Covid Support Information
Ivybridge;Covid
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Latest Covid Information

Please note that all this information is subject to change due to these uncertain times.

If you know someone who needs signposting to help but doesn't have internet access, please ask them to call 01752 897035 - The Watermark Information Line - open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and they will assist.

For the most up to date advice from the Government please click here to access their website. Information about the restrictions can be found here. Information for businesses in the South Hams can be found here.

Emergency Welfare Fund and Emergency Help

South Hams District Council have a number of links on their website for those who are struggling financially due to the impact of Covid. Please click here to access the page.

South Hams District Council, in association with Devon County Council, have launched a Local Support Fund to support those whose financial situation has been affected by the current pandemic and are now out of cash for basic essentials for their household.

The COVID-19 Welfare Support Fund can provide small emergency payments to help with basic essentials including household essentials such as sanitary products, nappies, electricity key and gas card top ups, etc. to help people in financial difficulties.

You can access apply for this by clicking here. You can also speak to their team by calling 01803 861407.

South Hams District Council are offering a hotline number for residents needing help and support during the Coronavirus outbreak. The number, which will be open from 9am. until 5pm, Monday to Friday, will be answered by the Community Co-ordination Team at the Council. Outside of these hours an answerphone service will be available. The team can help people with a wide range of queries, such as where to get additional help and support, as well as putting residents in touch with their nearest community support group. The hotline is intended for people who can’t access the information and support available through the council’s websites or social media. The Community Support number for The South Hams is 01803 861297. There is more information on their website - please click here.

Devon County Council Covid19 Emergency Helpline - 0345 155 1011 – social care help, voluntary assistance via the Government schemes and DCC network, also problems with the Government food parcels via this number.

National Support and Advice Including Mental Health

Age UK - Open 8am - 7pm every day - Offering advice on Coronavirus and signposting to services. Click here for link or Tel: 0800 678 1602. Updated 20.03.2020

Asthma UK - 9am - 5pm Mon to Fri on 0300 2225800 Or click here or here for links. Updated 20.03.2020

British Heart Foundation - Heart Helpline is for medical enquiries. Phone open Mon to Fri 9am - 5pm 0300 3303311. Click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

Diabetes UK - Phone 0345 1232399 Mon to Fri 9am - 6pm - Click here for online contact form or here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

Mind Charity - Phone 0300 123 3393 Mon to Fri 9am - 6pm or click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

SCOPE - Phone 0808 800 3333 Mon to Sat 8am - 8pm Sunday: 10am - 6pm, email [email protected] or click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

The Silver Line - FREE confidential helpline providing information, friendship and advice to older people, open 24 hours a day, every day 0800 470 8090 or click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

Samaritans - 20-21 Oxford Place, Plymouth PL1 5AJ. 24 hour helpline for any mental health issue including crisis 01752 952800 or click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

At a Loss - At a loss provides information about local and national bereavement support 9am - 9pm 01524 782910 or click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide - We exist to meet the needs and overcome the isolation experienced by people over 18 who have been bereaved by suicide. Call 0300 111 5065 or click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

The Mix - Online support Webchat for 10-18 year olds, online counselling for up to 28. Group chat, general chat, helpline, email and text support and webchat 0808 808 4994. Click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

Respect - perpertrators of domestic violence - Men who abuse their female partners (straight or bi), Men who abuse their male partners (gay or bi), Women who abuse their partners, Frontline workers working with domestic violence perpetrators and families/friends who are concerned. Tues/Thurs 10am - 4pm call 0808 802 4040, email [email protected] or click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

The British Legion Devon and Cornwall Area Office - 174 Armada Way, Plymouth PL1 1LB. Supports with acclimatising on leaving the army, care and independent living, physical and mental health, housing, money, benefits, employment, community connections, grants. Call 0808 802 8080 8am - 8pm or click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

Helpful Peeps - online neighbourhood community. Click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

CRUSE (Bereavement)- Face-to-face, online or telephone 6 x 1 hour sessions. 0300 330 5466 or National Helpline 0808 808 1677 (free), or email d[email protected]. Click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

Bereavement and Loss Online Database - Provides details and contacts of supporting agencies for bereavement for children, adults who have lost children, adults, loss of pets, loss of any significant other. Some sites may only provide online or phone support - see individual agency. Click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

