Community Support

We are endeavouring to support community initiatives that have been put in place to support the elderly or vulnerable.  In the first instance we are concentrating on those residents who perhaps have no access to social media.  We have already made regular contact with people who may be socially isolated to offer assistance. If you require assistance in any way or know of someone that does, please call us on on 07902 078123 and we can pop a post card through their door with our details on or put you in contact with community groups who may be able to help. 

If you are fit and healthy and are able to help your neighbours or other members of the community please get in touch and we can put you in touch with an appropriate volunteer scheme. Alternatively you can register now as a volunteer with Southend Borough Council at https://www.facebookcom/southendcoronavirusaction

5 things you can do to make a positive difference in your community

Think of others, consider your actions & be kind

People in every community will face the challenges of Covid-19 in some way –from needing basic provisions to help while they are unwell.

Connect and reach out to your neighbours

As self-isolation increases, we need to find new ways to stay connected and check on one another for our physical and mental wellbeing. Share phone numbers and stay in touch.

Make the most of local online groups

Keep up to date, share accurate information and be a positive part of your local community conversations.

Support vulnerable or isolated people

Different groups in our communities are at increased risk and social isolation and loneliness are key concerns for all ages. There are things you can do like volunteering for local support services or donating to foodbanks to help.

A self-isolation support group has been set up on Facebook for those around Southend-on-Sea needing help during this time.

Share accurate information and advice

Support anyone who may be anxious about COVID-19. Signpost them to the correct advice from Public Health England and the NHS and encourage people to follow the correct hygiene practices.

Be a Good Neighbour

The council is asking residents to be considerate to their neighbours whilst the country continues to follow Government instructions to stay at home.

With people now only leaving their house to shop, exercise, for medical need or to travel to work where they cannot work from home, it is more important than ever to consider our neighbours, particularly in the mornings and evenings. The council’s regulatory services team is asking residents to consider the following advice:

• Think about the volume of your music and how loud your TV is, especially when gaming
• Please control the barking of dogs where possible
• Do not have bonfires
• Ensure that your refuse is stored securely and put out for collection on the correct day. Please look at the recycling and waste pages on the council’s website for up to date information and to view the FAQ section.
• If you are planning on undertaking DIY at home, please only do so between 9am and 6pm. If you are planning major building or alteration work to your home please see whether it can be postponed. If not, please speak with your neighbours and come to some arrangement whilst using the social distancing rules
• Mow the lawn or use power tools in the garden between 9am and 6pm.
• Only use external lights where absolutely necessary
• Use vacuum cleaners, washing machines or other domestic appliances between 8am and 9pm
• If you play a musical instrument, try and arrange suitable times with your neighbour if you think it will affect them - but remember the social distancing rules.

Cllr Martin Terry, cabinet member for community safety and customer contact, said: “These are difficult and unknown times for all of us. Most people are at home far more than usual and we all need to be tolerant and patient until restrictions are lifted. We also need to be mindful of our neighbours, who could be more anxious about the situation than you are.

“It is inevitable too that more of us are spending our time carrying out domestic and DIY work from cutting the grass to redecorating for example, or spending more time watching and streaming TV box sets, movies and gaming.

“I urge local people to think about the times they are carrying out domestic work, or the noise they have their TV set to. Starting that outside DIY job half an hour later or turning your TV down a little are all small actions that could have a major positive impact on your neighbours and local community at this time.”

West Leigh Baptist Church and Southend Food Bank 

West Leigh Baptist Church works with Southend Foodbank in Southchurch.  On speaking to one of our Councillors, they have asked for the following:-

1. Should delivery become necessary, and most food parcels are currently collected, they would appreciate a list of people who might be able to provide transport.  We would be pleased to pass contact details on if anyone wants to join the list.
2. The foodbank is having issues getting access to wholesalers, like Booker for example, and would like to hear from anyone who has a card.  They are buying supplies from retailers, but many restrict the quantity even for food banks.  Again we are happy to pass on contact details on if anyone wants to join the list.

