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Community Support and Useful Resources
We’ve made a directory of local and national support services available to help you and your families during the coronavirus outbreak. The directory includes financial and employment advice services, educational activities for children, and mental health resources.
Coronavirus
Cumbria County Council – Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Emergency support helpline
Money and benefits
Citizens Advice – debt and money
Voucher scheme for those receiving school dinners
Benefit and Pension Rates 2020-2021
Housing
South Lakeland District Council- Housing Options team
Refugee, Asylum & Immigration Support
Employment
Health and wellbeing
Next Door – local voluntary service
Telephone befriending service for the elderly
Online cognitive behavioural therapy site
Children and adolescent mental health support resource
Meditation/ relaxation and sleep resources
Self-help resources for mental health issues
Dave the dog – a storybook to help children understand coronavirus
Easyread guide to mental and physical health
Recovery College- online course for coping with the pandemic
Disability & Impairment
Disability Living Foundation Charity
Disability Rights UK – Independent Living and Carers
People First- phone support service
Community
Call In Time- Telephone Befriending Service
Domestic Abuse
Springfield Domestic Abuse Support- South Lakeland
National Domestic Abuse Helpline
GALOP (LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline)
Bereavement
Advice / other
Gingerbread- advice for single parents
Educational resources and activities
Boat Load Puzzles – Free online puzzles
DuoLingo – Learn a language for free. Forever.
Find inspiration right where you are
Find Out – Activities and quizzes
Toy Theatre – Educational online games
Blockly Games – Learn computer programming skills – fun and free.
British Council School Resources
Kids Should See This – Educational Videos
Mystery of Science – Free science lessons
Oxford Owl – Education Resourse
Seneca – learn at KS2, KS3, GCSE & A Level
Tinkercad – From mind to design in minutes
GCSE/ A-Level/ KS2 and KS3 Resources
iDEA – develop digital, enterprise and employability skills for free
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Domestic Abuse Support
If you are self-isolating due to Coronavirus and feel at risk from a partner or family member in the home, don’t suffer in silence, talk to someone that can help.
In an emergency, always dial 999 – if you are unable to speak always press ’55’ when prompted to confirm an emergency.
It is important to remember:
- Domestic violence and abuse can be actual or threatened and can happen on a regular basis or once every so often.
- It can happen to anybody, in different types of relationships.
- People suffer domestic abuse regardless of their age, gender, social group, class, race, disability, sexuality or lifestyle.
- The abuse can begin at any time – in new relationships or after many years together.
- Children are affected by domestic abuse both in the short and long term.
If you are a South Lakes Housing tenant you can contact us for support or for us to signpost you for advice. You can contact us by calling us on 0300 303 8540 or emailing: customerservices@southlakeshousing.co.uk
Support Services:
- Springfield Domestic Abuse Support- South Lakeland| https://springfieldsupport.org/ | 01539 720313
- Victim Support- supportline | https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/help-and-support/get-help/supportline | 0808 168 9111
- Women’s Aid | womensaid.org.uk | 0808 200 0247 (24hours) | www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/
- Refuge (includes information for men) | www.refuge.org.uk | 0808 200 0247 (24 hours)
- National Domestic Violence helpline on 0808 200 0247 (24 hours)
- Men’s Advice Line- advice and support for men experiencing domestic violence and abuse. |www.mensadviceline.org.uk | 0808 801 0327
- GALOP (LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline) | https://www.galop.org.uk/domesticabuse/ | 0800 999 5428
- Mankind– advice and support for men experiencing domestic violence and abuse. | https://www.mankind.org.uk/ | 01823 334244
- Police 101 (non-emergency)
- Contact @CrimestoppersUK, anonymously on 0800 555 111
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Vital Gas Safety Inspections
We understand that we are in uncertain and worrying times but the safety of our customers is our main priority. As we are all now spending more time at home it is essential that your gas appliances are working correctly and safely. There is a legal requirement, which hasn’t changed due to Coronavirus, for us to carry out essential gas safety checks in your home and these are vital to protect you and your family. For more information on our legal requirements for gas safety checks please click here.
If you have a gas safety check booked we will be in contact with you prior to an engineer arriving to ensure that it is safe for us to carry out the appointment and you are happy for the appointment to go ahead.
If you are a vulnerable customer and are self-isolating due to coronavirus please contact us and let us know so that we can reschedule your appointment to carry out the gas safety checks once the isolation period is over.
If your gas safety check is due, we will continue to contact you to arrange an appointment.
When a gas safety check is taking place we will follow these procedures:
- We aim to complete the appointment as soon as possible as your safety is our top priority.
- You are not required to be in the room whilst our gas engineer carries out the inspection.
- Our gas engineers will only enter rooms where they need to carry out inspections and will comply with social distancing.
- Our gas engineers will follow full Safe Systems of Work protocols and will follow all Public Health England hygiene guidelines. – They will leave your home clean and tidy and will sanitise any surfaces and areas they have come in contact with.
If you refuse access we will continue to contact you about your gas safety check, we will make a note and rearrange your appointment based on the information you provide us. We have a legal requirement to carry out important gas safety procedures.
If you can allow us access into your home to carry out these gas safety checks, please do. However, if you have any worries and wish to change your appointment or have any questions please do get in touch with us:
- Email: customerservices@southlakeshousing.co.uk
- Phone: 0300 303 8540
For more information regarding gas safety checks please visit the Gas Safe Register Website
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Test and Trace Support Payment
The Government has placed a new duty on individuals to self-isolate if someone tests positive or is identified as a contact by NHS Test and Trace. To support those on low incomes who cannot work during their self-isolation period, a Test and Trace Support Payment of a £500 lump sum payment has been introduced.
Who is eligible
In order to be eligible for the Test and Trace Support Payment you must:
- have been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace either because you have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) or have recently been in close contact with someone who has tested positive
- be employed or self-employed
- be unable to work from home and will lose income as a result
- be currently receiving Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit.
If you are not receiving one of the qualifying benefits but are on a low income and self-isolation will cause you hardship, or you do not currently have Recourse to Public Funds, you may still be entitled under a special discretionary scheme.
To be considered for the discretionary scheme you need evidence that:
- your household is on a low income. We will look at whether your level of household income for the period of self-isolation would normally be eligible for state benefits
- you have basic living costs that you cannot meet such as rent, food, fuel etc and don’t have savings or other income to meet these costs
Who is not eligible
You will not be eligible for this scheme if you:
- are quarantining after travelling abroad (unless you test positive during the 14-day quarantine period)
- continue to receive full wages while you self-isolate
- can work from home during a period of self-isolation
- are no longer required to self-isolate. eg your period of self-isolation ended before the scheme was launched on 28th September 2020
- have not received a notification from NHS Test and Trace telling you to self-isolate
Apply for a test and trace support payment here.
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Covid-19 Secure Standards’
As part of our commitment to keeping customers and colleagues safe during the coronavirus pandemic, SLH has updated risk assessments and guidelines which you can find here. Staff and unions have been consulted and also been provided with copies.
Risk Assessments
Covid-19 Global Risk Assessment
Covid-19 Risk Assessment- Staff Working at Home
Covid-19 Risk Assessment- Staff Working in the Office
Covid-19 Risk Assessment- Staff Working in the Estates and Community
Covid-19 Risk Assessment- Use of Depot and Material Suppliers
Easy to Read Guidance
Working from Home- Covid Secure Workplace
Working Away from Home- Covid Secure Workplace
Working in Estates and the Community- Covid Secure Workplace
Person to Person Meetings- Covid Secure Workplace
Working in Estates and the Community- Covid Secure Workplace