Childline - Anyone under 19 who has any worries or concerns. Call 0800 1111. Click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

Young Minds - 24 hour urgent help. All texts are answered by trained volunteers, with support from experienced clinical supervisors. Text YM to 85258. Click here for website. Texts are free from EE, O2, Vodafone, 3, Virgin Mobile, BT Mobile, GiffGaff, Tesco Mobile and Telecom Plus. Updated 20.03.2020

Mental Health SEAP C/O Plymouth Highbury Trust - 207 Outland Road, Plymouth. Mental health, care act, health complaints and DOLS. Call 0300 343 5719 or click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

CALM (campaign against living miserably) - Men's help. 0800 58 58 58 Telephone line open 5pm - midnight. Click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

Elefriends (MIND) - Online community for those with depression and anxiety. Click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

Helpline Partnership - covers all areas including veterans, older adults, bereavements, employment, family and parents, gender identity, health, HIV and aids, housing and homelessness, immigration and asylum, Learning disability, legal, civil and welfare rights, lesbian gay and bisexual, mental health, missing persons, money and debt, occupations and forces, older people, pregnancy, prisoners and reoffenders, rape and sexual abuse and terminal illness. Click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

Action on Hearing Loss - able to provide hearing check down the phone. Advice and guidance on all aspects of hearing loss, rights, benefits etc. Click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

Marie Curie - Support when you need it if you or someone you care about is living with a terminal illness. Companionship/support/practical help/Helper Volunteers. Call 0800 090 2309 or click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

Veterans Gateway - online resource Information about a variety of issues for veterans, from housing, health to mental health and money. Click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

Be Our Guest - Contact the Elderly - conversation and chats. 01934 316578 or click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

Clic Sargent - Support with advice and guidance - children, teens and young adults. Advice re: finances and financial support, bereavement support. Click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

Self Injury Support - Offer self help material, safe space to talk or text, information and support. For girls and women. up to the age of 24. Call 0808 800 8088 or text 07537 432444. Click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

The Salvation Army- Call 01752 668454, email [email protected] or click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

Papyrus (prevention of young suicide) - Free helpline for young people who are feeling suicidal or if you are worried about a young person. Call 0800 068 4141, email [email protected] or click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

Men's Advice Line - Confidential helpline for men experiencing domestic violence from a partner or ex-partner. We help by giving you time to tell your story, offering emotional support, providing practical advice, signposting you to other services for specialist help. Call 0808 801 0327, email [email protected] or click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

SSAFA - Soldiers', Sailors', and Airmen's Families Association. SSAFA can help provide practical, financial and emotional support for service personnel, veterans and their families. National organisation with local offices. Call 0808 802 1212 or 01752 553 414, or click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

Kooth - XenZone is a provider of online mental health services for children, young people and adults. Kooth, from XenZone, is an online counselling and emotional well-being platform for children and young people, accessible through mobile, tablet and desktop and free at the point of use. Click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

Macmillan Cancer Support- Mustard Tree Macmillan Centre, Level 3 Derriford Hospital. Help support and advice - living with and beyond cancer. Call 01752 763672 or click here for website. Updated 20.03.2020

HMRC Government - Register to get coronavirus support if you're extremely vulnerable - you can also register on behalf of someone else. Click here for website. Updated 24.03.20

Giving World - Free Supplies of clothing, food Items, toiletries, cleaning and household products so the most vulnerable people in our communities can stay safe and well. Browse the available products here. If you are not already registered with us to access free of charge business surplus stock, please click here to register. a[email protected] Updated 24.03.2020

Mental Health UK - Publication about looking after your mental health during Coronavirus. Click here for website. Updated 26.03.20

Government - Advice on safeguarding volunteers. Click here for website. Updated 26.03.20

A great article on understanding how we might be feeling about the pandemic. Click here for website. Updated 26.03.20

Isolation Notes - To reduce the burden on GP practices a new online system is now live for patients to be emailed a digital isolation note. Click here for website. Updated 27.03.20

Mental Health Apps - Mental health apps recommended by the NHS - Click here for link. Updated 30.03.20

Rethink - Ideas and stories about managing your mental wellbeing during Covid-19 outbreak - Click here for link. Updated 30.03.20

NHS Every Mind Matters - Tips and advice to help with mental wellbeing during isolation - Click here for link. Updated 30.03.20

