Where to get help? Ealing Together

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Image above: Ealing Council offices

Ealing Together

LB Ealing has launched ‘Ealing Together’, joining forces with charities, local groups, businesses and concerned residents to respond to the COVID-19 crisis.

Councillor Jasbir Anand, cabinet member for business and community services, launched the new coaltion saying:

“Ealing’s community is its greatest strength and across the borough, people are standing together to help our most vulnerable residents.

“Behind the Ealing Together website is a dedicated team that will put the people who want to help others, and people who qualify for help, in touch with appropriate local organisations.

To volunteer to help, fill out the online form here.

Who is it for?

‘We want to make sure that everyone who is in difficulty feels comfortable asking for help, regardless of whether their vulnerability is physical, emotional or mental.

‘If you are elderly or vulnerable and being advised by government to ‘social distance’ from others, are self-isolating as you have corona virus symptoms or worried by a sudden change in your financial circumstances, ask a trusted relative, friend or neighbour to assist you in the first instance.

‘If you do not have a trusted relative, friend or neighbour, and are worried about how you will cope, please fill in the form below or call our advice line on 020 8825 7170. We want to help you. Please note however that we cannot provide health advice on this line.

‘We will put you in touch with the best people to support you. Our immediate priority is to ensure no one goes without food. We aim to add more support like phone and online befriending to Ealing Together in the near future. After you complete the form you will get a confirmation email setting out what will happen next’.

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar

See also: Hounslow Community Hub – coalition of residents and businesses helping the council help vulnerable people in LB Hounslow

See also: Where to get help? Chiswick Covid-19 Mutual Aid Facebook group

Parks & Playgrounds

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Image above: Ravenscourt Park

Parks & Playgrounds

Public parks in the London boroughs of Hounslow, Ealing and Hammersmith & Fulham are open to the public, but not children’s playgrounds, outdoor gyms, tennis courts, skate parks and other facilities.

Kew Gardens is closed to the public. Richmond Park is open to cyclists and pedestrians, but not to cars. The gardens of Chiswick House are open, but not Chiswick House, the conservatory or the cafe. Gifford’s Circus, which was to have come to Chiswick House 25 June – 13 July, is ‘on hold’ until further notice.

Gunnersbury Park is also open, but not Gunnersbury Park Museum, and its programme of public events has also been suspended.

Hammersmith & Fulham’s parks closed for a week and reopened on a “trial basis”.

LB Hammersmith & Fulham decided to shut its parks on the evening of Sunday 22 March after London was full of people out enjoying the spring sunshine over the weekend, ignoring Government advice on social distancing. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan urged people to “stop social mixing”, saying “people will die” if they don’t.

The following day Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that people must stay inside, leaving home only to buy food and medicine, to exercise once a day and to travel to and from essential work. Emergency laws were passed by parliament enforcing the lockdown and giving the police the power to enforce social distancing.

There was quite a lot of criticism from the public, that with big parks such as Ravenscourt park closed, there was nowhere for the public to go to take exercise, but leader of Hounslow council Steve Curran warned that if the public did not heed the rules and stay home, and if they did not observe the instruction to stay two metres apart when out in public, then Hounslow would follow suit.

Cabinet minister Michael Gove gave a press conference on Friday 27 March in which he said there had been a dramatic fall during the week in the numbers of people using public transport, and that the “overwhelming majority” of people are now following the lockdown rules.

Announcing the decision to reopen the parks on 27 March, leader of Hammersmith & Fulham council Steve Cowan said:

“Last weekend, despite the best efforts of parks police, the COVID-19 contagion was potentially being passed on by people socialising in Hammersmith & Fulham’s parks. Because of that public health threat to many thousands of our residents, the parks were closed on Sunday night.

“Yesterday the government’s new emergency laws came into force which introduce a series of restrictions on people’s movement and gatherings and give the police new powers to enforce the new laws. Apart from the once-daily exercise, people are now obliged to stay in their homes and only leave for exceptional reasons.

