NEWS

Dear Volunteers,

Just a brief note on behalf of all the members of Felsted Parish Council to thank all who have volunteered for the Felsted Support Line.

The response from the community has been tremendous. We now have over 50 volunteers, including whole families who have offered support to those who are elderly or have had to self-isolate.  We are very pleased to say that demand for help has so far been easily manageable. Consequently, we may not yet have had to call on you personally:  we hope we never have to.  However, knowing that you are all out there, ready and willing reassures the Parish Council that we are ready and able to help meet any challenge and to support the most vulnerable in our community in the very difficult days ahead.

Thank you again.

Graham Harvey
Chairman, Felsted Parish Council

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Essex County Council has established the Essex Welfare Services as part of PROVIDE (a health and social care service). EWS has been set up to assist the most vulnerable in the community to allow them to access shopping, medicine and other support.

This week and going forwards, GP surgeries will be calling, sending out SMS text messages or posting letters to those who are 70 or older or are offered a flu jab due to pre-existing medical conditions. This is because these people are identified as being vulnerable and having to self-isolate for prolonged periods of time and therefore potentially require additional support.

You may potentially receive a call from the National Shielding Helpline on 0333 3050466 – this is NOT a scam. However, the phoneline is not live and you may receive a message saying they will try again soon.

When they call back, the caller may ask for some details such as your name and NHS number to confirm they are speaking to someone who is deemed as vulnerable, but they will never ask you for details such as you National Insurance Number or bank details.

There are concerns that this service has not been widely publicised and therefore people are leaving reviews on trust sites saying that this is a scam due to the caller asking whether the person is vulnerable or not. It is important that this misinformation is not spread as it could lead to vulnerable individuals missing out on essential support.

For more information, or to refer someone to EWS, please click here.

If you or someone you know is vulnerable and has been a victim of fraud, please call Essex Police on 101.

Report fraud or attempted fraud by contacting Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.

Stay safe,

Angi Greneski

Community Safety Officer

Uttlesford District Council

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Please note that, due to the Coronavirus situation, future meetings will, until further notice, be held virtually, either by telephone conference call or video conferencing.

Any members of the public who wish to ‘attend’ either Committee Meetings or full Council meetings should contact the Assistant Clerk at least 24 hours before the meeting start time to obtain an access code and joining instructions.

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As we approach the end of the second week of the lockdown, we just want to update you briefly on the success of the Felsted Support Group, established specifically to help with the corona virus crisis.

From our first call for volunteers we have been delighted but not surprised by the response. Over thirty local people have come forward and offered to help the elderly and those in self isolation with their shopping and collecting prescriptions.  Small but important acts of kindness.

We also don’t underestimate the importance of  those who are quietly doing their bit to help their friends and neighbours. We salute you all.

We have volunteers who have offered their entire family as helpers and others who are qualified counsellors willing to just have a chat with anyone who needs a friendly voice through these difficult times.  Several members of Felsted School teaching staff, including the Head, are volunteering and the school has provided access to its mini buses with a driver, also a Felsted resident.  So we can offer local transport and maintain social-distancing.

It’s early days and things will get tougher but we are confident that our community spirit is way stronger than the disease.

If you need help or you know of a neighbour who may need help, please call us on 07936 070732.

The Felsted Support Group helpline is operated by Felsted Parish Council for the people of Felsted.

Please see the following announcement from Linsell’s.

Please also note that Linsell’s is a valuable local resource and lifeline to many. The shop is operating a carefully thought out 2 queue system for the shop and Post Office. it will inevitable lead to  delays getting into the shop, but the precautions are there to protect you and the staff. Please follow the instructions given to you with grace and patience whilst Richard and his team do all they can to support our community.

Notice:

During the Coronavirus Outbreak we will be working with Felsted Parish Council to provide a FREE delivery service of food and essential items to any person in self isolation in the Parish of Felsted. Telephone Linsell’s on 01371 820255.

We can accept card payment over the phone.

Non-essential items, such as newspapers cannot be delivered on their own, but we will be working with the Council to identify volunteers local to you, who may be able to help with this. If you would like to volunteer to help people in isolation please contact the Parish Council Coronavirus Help Line on 07936 070732 or if you think you have a neighbour who is vulnerable, pop a note through their door.

We at Linsell’s are not immune to the virus and some of us are in the vulnerable category, so we will need to isolate ourselves. However, we are committed to keeping the Shop and Post Office open during this time, for as long as we can. To help us achieve this, please do not come into the shop if you are exhibiting cold or flu symptoms.

Take care of yourselves and those around you!

 Best wishes from all of us at Linsell’s.

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With immediate effect and, until further notice, the Dispensary at Felsted Surgery will operate the following hours:

Mon / Tues / Fri: 9am-12pm & 4pm-6pm

Wed / Thurs: 9am-12pm

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Please see the following message from Richard Silcock regarding the opening hours for the Post Office.

To all the good people of Felsted, I would like to say a big thank you for your support and understanding over the last couple of weeks. It’s been really difficult for all of us but we’re all gradually getting used to living 2 metres apart!

As you may be aware, Dunmow and Takeley Post Offices have closed and Rayne Post Office is closed in the afternoons. This has put considerable pressure on our Post Office, which in turn has made it very difficult for our customers to use the shop. To help alleviate this, from tomorrow April 1st (no; it’s not a wind up) the new Post Office trading hours will be:

Monday to Friday: 1-00pm to 5-30pm

Saturday & Sunday: CLOSED

This will allow our customers better access to the shop in the mornings and at weekends.

