WELCOME TO FELSTED

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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Please be aware that the scammers are now focussing on Coronavirus.

There are a number of scams claiming to offer free data packs or routes to treatment. These will download a virus to your PC or phone. BEWARE, the common sense rules apply. Don’t click on links or download PDFs etc unless you are 100% sure of the content. Remember, scammers can clone your mother’s email and send you a message with a virus.

Fraudsters are even knocking on doors offering ‘free temperature checks’ to gain entry to your house

The latest of these scams is an email or text, claiming to be from the government, saying that you have been seen outside, against the Coronavirus rules, and must pay a fine. The message provides a link for you to pay the fine.

THIS IS A SCAM.

First of all, ‘the government’ will never contact you like this. How could they know your email or phone number from having ‘seen you outside’?

If you click on the link and pay, at best you will lose £35, at worst some require bank details and they will empty your account.

If you are fined for breaking Coronavirus restrictions on movement then you will know about it because a Police Officer will directly charge you, face to face. There will be no emails or text messages.

These scammers are the lowest of the low. Don’t fall for the scam and don’t let your neighbours fall for it.

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