Covid-19 Support Page: Find out how to get and give help

Find out here:
• how to get help, support and advice in the Covid-19 crisis
• how to volunteer and help vulnerable people, foodbanks and the NHS
• Find specialist support for domestic abuse, mental health and more
• Find support if you are a local business.

SE5 Forum, as a voluntary group, is keen to help all members of our community at this extremely difficult time, especially those vulnerable and self-isolating. Also to support those wanting to help others, too. So we will do our best by circulating and sharing essential and useful information online through our website here, on social media and through our regular e-newsletters.

Below is a list we’ve started to put together of useful links for the community. We will add to this and keep it as up-to-date as possible on our website. Please send us any news and information that you’d like us to share with members.
You can contact us on email: admin@se5forum.org.uk or via Twitter @SE5Forum or SE5 Forum’s Facebook page.

GENERAL ADVICE & SUPPORT

Government advice:www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response

NHS Advice on Covid-19:
Click here for advice from the NHS.

Government advice for employers and businesses: www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19

Lambeth Council Covid-19 advice:
https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/elections-and-council/about-lambeth/coronavirus-covid-19-information

Lambeth Council support for vulnerable people:
Helpline number: 020 7926 2999. 
The helpline is open from 8am – 8pm everyday.
For more info on support from Lambeth Council for vulnerable people, click here, – including welfare, benefits and council tax support, employment support and advice, and a list of support organisations in Lambeth.

Lambeth Living Well Network Alliance has helpful advice here.

Southwark Council – Covid-19 Support and Advice:
From financial support, food banks and access to emergency food, vulnerable people, how to help, business support and more, go to Southwark’s Covid-19 pages on its website:
https://www.southwark.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/public-health/for-the-public/coronavirus
Southwark Council has also set up a Community Hub to support people who are vulnerable and/or need to be shielded from the Coronavirus. To get support, email: covidsupport@southwark.gov.uk or tel: 020 7525 5000 and choose Option 3.

Citizens Advice Southwark – no face-to-face appointments but if you have financial difficulties and/or can’t pay bills or rent/mortgage. Tel: 0344 499 4134  or go to website to get email or online advice: www.citizensadvicesouthwark.org.uk/
There is also a dedicated telephone number for carers: 0300 330 1170

Southwark Wellbeing Hub: find out about food banks and other essential advice and support at: www.together-uk.org/southwark-wellbeing-hub/the-directory. Email: southwarkhub@together-uk.org

Older people:
Age UK: Tel: 0800 169 6565. www.ageuk.org.uk
Age UK London: @ageuklondon 0800 678 1602
Age UK Lewisham & Southwark: www.ageuk.org.uk/lewishamandsouthwark/

Community Southwark has launched a map as a guide to all services in Southwark during Covid – for communities, volunteers and frontline workers. The map has information on food resources, community groups and organisations, TRAs, mutual aid groups, faith networks and charities providing extra support to the most vulnerable people during Covid-19. Learn more about Community Southwark map here. This includes: Signposting & Advice, Virtual Meets and Online Activities, Legal Advice & Universal Credit, Domestic Abuse, Befriending, Telephone Calls, Shopping, Delivery & Collection, Medicines & Prescriptions Collection, Mental Health, Wellbeing and Bereavement, Help Getting Online, Homelessness, Translation & ESOL. Other services – Mutual Aid Groups, Tenant and Residents Groups (Coming Soon), Online & web resources (Coming Soon).

DOMESTIC ABUSE:

Emergency 999 Met Police: If you’re in danger, you can also dial 999 and do a ‘silent 999 call‘, where you press 55 after dialling 999. The Met Police is urging those suffering domestic violence to speak out – you will not be penalised for leaving your home to seek help.
National Domestic Abuse Helpline: Tel: 0808 2000 247. For guidance and support 24h/day, run by domestic abuse charity Refuge for women & children: www.refuge.org.uk. There’s a quick link to escape/hide the website from view.
Solace (London): www.solacewomensaid.org/get-help. Tel: 0808 802 5565.
Women’s Aid website has an online chat function: www.womensaid.org.uk
Southwark Council helpline: 020 7593 1290
The Respect Phoneline provides confidential advice and support to help perpetrators stop being violent and abusive, and is free to call 0808 8024040
Men’s Advice Line: 0808 801 0327 a confidential helpline for male victims of domestic violence and those supporting themwww.mensadviceline.org.uk
Karma Nirvana: 0800 5999 247 Mon to Fri 9am–5pm supporting victims of honour based abuse and forced marriagewww.karmanirvana.org.uk
Hour Glass: 0808 808 8141 challenging the abuse of older people in all its forms www.wearehourglass.org
Galop LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0800 999 5428 www.galop.org.uk

CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE’S SAFETY

Contact Southwark Council: cse@southwark.gov.uk or phone Kevin Dykes at 07944754977. If you know a child and who needs help or protection, then trained social workers are available at Southwark MASH on 0207 525 1921 or by email on MASH@southwark.gov.uk

Help, advice and support available for children and young peopleSouthwark young advisors are currently mentoring young people by phone with their parents’ consent. Email youngadvisors@southwark.gov.uk. Please include the young person’s name, their parents contact details and address, and a little detail.  The aim is to tell young people about positive online training, online learning opportunities, and specialist support services.

If you know a child or young person who wants to have a live internet chat with someone from the Princes Trust, about their future, education, safety or general well being and health, they can go to:  https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/about-the-trust/coronavirus-response/resource-centre  on a phone or computer and use the Live Chat function to reach a trained person who will understand them and help them.

The Children’s Society are also here to help, with the emphasis on empowering children and young people and disrupting situations that risks children becoming victims of exploitation: LondonDE@childrenssociety.org.uk.

Child safety:
Childline: 0800 1111

MENTAL HEALTH:

The Samaritans have good advice and resources on mental health on their website or call The Samaritans on Tel: 116 123www.samaritans.org/
Mind: www.mind.org.uk.Tel: 0300 123 3393
Solidarity in Crisis offers an out-of-hours advice line; click here.
*See our mental health tips at bottom of page below

DENTAL HEALTH:
Check your local dentist for phone advice.

Camberwell Dental Care is offering phone advice on dental issues for free as a service to the community. The service is available for phone triage, advice, issue of prescriptions, and possible onward referral to Urgent Dental Care centres in severe emergencies.
Camberwell Dental Care, 6 Camberwell Church St, SE5 8QU. Tel: 020 7703 0301 www.camberwelldentalcare.co.uk

VOLUNTEERING & GIVING HELP:

Southwark Mutual Aid Covid-19 groups organises volunteers on a local basis. Find your local group here if you need help or want to help: https://covidmutualaid.org. Or on the Southwark Mutual Aid Google sheets document which is constantly being updated. This has lists of local WhatsApp groups on individual streets and areas and how to set one up, as well as information on local community groups, foodbanks, volunteering, businesses doing local deliveries, mental health resources and more.
Southwark Mutual Aid Covid-19 Facebook page – look on this Facebook page to post or find help and support in SE5.
Southwark Mutual Aid Covid 19 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/833177740485170/

Southwark CAN/Community Southwark has set up new website pages with information on Southwark Mutual Aid groups and how to join them, volunteering opportunities, information on Foodbanks and support for local charity and volunteering efforts to help the community during the crisis: https://southwarkcan.org/covid. For specific volunteering opportunities: https://southwarkcan.org/covid/volunteers/

A useful website for sharing help locally is www.nextdoor.co.uk.

The Lambeth Mutual Aid Covid-19 also does the same. Refer to their links: Lambeth Covid mutual aid and their Lambeth Whatsapp coordination spreadsheet, this has links to Whatsapp groups which have been set-up for streets or wards across Lambeth, but now have some more local neighbourhoods. The Lambeth Mutual Aid Covid-19 Facebook page can be found here: www.facebook.com/groups/214918153220011/

Lambeth Council has started its own volunteer scheme:
Twitter: @lambeth_council. Lambeth Council is appealing for volunteers to help support vulnerable people during the Coranvirus outbreak Enlist here: https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/forms/volunteer-to-help-your-community

Volunteering Opportunities and guidance can also be found on The Mayor of London‘s website: Go to the Covid-19 information and advice here, which includes finding volunteering opportunities.

