length of time it can stay frozen. Look out for the ‘suitable for freezing’ logo on product which also includes guidance for how long you can freeze each item for.
Defrosting food safely: Thinking about the best way to prep your food for freezing is important. But it’s even more important to defrost your food properly.
The Food Standards Agency website has everything you need to know about freezing and defrosting food safely, including: • Make sure any warm dishes are cooled before putting them in your freezer.
• Place food in an air-tight container or wrap it well in freezer bags or freezer wrap.
• If the food has been defrosted it must be cooked before being eaten to be safe.
• Once defrosted, food should be consumed immediately.
Connecting Communities in Berkshire 