Hello, everyone,
We hope this email finds you healthy and well. We’re living in unprecedented times and it’s important that we follow the government’s instruction to stay at home during the Coronavirus pandemic.
As a local partner to the council, we are helping to raise awareness of information from the council about the services provided to assist vulnerable people in Blackburn with Darwen during the outbreak.
New Help Hub offers support to vulnerable residents
The Our Community, Our Future team is currently supporting the work of the new Help Hub, a support network for residents in need while isolating at home.
The BwD Help Hub can provide a range of support, from organising deliveries of food and essential supplies to vulnerable people in need, and providing information and advice, to regular telephone calls to help keep people’s spirits up during periods of isolation.
If you or anyone you know needs help during the current difficult circumstances:
– Fill in this online form
– Call 01254 588111 calls are taken 9am – 5pm Mon to Fri, and 9am – 12pm Sat & Sun
A team of Council staff are assessing the needs of people getting in touch, and cases are prioritised daily before being passed on to one of four Neighbourhood Hubs in: Blackburn North, Blackburn East, Blackburn West and Darwen.
The council team are working with partners including us to support the Help Hub in a variety of roles fromcoordinating the operation to making calls to those people who’ve asked for help, with everyone pulling together to help support our communities.
Since last Friday, food parcels are being delivered to residents in the greatest need. The parcels, which contain enough food and drink for one week, are being packed and dispatched from a new food warehouse and distribution centre set up by the Council to support vulnerable people through the current coronavirus pandemic.
Find out more about the BwD Help Hub.
Get involved with the Help Hub through Lancashire Volunteer Partnership
Volunteers registered with the Lancashire Volunteer Partnership have been invited to get involved in the Help Hub.
The kinds of help volunteers can offer includes helping vulnerable people to get access to food and essentials, and making wellbeing phone calls to people who are isolated and lonely.
If you’d like to offer your support too, click here to register with the LVP now.
Anyone over the age of 16 in Blackburn with Darwen can register with the Lancashire Volunteer Partnership and we need the support of volunteers more than ever right now.
Support for community groups to operate safely
We’re so lucky in Blackburn with Darwen to have lots of community groups that want to do their bit to support people through the current crisis.
It’s important to make sure that everyone is operating safely and not putting themselves or their volunteers at risk.
Community groups that are offering support to people affected by the Coronavirus pandemic are asked to register their group with Our Lancashire. It’s quick and easy to do online at www.ourlancashire.org.uk.
Registered groups will receive advice and guidance from the Council’s Public Health team, about working safely, minimising social contact, helping to reduce infection spread and safeguarding the most vulnerable people.
Useful sources of information
There is clear, helpful information on the NHS website about the symptoms of Coronavirus/Covid19 and the steps to take if you think you or someone you know has the virus.
Information about what the government is doing to tackle the spread of coronavirus is available on the Gov.uk website. This site also has updates on the number of cases and risk level in the UK.
There are also details of the local support that’s available to businesses as well as residents on the Council’s website www.blackburn.gov.uk.