St Giles Trust in Camberwell is appealing to all of their supporters to donate what they can to their Covid 19 crisis fund. https://www.stgilestrust.org.uk. They will be supporting local vulnerable
people. Brewbird café is closed but supporting St Giles Trust by operating as a social supermarket.

Southwark Pensioners Centre needs your help. Over 70 of their older people have asked for help with either a weekly social telephone call, food delivery or prescriptions delivery. Go to: www.southwarkpensioners.org.uk/coronavirus-response-volunteering
Twitter: Southwark Pensioners @SwarkPensioners

Pedal Me: Cycle couriers including @pedalmeapp are delivering essential food supplies to people in self-isolation, in partnership with councils and businesses. Cycle freight is crucial to #zerocarbonroads but more than that, it’s saving lives and caring for people in need of help. https://pedalme.co.uk

FOODBANKS & FOOD ACCESS:

The Trussell Trust and Independent Food Aid Network – charities which represent food banks across London and the UK – have recently reported some food banks have been forced to close or are considering closing due to a shortage of food and personnel. Please consider supporting your local food bank with a donation of food, money or time. You can find your local food bank and more information on how you can support them at: www.trusselltrust.org or www.foodaidnetwork.org.uk.

Southwark Council have set up a food access page for those who are unable to afford food or who are self-isolating and can’t access food. Some of the food access points listed for those in need are:

Central Southwark Community Hub Foodbanks, including St Giles Parish Hall, 161 Benhill Road, SE5 7LL – available to those referred or with school vouchers or universal credit. Tel: 020 7703 1653 or 07762 501656. email: foodbank.csch@gmail.com website: https://www.cschub.co.uk/

PECAN Southwark Foodbank. Pecan is a Peckham Charity that does a range of work in the community including hosting the Southwark Foodbank. You can donate to their general COVID appeal here: https://pecan.charitycheckout.co.uk/cf/pecan-covid-19-appeal
If you want to volunteer your time please ring 020 7732 0007 or email sarah.ibikunle@pecan.org.uk. You can make a financial donation here: https://pecan.charitycheckout.co.uk/cf/southwark-foodbank-covid-19-appeal
If you want to volunteer to help at the foodbank contact – foodbank.support@pecan.org.uk
The current Southwark Foodbank Shopping list is here https://www.pecan.org.uk/southwark-foodbank. Donations can be dropped off at Pecan, 121A Peckham High Street SE15 5SE, Monday, Tuesday & Thursday from 10am-12pm.

The Pantry in Chandler Way, SE15 – a community-run shop – for a small monthly fee, shoppers can buy groceries at an affordable price.

Albrighton Community Fridge operated by Albrighton Community Centre, off Dog Kennel Hill, is asking for food donations. Open 10am through to 4pm Monday to Friday. The Community Fridge has been providing long and short life food for a number of years now and are now responding to the current COVID crisis with an expansion of their current provision to include delivery to those self isolating and shielding. They are also working with Southwark Council’s COVID Community Hub delivering to households in urgent need of food provision, not just in the immediate area but also further afield. You can also donate to them via: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/albrightoncommunitycentre 

Also look on Southwark Wellbeing Hub for more details on food banks: https://together-uk.org/southwark-wellbeing-hub/the-directory/

Community bridges is operating a basics food delivery service for those in self-isolation  in SE5 and SE15 – order online and they deliver to your door: https://www.communitybridges.co.uk. Tel: 0800 046 5393.

For local food and drink businesses that are running collection and deliveries, please go to our local businesses page.

SUPPORT FOR VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS:

Lambeth Council has set up a dedicated page with information for voluntary community sector  organisations including details of where to seek additional funding and support.