If you can help in anyway please get in contact by emailing council@leighonseatowncouncil.gov.uk

Community Groups

IF YOU WOULD LIKE DETAILS OF YOUR COMMUNITY GROUP OR BUSINESS TO BE SHARED TO HELP OTHERS THEN PLEASE CONTACT:

council@leighonseatowncouncil.gov.uk and we will post details on here

Co-op National Scheme 

The Co-op have created a new National ‘co-operate’ platform - see www.co-operate.coop.co.uk - which is aimed at helping people in need as well as volunteers. 

Darrel Binding from our local Leigh-on-Sea Co-op has been tasked with seeking information from local contacts, to provide information for a national database on ‘cooperate’ that all co-op customers can access for their local area (in this case, Leigh on Sea) to seek help or offer it, etc.

We are only including local organisations/groups that meet at least one of the below requirements:

• Offer food delivery
• Offer medication/ prescription delivery
• Arrange phone conversations

If you are happy to provide this information for ‘cooperate’, please advise me the following:

1. A website address that can be published

2. A contact name with phone/mobile number that isn’t a personal one

3. A charity number (if you have one)

4. Details of what help you are providing locally - see above*

Thank you in advance for information that you can provide, along with our grateful thanks for all the help you are providing to our local community!

Businesses

Traders in Leigh-on-Sea who are offering special deals or delivery during this time are listed below... 

Trustlinks

On behalf of the Southend Mayor, Cllr John Lamb, we have been asked to pass on the following information from Trust Links that may be of interest to you or to someone you know. Please find below details of Trust links updated services and also our weekly Friday Friends quiz which launched on Friday (27/3/20) at 12.00 noon.

 For those isolated at home, this is a good opportunity to join with others each week for some fun – it will give us all something to look forward to. Please sign up and encourage others, so we can get as many people as possible involved. Here are the details: https://www.virtualquizevents.co.uk/quiz/friday-friends-2/

 £3 to take part and it lasts for 15 minutes. You need to log on to the site and make the payment via credit/debit card and then you will receive a confirmation email with a unique Quiz Entry Code (check spam/junk folder). When you log into your player account, the quizzes you have entered will be listed in ‘Pending quizzes’ tab. From there just press ‘PLAY’ and enter your unique Quiz Entry Code to pay the quiz at its time.

There are 6 rounds of 5 multiple choice questions in the following categories:

Round 1 – General Knowledge
Round 2 – Film & TV
Round 3 – General Knowledge
Round 4 – Sport
Round 5 – General Knowledge
Round 6 – Music 

Playing is simple, interactive and fun. The more players that play then the more money is donated to Trust Links, helping to support local people with mental health issues.

All players will log in to play the quiz event at the scheduled time, with 20 seconds to answer each question, after each question players will see if they have it correct or incorrect, and their position in the quiz is announced after each round. At the end of the final round, all players see the final quiz results and positions, the amount of money that has been raised for the Fundraiser, and how much the 1st, 2nd & 3rd placed quiz players have won as their cash prize.

The fundraising and prize-winning: 60% of all of the quiz entries paid is donated to the fundraiser, 10% to the 1st place quiz winner, 6% to 2nd place, and 4% to 3rd place, with the remaining 20% to Trust Links

Trust Links Services and Support

The response to the pandemic is a very stressful and challenging time for us and will have an impact on everyone’s mental health and wellbeing. Trust Links is adapting its services to respond to the growing mental health challenges of all people in South East Essex and to promote wellbeing in a positive way. Trust Links has moved all services to the telephone and online.

Here is an update:

• Trust Links Live is a brand-new platform for everyone to engage with daily livestreaming to promote wellbeing and mental health, connect people to one another, learn new skills and help people still enjoy the gardens and outdoor spaces virtually. This is livestreamed at 10 am (Wellbeing Tips), 11 am (Skills) and 3 pm (In the Garden) on www.Facebook.com/TrustLinksOnline
• REACH Wellbeing Hub is accepting calls for anybody with any mental health issue in Southend, Castle Point and Rochford. A member of the team will call back for an initial assessment and to provide support and onward signposting through what will be a difficult time for everyone’s mental health.
• REACH Recovery College is moving online with courses and workshops rapidly being re-engineered to be delivered by Zoom and through videos. Provision will continue to evolve as we get used to this new way of working and to respond to the need as it develops. New referrals to the Recovery College are being accepted through the Wellbeing Hub assessment process.
• Counselling and support for carers continues over the telephone and Skype, carers peer support groups are set up through Zoom and listening support for unpaid carers in Southend over the telephone. Please refer all carers to Southend Carers on 01702 393933 or email info@southendcarers.co.uk and they will undertake an initial assessment and pass appropriate carers to Trust Links. This will be a particularly stressful and difficult time for unpaid carers, who are likely to feel more isolated, so please do make use of this free provision.
• Growing Together is completely closed for the time being, but existing members continue to get regular wellbeing calls and are encouraged to engage with Trust Links Live. Don’t worry, the chickens and guinea pigs continue to be well cared for!
• We are looking to provide support for young people with mental health issues through Instagram as a continuation of our Youth Links project and tips for people discovering their garden for the first time and school groups that are setting up gardening clubs for the children of keyworkers – so watch this space!

For all enquiries, please call 01702 213134 or preferably please email admin-support@trustlinks.org : Please bear with us if it takes a while to get back to you as we are all getting used to working from home and adapting to new technology. Please visit our website www.trustlinks.org for resources and follow our social media channels Twitter: @trustlinksltd www.facebook.com/trustlinksltd and Instagram: @trust_links_charity

Bankuet - Online Donations for Food Banks

Bankuet was founded in 2019 with the vision of getting food banks precisely what they need, when they need it – and to make it easier for the generous and supportive public to donate.

Founder and CEO Robin Ferris was moved to start Bankuet in 2019 after reading that UK poverty and food bank usage was at record levels. He wanted to do something to help and created Bankuet as a practical, technology-based response to help increase food bank donations.

Bankuet believes that food banks should not have to exist, but as long as they are here providing emergency food to people in crisis, we should all help to make sure that no-one goes hungry.

They have seen over a 5,000 percent increase in online food donations since the Coronavirus outbreak began in the UK. With the need for food banks set to surge, and increasing restrictions on in-person food donations, this new way to donate without leaving the house is bridging the gap to make it possible for people to help those hit hard by the Coronavirus crisis.

The service, which allows people to go online and buy the items that local food banks most need, is seeing usage rocket as generous citizens want to help people in their local community. Bankuet is becoming a lifeline for some food banks, as restrictions on movement and changes in how food banks operate mean that people are less able to donate food in person.

Dan Frith, Wandsworth Foodbank Manager says: “We’re anticipating a significant increase in people needing our support over the coming weeks, as the financial impact of coronavirus hits. “Now more than ever, Bankuet is the most helpful way for people to donate food to us – we can quickly update the items our food bank needs, and it’s delivered to our door efficiently and safely. With Bankuet we are able to submit a bespoke ‘wish-list’ of exactly what is needed and what quantities will be most helpful, and donors can purchase this online.” Food banks across the UK are having to find new, safe ways to make sure that they can continue to provide vital services in light of COVID-19. Many have had to make big changes to their operations, including moving to deliveries instead of opening foodbank centres.

Bankuet founder Robin Ferris said: “The people who are keeping food banks running through this time of crisis are hidden heroes, and we want to make sure that we do everything we can to provide the supplies they need to keep going. “Beyond the headlines about hoarders, the increase in online food donations that we’re seeing is a powerful example of kindness in this time of national crisis. We’ve been blown away by the extraordinary generosity of people who are donating food to make sure that their neighbours don’t go hungry.”

Ferris continued: “In the midst of the chaos of the Coronavirus crisis, it’s the people on lowest incomes who will be hit the hardest. That’s why, at a time when making donations in person is much more difficult, we’re so glad to provide a bridge that makes it possible for food banks to receive food donations to continue their essential work.” To meet the increasing need of food banks, Bankuet are calling on friends, colleagues and businesses to club together and crowdsource digital food drives. To find out more about Bankuet, visit their website. Donations can be made directly to Food Banks in the Southend Area.