Independent Age - Information and advice about residential care, care at home, going into hospital, housing, NHS Continuing Healthcare and many more issues. Advice line 8:30am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm Saturdays 0800 319 6789. Click here for link. Updated 31.03.20

Ability Net - Can teach people (elderly and/or disabled) to do online shopping REMOTELY free of charge. The client needs a computer, internet access, email and a phone. Call during office hours 0800 269 545 or click here for link. Updated 31.03.20

Crisis Line - 0300 555 0334 . Updated 16.04.20

NHS website - List of helplines for stress, anxiety and depression. Please click here for website. Updated 16.04.20

Safe Lives- Resource for those suffering Domestic Abuse during Covid-19. Please click here for website. Updated 20-04-20

Anna Freud Centre for Children and Families - Range of resources for supporting young people's mental health during Covid-19. Please click here for website. Updated 20-04-20

National Autistic Society - Supporting people with an autistic spectrum disorder. Please click here for website. Updated 20-04-20

Dementia UK - Information on Covid-19 for people affected by Dementia. Please click here for website. Information for Families looking after someone with Dementia. Please click here for website. Updated 20.04.20

Coronavirus Appeal - Launched by the National Emergencies Trust to help those most affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Click here for website. Updated 20.04.20

National Academy for Social Prescribing - A personalised Plan Wellbeing Template - can use with clients or individuals. Can help support anyone who is anxious or worried and needs a structure. Click here for template. updated 20.04.20

Shielding

Please click here for the most up to date advice for those who clinically extremely vulnerable.

If you, or a friend or relative, has a medical condition which makes you extremely vulnerable to coronavirus (COVID-19), you can register here for extra Government support: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable or call 0800 0288327

The NHS Volunteer Responders programme is available to help support those who need it. Call 0808 196 3646 between 8am and 8pm, 7 days a week to self-refer or visit www.nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk for further information.

Victim Support

The Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner is concerned that there may be an increase in domestic abuse, hate crimes, fraud and sexual exploitation as a result of the effect of Covid-19. Anyone being subject to any of these crimes should contact the Victim Care Unit which is based in Exeter:

https://www.victimcaredevonandcornwall.org.uk/

Crimes can also be reported anonymously on 0800 555 111 which is the number for Crimestoppers

Citizens Advice

We are operating our Ivybridge outreach sessions every Monday 0930-1230.

Please turn up at the Watermark during these times. You will be met by one of the team and taken to a private room where you can talk to an Adviser about your issue.

Alternatively email: [email protected] to book an appointment.

At other times our staff and volunteers continue to work behind the scenes and we are able to offer support in the following ways:

  • Adviceline: 03444 111 444 (Monday - Friday 9am - 4pm)
  • Whatsapp 07497 758779
  • Click here for website.

Also, we would encourage those who can to make sure they use trusted information sources to answer their questions. These include the Gov.uk site

Useful Information

Please do have a look at this booklet. It contains lots of useful information including the signs and symptoms to look out for, help if you are feeling anxious, ideas for indoor exercise and activities for adults and children and more.

The Police have issued some helpful guidance in the form of a series of FAQs. Click here to access their page

If your child is struggling to understand what is happening, perhaps this book may help. Please click here to view.

Handwashing advice

Poster

Useful links

Fraud

Sadly there have been a number of reports of coronavirus-themed phishing emails, which trick recipients into opening malicious attachments allowing the theft of their personal information or financial details. Some of the emails claim to be from a research group mimicking the World Health Organisation (WHO) or US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They claim to provide the victim with a list of active infections in their area if they click on a link to a credential-stealing page, or make a bitcoin donation.

Other fraudsters are tricking people into clicking on a malicious link to a newsletter with coronavirus updates, sending investment and trading advice on how to take financial advantage of the economic downturn or directing people to a fake HMRC website offering tax refunds.

There have also been reports of burglars posing as NHS workers testing for the illness in order to gain entry to properties. The Metropolitan Police has also issued a warning over thieves who offer to do shopping for elderly people confined to their homes, and then keep their money.

Some people have received calls or texts claiming to be from NHS Test and Trace, but as the call goes on they are asked to pay for a test kit - click here to see article from the BBC. Official tracers will never ask for money or bank details.

There have also been reports of emails offering you the vaccination - but when you click on the link it asks for bank details. Please remember you will NEVER be asked for these details when being offered your vaccination.