As I type this, Gt Waltham, Gt Leighs, Thaxted and Rayne Post Offices are open in the mornings but this may change at short notice.

With best wishes

Richard

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This is a regular email bulletin aimed at keeping you up-to-date with how Uttlesford District Council and the district is responding to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

You can find details of changes to council services on our website – see www.uttlesford.gov.uk/coronavirus or click on the link below. On this page you’ll also find links to other trusted sources and guidance.

►Get council service updates

Help for residents and businesses

► Uttlesford Community Response helpline – we have set up a community helpline to direct you to services that can help during the coronavirus pandemic

► Council Tax and benefits – helpful information that may help you to claim support for paying your council tax or rent

► Guidance for businesses and employers – a wide range of resources to support businesses in response to the current situation

Community Shield – getting food and supplies to our most vulnerable

Bogus Lifeline equipment scam

Lifeline is a personal alarm service available to older or more vulnerable people who want to stay in their own homes.

We’ve had reports of elderly residents being contacted by individuals claiming to be a representative of the council checking Lifeline equipment. Please be advised that, due to the coronavirus situation, no one from the council’s Lifeline service is currently making any visits to check equipment, even if a prior appointment has been made.

► Steps you can take to protect yourself against bogus callers

How to get in touch with us

Whilst the council offices are closed to visitors, our service hours remain unchanged.

There are a number of ways in which you can access services or get in touch with us:

• Online (including to make a payment or report something): www.uttlesford.gov.uk
• Email: ku.vog.drofselttuobfsctd-2cd23c@tcennocu
• Phone: 01799 510510
• Automated payments by telephone: 01799 510551 or 510552

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Please see the following message from Essex County Council:

People across Essex are doing an amazing job supporting their family, friends and neighbours who at the most risk from coronavirus because they are older, vulnerable and have health conditions.

From now, public services across Essex are stepping up support for people who may not have help from their nearest and dearest.

Cllr David Finch, Leader of Essex County Council, said:

“The way Essex has rallied around the vulnerable across the County has been incredible and I would like to thank each and every person who is helping friends, neighbours and relatives stay home and stay safe. You are literally saving lives across our great County because you are protecting our NHS.

“Now Councils, the NHS and all our public and voluntary sector partners are stepping up to try and make sure no-one who needs help is missed out. It has been a huge effort, involving round-the-clock work. I am very proud of what is being put into place to shield our most vulnerable residents.”

Essex County Council is supporting the national effort to get food and supplies to the County’s most vulnerable residents.

How will it work

The Essex Resilience Forum (ERF) made up of all the county public sector organisations, is tasked with ensuring that people with the most serious health conditions across Essex, Southend and Thurrock, are shielded from social contact for 12 weeks during the peak of the epidemic. These people have been written to directly by the Government and told to expect food packages to be delivered to them.

A distribution hub has been set up by Essex County Council in Witham in central Essex, with two other hubs set up by Southend and Thurrock Councils. From this weekend, food packages will begin to be dispatched to vulnerable residents.

Given the importance of social distancing and the most at risk being able to stay in their homes, ERF members and the voluntary sector are also mobilising resources across the county to provide assistance to a larger group. These are residents who are also vulnerable during the peak of the epidemic, and includes people over the age of 70 or pregnant women, who do not have the support of friends, family or neighbours.

Councils across the county are working with supermarkets, delivery companies and other organisations on developing supply lines to people.

District Councils will also use their local hubs, which have been established in every district, borough and city council area, using volunteer support.

How will they be contacted

These residents will be contacted by the NHS, or their GP surgeries, starting from early next week, week commencing Monday 30 March.

The message will set out the instructions for those people who do not have the support of friends, families and neighbours, to register with the Essex Welfare Service (EWS) (part of PROVIDE, a health and social care provider), should they need food deliveries.

They will be able to contact the EWS via essexwelfareservice.org and by calling 0300 303 9988, Monday to Friday between 8am to 7pm, and Saturday to Sunday between 10am to 2pm.

We recognise not all of residents identified will need support, and many will have organised their own arrangements already. However, Community Shield’s aim is to ensure that no-one slips through the net. If you need support and have not received a message, please contact the EWS directly.

More information

Updates will be posted on the Essex County Council website and via social media.

Please sign up to volunteer in your local area.

The latest advice on coronavirus (COVID-19) is available on the Public Health England (PHE) and NHS websites.

The first issue of Felsted Focus is now available at a number of collection points around the village for you to pick up, if and when it is safe for you to do so within the government guidelines for movement outside of your homes.

1. Outside village shop
2. Opposite the Primary School (next to bus pull in)
3. On the Braintree Road at Gransmore Green (next to the bus stop)
4. On the Rayne Road at the junction with Bernstie Road (in Bannister Green)
5. Outside the Memorial Hall (they have a notice board on the wall outside).
6. In the former red telephone “book box” in Garnets Lane.
7. By the temp. notice board in Chelmsford Road adjacent to the old telephone exchange
8. On the grassy triangle at the end of Mill Road
9. By the Felsted school main gates in Stebbing Road
10. Outside the Crix Green Mission
11. Hollow Road J/w Mole Hill Green
12. Abbeyfields delivered (20 copies)
13. Willows Green Main Road JW Evelyn Road

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