“Because these new laws will enforce the social distancing regime, backed up by our highly-visible public information campaign, our parks can now re-open and will do so from 2pm today. This will be on a trial basis.”

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar

See also: Parking rules for LB Hounslow during the lockdown

See also: LB Hounslow launches Community Support Hub

Lockdown Parking Rules in LB Hounslow

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New Parking Rules in LB Hounslow

Hounslow Council issued new rules on parking mid March.

Although parking restrictions and controls currently remain in place and enforcement activity is continuing ‘in line with Government guidelines’, Hounslow Council has relaxed parking restrictions so NHS staff can park for free at all off-street car parks and on street parking bays near their place of work.

Residents can also park for free if they are providing services to vulnerable or self-isolating residents. Additional temporary resident permits are available for purchase if permit holders have additional family members or carers temporarily living with them for extended periods.

NHS and emergency services staff

Cllr Hanif Khan, Cabinet Member for Transport at Hounslow Counci announced on Monday 23 March:

“Coronavirus has had a significant impact on London’s transport network. Reduced public transport means that emergency service and care providers are more likely to drive to their place of work or to visit people in the community. At the same time, the vast majority of Londoners are staying at home, leading to increased parking in some residential areas.

“In response, Hounslow Council, along with other London Boroughs, has today agreed a common-sense approach to issuing parking and driving fines in order to help critical workers such as NHS staff, carers and the emergency services travel in the capital.

“To assist in ensuring emergency services can continue to function as smoothly as possible at this important time the council is providing a temporary dispensation to allow staff to park for free at all off-street car parks and on street parking bays near their place of work for the next 12 weeks. This dispensation will be available to all NHS and emergency services staff providing frontline services.  Eligible staff should email parking.permits@hounslow.gov.uk  from a recognised emergency services email address providing a picture of their staff ID or warrant, details of their place of work and vehicle registration documentation.  They need to include ‘Emergency Services parking dispensation’ in the subject line”.

Care workers

Cllr Khan also announced new provisions for care companies:

“For companies that provide care services in the borough we are opening up eligibility of our external party operational permit at a discounted rate for 6 months to provide a more convenient parking solution for care staff no longer able to use public transport.  If your company provides such care services in the borough they should email parking.permits@hounslow.gov.uk  and you will be sent an application form with further details.

General public acting as volunteers

For members of the general public acting in a volunteer capacity he said:

“We are also providing a version of our ‘stop and shop’ scheme to all volunteers who are providing services to vulnerable or self-isolating residents. To take advantage of this, residents picking up medicines, foods or other essential goods from shops or suppliers and delivering them to addresses in the borough should put their hazard lights on and place a note in their front window – ‘Covid-19 community response activity – 30 minute free parking’ Arrival time: xx:xx’. When dropping off goods at addresses the same approach should be taken, however as this is expected to be a quick activity it is not necessary to enter the arrival time each time.

“The use of this scheme will be monitored closely and any suspected abuse will be investigated and further enforcement action taken if necessary.

“All other parking restrictions and controls currently remain in place and enforcement activity will continue.  Such restrictions and controls are necessary to ensure the safety of those using the network and also to maintain access to properties for emergency services vehicles and other important services such as refuse collection and care provision.  We appreciate that with very high levels of home working there may be significant pressure on parking demand and we ask that residents park considerately and at no time in a way that blocks access to properties.”

Additional residential parking permits

Additional temporary resident permits are available for purchase if permit holders have additional family members or carers temporarily living with them for extended periods. This is also available for those that didn’t previously require an annual parking permit but do at the current time. This is being priced pro-rata at £27/ 4 months (cheaper then providing visitor permits over a longer period). The same rules apply for this permit as would for a normal residents permit, you have to be a resident in the borough and live in a CPZ. Proof of residency and vehicle ownership (further information HERE on what proofs are accepted ) should be emailed to parking.permits@hounslow.gov.uk.  You will then be contacted to arrange payment.