Southwark CAN/Community Southwark is supporting local voluntary and charity organisations with Covid-19 advice and support for local community groups and volunteering. Find out more here: https://southwarkcan.org/covid/ and
www.communitysouthwark.org/

Voluntary sector organisations may be able to get help from:
City Bridge Trust has given £1 million to an emergency fund
Help Musicians Coronavirus Financial Hardship Fund
John Lewis PartnershipCommunity Support Fund
Arts Council EnglandCovid-19 support
London Community FoundationCoronavirus Appeal
National Emergencies TrustCoronavirus Appeal

HELPING THE NHS:

Lumberjack cafe in Camberwell is dropping off meals for NHS staff at King’s College Hospital and has been asked to supply other NHS organisations. Please donate buy buying their bundles at: http://shop.wearelumberjack.co.uk

Wellbeing deliveries for King’s Hospital workers: Local resident Jill Orr is successfully fundraising a regular supply of food, drinks and healthy refreshments to King’s NHS heroes by stocking up their Wellbeing Centres for NHS workers at King’s College Hospital on Denmark Hill and Princess Royal Kings for Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Find out more at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/buy-them-a-coffee-kch

Meals for the NHS: buy a meal for NHS workers with this fundraiser online. After 18-hour shifts trying to save our lives from COVID-19, NHS Hospital Staff are faced with canteens that shut at 5pm. Help get food to wards with your donation. https://www.mealsforthenhs.com

National NHS Volunteer Scheme: The government has launched a national scheme for volunteers to help the NHS, which has seen a massive response. Find out more here: https://www.goodsamapp.org/NHS. You can sign up to be a Community Response volunteer, NHS Transport volunteer, or Check-in and Chat volunteer.

BUSINESS SUPPORT:

Lambeth Council support for businesses:
Lambeth have set up a dedicated information page for businesses in Lambeth which they will be using to share updates. The Government has announced that all non-essential retail premises must close to limit the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19). It is important that all Lambeth businesses urgently read the new guidance.

Southwark Council has a business support page and has now paid over £15 million to local businesses in business grants – another £45 million due out soon. Go to their support page.
Southwark Council has also set up a Business Hardship Fund for smaller businesses: www.southwark.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/public-health/for-the-public/coronavirus/business-hardhip-fund

MENTAL HEALTH WELLBEING TIPS:

Everyone is affected by the lockdown in different ways. We are bombarded by advice and resources on-line but some most vulnerable people don’t have access to these. Many local groups are working hard to identify and help where they can.The impact on mental health is huge whatever your situation. Anxiety, loneliness, boredom and uncertainty can be helped by focussing on any positive things in your life rather than the negatives.

List tasks that you now have time to do rather than dwelling on missed activities.
Make an effort to communicate with friends and family by phone or internet meetings on apps such as Zoom /video calls.
Talk about your worries to others via contacts or helplines. Ask for help where needed.
Take each day at a time and plan tasks for the day. Have some structure to the day.
Look after your body with healthy diet and some exercise. Take up yoga or Tai Chi.
Start a new hobby or interest.
Have concern for others.
Seek out pleasurable things e.g. beautiful flowers, art , special food.
Limit time spent reading/hearing about the news.
Some things are certain that the sun will rise and set each day and there will be an end to this lockdown.

