Council’s response to the Covid-19 crisis
Leader and chief executive have released a joint statement
WE know many of us will be understandably worried about the coronavirus pandemic that is affecting our lives and communities, but rest assured Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council staff are working round the clock to keep residents as safe as possible, and to ensure that essential council services continue during this challenging time. Your support and co-operation is much appreciated.
Below you will find some of the actions the council is taking, as well as ways we can all help keep ourselves and family’s safe.
Supporting vulnerable residents
As part of a borough wide effort to support the most vulnerable we have launched a Resident Support Scheme to support borough residents most in need of extra help during the coronavirus outbreak, including those self-isolating.
We have also been touch with over one thousand residents and tenants and provided assistance where needed.
The service prioritises those people who have no one else to help and who are the most vulnerable, for example those over the age of 70, those with an underlying health condition, individuals who are on their own and feeling isolated and families that are struggling to cope.
Working with the Voluntary and Community sector, assistance can be given to:
■ Linking people into local support networks where these are in place
■ Help with emergency food access and ongoing shopping assistance
■ Advise on collection of prescriptions and other essentials
■ Social contact who are lonely
■ Advise on financial help for those who are worried about their personal finances
■ Advise on how to look after your health and wellbeing whilst self-isolating.
If you are self-isolating or know somebody who is and has no or limited support networks such as friends, family or neighbours please call 01455 238141 or visit: www.hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk/ coronasupport
What support is there for older
people?
Age UK Leicester Shire
& Rutland has launched a dedicated Coronavirus Helpline 0116 299
2239, open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm to support the most at risk in our communities, to help deliver practical and emotional support to local older people.
The Silver Line also offers a free, 24 hour confidential helpline for older people for those 0800 4 70 80 90.
Volunteering
Anyone interested in volunteering can register with our partner Next Generation, who is already working with registered charities and organisations in the area. Visit www.nextgenhinckley.org or call 01455 632984.
Businesses Support
From 1 April a figure of around £22 million to support eligible businesses has begun being distributed by the Council’s finance team. Further help and assistance is available on our website with links to external agencies.
Waste Service
The council is diverting its staff to ensure the refuse (black bin) and recycling (blue lidded bin) collections services continue as normal and are unaffected by this change.
Unfortunately we have had to suspend the garden waste collection service for a short period. We are currently looking at all options to resume the service as soon as we possibly can.
We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause and will restore the service as soon as possible. We encourage residents to keep an eye on media, social media channels and the Council’s website for updates on a weekly basis: www.hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk/coronavirus
The council is unable to arrange refunds to garden waste subscribers but it will extend customers’ garden waste subscriptions automatically to cover the time the service is not running to ensure customers are not left out of pocket. Customers are advised there is no need to contact the council to arrange this; it will be done for you
Parks and open spaces While we’re doing our utmost to keep the parks and gardens open for daily exercise, please encourage your friends and family to continue to follow the national guidance on social distancing and we would be most grateful if you would take all rubbish home with you. Please stick to your one form of exercise per day.
Support & Goodwill Thanks to your goodwill, all this has been achieved through nearly three weeks of significant disruption while over three-quarters of our staff have been set-up to work from home. We are using new technology to overcome the lack of face to face meetings, but continue to ensure services continue and decisions are made in a timely manner.
Can we take this opportunity to thank those key workers in the NHS, emergency services and other industries critical to ensuring people are kept safe and well.
We are aware of many residents who have co-ordinated their own response to help those in need. Some are being supported by the borough and parish councils and other organisations. It is truly heartwarming display of human kindness and we are most grateful for each community’s support to their neighbours.
Thanks to all our officers and partners who, while not exempt from this pandemic, are continuing to turn up to work day in, day out to make sure you continue to receive council services.
These are extremely difficult times for everyone but we can take heart from the amazing kindness that people are showing, from the heartfelt #clapourcarers each Thursday evening, to the pictures drawn and placed on our waste bins by our youngest residents thanking the waste teams for the job there are doing to all the many bright and beautiful rainbows being displayed in windows across the borough.
We all have a part to play in limiting the spread of this infection and we urge you to follow NHS advice and stay at home, stay safe and stay well.
The coming days and weeks are critical. The way in which we are working together, supporting our businesses, communities and families will ensure that we will get through these troubled times and reach the light at the end of the tunnel.
Health advice for us all
We are in this together and we can all help limit the spread of Covid-19 by following the NHS and Public Health England guidelines on social distancing.
To find out more about social distancing visit: Government guidance on social distancing. To get the best advice about symptoms of Covid-19, how to prevent the spread, and who should stay at home, visit: nhs. uk/coronavirus . For the most up-to-date information about Covid-19 in the borough, please visit our dedicated webpages: www.hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk/coronavirus