The number of visitor permits residents can purchase has been increased to 25 booklets.

Where to get help? Hounslow Community Hub

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Image above: Hounslow House

Hounslow Community Hub

Hounslow Council has launched its Community Support Hub to match the army of people locally who are willing to do something to help with the most isolated and vulnerable individuals who need support.

“The Hounslow Community Hub is here to harness that fantastic community spirit, connect people with each other and ensure food, medical supplies and other support reaches those most in need” says Steve Curran.

“Thank you for wanting to help out – it’s through generous people, businesses and organisations like you that we’ll make sure Hounslow’s most vulnerable are looked after”.

To volunteer to help, fill out the online form here.

Who is the Hub for?

If you or someone you know has been contacted by the NHS as being classed as at serious risk, please contact the Community Hub and the Council will support you – call 020 7084 9697 or email Hub@hounslow.gov.uk. They are also reaching out to these people themselves, as the NHS updates them on who they are.

Please also contact the Hub if you or someone you know are isolated and vulnerable and have no other support, and you’re not sure if the NHS has been in contact.

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar

See also: Ealing Together – coalition of residents and businesses helping the council to help vulnerable people in LB Ealing

See also:Where to get help? Chiswick Covid-19 Mutual Aid Facebook group

COVID Symptom Tracker

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COVID Symptom Tracker

Scientists at Kings College London have launched an app which they hope will help slow the Covid-19 outbreak. They are asking members of the public to self-report symptoms daily, even if they are feeling well, a task which they say takes just one minute to do.

Researchers will use the data to study the symptoms of the virus and track how it spreads. From it they will be able to identify which are the high-risk areas in the UK, how fast the virus is spreading area by areas and who is most at risk, by better understanding symptoms linked to underlying health conditions.

The research is being led by Dr Tim Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London and director of TwinsUK a scientific study of 15,000 identical and non-identical twins, which has been running for nearly three decades.

“I was rather depressed as they were shutting down everything in the university and I thought that twins are the best studied people in the country, so how can we use that information in this crisis?” he told BBC News.

Initially, the app was made available only to the twins taking part in his studies, but the professor realised it could be scaled up to the general public.

You can download it on the App Store or get it on Google Play.

Your NHS needs you

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Your NHS needs you

The Government called on Tuesday 24 March for an army of volunteers to help the NHS. Announcing the volunteer drive, Heath Secretary Matt Hancock initially asked for 250,000 volunteers. More than 500,000 people signed up in just 24 hours. Two days later he increased the target to 750,000 people to help out and slow down the spread of the Coronavirus.

Members of the public can sign up quickly and easily at goodsamapp.org/NHS to become NHS Volunteer Responders, and can be called on to do simple but vital tasks such as:

– delivering medicines from pharmacies;

– driving patients to appointments;

– bringing them home from hospital;

– or making regular phone calls to check on people isolating at home.

NHS Volunteer Responders is not intended to replace local groups helping their vulnerable neighbours but is an additional service provided by the NHS.

GPs, doctors, pharmacists, nurses, midwives, NHS 111 advisers and social care staff will all be able to request help for their at-risk patients via a call centre run by the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS), who will match people who need help with volunteers who live near to them. Some charities will also be able to refer people to the service.

What can I do?

When you click on goodsamapp.org/NHS you are asked to sign up for one or a number of tasks:

Community Response volunteer

This role involves collecting shopping, medication or other essential supplies for someone who is self-isolating, and delivering these supplies to their home.

Patient Transport volunteer

This role supports the NHS by providing transport to patients who are medically fit for discharge, and ensuring that they are settled safely back in to their home.

NHS Transport volunteer

This role involves transporting equipment, supplies and/or medication between NHS services and sites, it may also involve assisting pharmacies with medication delivery.

Check-in and Chat volunteer

This role provides short-term telephone support to individuals who are at risk of loneliness as a consequence of self-isolation.