Southwark Council AND Lambeth Council General Updates:
Lambeth Council information:
The council’s number one priority is to support the over 4,000 most vulnerable residents in our borough. We are working very closely with our foodbanks, Lambeth Larder, Age UK and other organisations to ensure vulnerable residents have access to the supplies they need to stay safely at home. In only a week we have put in place a network which will shortly be called into action to deliver at a local level. We are launching a helpline for vulnerable people to contact the council as part of our Community Hub which is the command centre for their protection and where food and medicine delivery, connection and distance support as well as intelligence and information will be coordinated.
Now, we need to harness the energy of our community to help our neighbours at this time of great need – please volunteer online at lambeth.gov.uk/volunteer to take part in this enormous community effort.
Businesses
Rent relief for voluntary and community sector and businesses that rent council properties and are most impacted by the crisis including hairdressers, cafes, restaurants, beauty salons and non-food retailers. This benefits over 220 local small businesses and community organisations.
Grants to businesses – Government have announced grants of either £10,000 or £25,000 for businesses who receive Small Business Rate Relief or are in the retail, hospitality or leisure sectors. From today we are paying these grants directly to businesses who are eligible, and we are doing this before receiving the funding from Government. There is no need to apply for this and those who are eligible will be contacted directly.
Business Rates relief – the business rate relief support announced by Government is being applied to accounts automatically. This includes 100% business rate relief for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses for 2020/21.
Freezing commercial waste charges for any pub, club or restaurant that requests it.
A Business Task Force with Lambeth’s seven Business Improvement Districts, coordinating our response and working up additional proposals to support local businesses and support the eventual economic recovery effort.
Residents
Expanding our Emergency Support Scheme for those at immediate risk of financial hardship, with an extra £500,000 for emergency financial support for Lambeth residents.
Pausing all enforcement activity against people for council tax and rent arrears during the pandemic. It is vital you keep paying your council tax and rent if you can so you do not fall into debt but we do not wish to cause anxiety for people at this stressful time. We have already committed to not pursuing any evictions during this period as well. Expanding our support for vulnerable people who struggle to pay their council taxby increasing the scope and funding for our Council Tax Support Scheme.
Offering council tax payment flexibility, for example switching direct debit payments so they run from June to March. Please contact the council tax team if you wish to discuss this further.
We have invested additional money in our Crowdfunding platform to enable grants for local community organisations that are responding to the pandemic.
Free parking for NHS staff, social care staff and other key workers in the borough.

Southwark Council information:
A new community hub will support vulnerable residents, and especially those who the NHS has identified as needing to take extra care (known as the shielding programme). Our priority will be to work with voluntary and community groups to help those who are unable to rely on friends and family. We will make sure they receive the food, essential supplies, medicines and social contact they need. You can find out more here.
Residents
We are taking action locally to provide financial protection to those in our communities who are most in need. We have supplemented our Southwark emergency support scheme (SESS) budget of £650,000 per year with an additional emergency fund of £1.5 million. We have suspended all debt recovery actions related to council tax and business rates and are looking at how we can help residents who are struggling financially. We also have information and support if you’re struggling with rent payments.
Businesses
Information about business grants, business rates relief, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan scheme and much more is available on our business support webpage which is being regularly updated. We know this is a very difficult time for the Southwark business community. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us.
Parks
We are currently keeping our parks open so that residents have somewhere to exercise and get some fresh air alone or with members of their household, but it is essential that we all limit our time outside and stay at least 2 metres away from other people. Any enclosed areas within parks where it is more difficult to keep away from other people (such as playgrounds, cafés, tennis courts) have been closed.
Libraries
Our libraries are now closed. However, we are auto-renewing all loans and cancelling overdue fines until we can reopen, so there’s no need to worry about any books or DVDs that you’ve already borrowed. In the meantime, you can explore our huge, free, online library offering. We have free audiobooks and online books, free magazines and newspapers, free movie streaming and more.
Waste and recycling
Although our Reuse and Recycling Centre is currently closed to the public, we are prioritising the collection of household waste, and will reach you as quickly as possible. We ask that you please bear with us if your waste is collected on a later day than normal, as we are experiencing some delays.
Parking
All health and key workers in Southwark are being allocated free, virtual parking permits. These are associated with their registered vehicles and apply to all of our permitted parking spaces. The permits are allocated through the businesses and organisations that employ health and key workers. We have reached out to as many as we can identify, including NHS workers, schools and police, but would invite other such employers to come forward by emailing. Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) will continue to operate, with parking concessions for health and key workers. Parking restrictions and CPZs play an important role in keeping traffic moving and ensuring that deliveries (especially essential medical supplies) reach their destinations on time.

We hope to post more information soon. In the meantime, keep us informed and check for updates on our social media channels and our website – see links below. Keep safe everyone!

Best wishes,
SE5 Forum for Camberwell 
admin@se5forum.org.uk
www.se5forum.org.uk
Don’t forget you can follow us on Twitter @SE5Forum or Facebook to find out what is happening in Camberwell!