Once you have registered and checks are complete you will be provided a log-in to the GoodSAM Responder app. Switch the app to ‘on duty’, and you’ll see live and local volunteer tasks to pick from nearby. Volunteers must be 18 or over, and fit and well with no symptoms. Those in higher-risk groups (including those over 70, those who are pregnant or with underlying medical conditions) will be able to offer support by telephone. Patient transport drivers will require an enhanced DBS check.

Sign up here: www.goodsamapp.org/NHS

City Harvest appeal

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City Harvest appeal

City Harvest vans are still on the road, feeding London’s most vulnerable. They are currently working overtime to deliver food to their 300 charity partners across London and desperately need food, funding and volunteer support. City Harvest serve thousands of vulnerable Londoners, and since the outbreak of COVID-19 they have seen the need for their services skyrocket.

The charity collects surplus food from donors (usually supermarkets and restaurants) and delivers it to 300 community organisations. In the last 12 months, they have delivered food for more than 3.5 million meals to their partners and they are still operating now.

“We are at the forefront of London’s emergency planning, as provisions are made by the city, food industry and non-profit groups to meet the growing demand to supply basic food to an increasing number of people

  • Every £50 donated will help us feed 200 Londoners
  • £50,000 keeps all our vans on the road for the next 5 weeks
  • £1,000 enables 1 van to deliver 10,000 meals

‘If you are able to donate money, please do so here.

‘If you are available to volunteer, you can see our available shifts and sign up here. We have implemented new protocols to keep our drivers, food donors and community partners healthy and safe, including non-contact delivery’.

Image below: City Harvest volunteers

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar

See also: Food banks make urgent appeal

See also: Councils mobilise to fight Coronavirus

Food banks urgent appeal

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Food banks make urgent appeal

The founder of Hammersmith & Fulham Foodbank has launched an urgent appeal for donations and supplies as the Coronavirus crisis piles pressure on the charity’s work.

The Foodbank – set up locally by Daphine Aikens a decade ago – is financially supported by Hammersmith & Fulham Council. She says the foodbank has barely five weeks’ worth of stock as the coronavirus outbreak threatens to disrupt supplies to the most vulnerable in society.

“If donations drop because of the coronavirus or panic buying, we’ll see our stocks run out,” warns Daphine. “We have enough core products to make balanced food parcels for five weeks of normal use, but if the situation gets worse and schools close, people will need more food.”

She worries that if coronavirus spreads, some of her 60 volunteers could fall sick… making it difficult to sort the two tonnes of supplies typically donated every week. If schools are forced to close, families who currently qualify for free school meals could go hungry.

She urges donors to leave food at supermarket donation points, or donate online via Bankuet. There is also an appeal to wholesale suppliers to find out if it’s possible for the foodbank to purchase non-perishable goods from them.

Local food banks

Hammersmith & Fulham

Location: c/o St Matthew’s, Wandsworth Bridge Road, London SW6 2TX
Tel: 0207 731 3693
Email: info@hammersmithfulham.foodbank.org.uk

Hammersmith & Fulham food bank provides emergency parcels. Every visitor is offered free homemade snacks and a cuppa, while food packs include toiletries, feminine hygiene and cleaning products, pet food and baby items when available. When it was set up, only a handful of foodbanks existed. Today the UK has more than 2,000.

Visit the Hammersmith & Fulham Foodbank website for details of most urgently needed food items.

Donate your items at any one of these locations:

  • Tesco, 180 Shepherds Bush Road, W6
  • Sainsbury’s, Kings Mall, Hammersmith, W6
  • The Macbeth Centre, Macbeth Street, W6

Hounslow Community Food Box

Location: Brickfield Community Centre, Brickfield Close, Brentford TW8 8JN
Tel: 07719 891787 or 07718 263614
Email: info@hounslowfoodbox.org.uk

Hounslow Community Food Box provides emergency food and support and advice to those who are in need and live in the London Borough of Hounslow.

To make a donation please contact Philip Jones at treasurer@hounslowfoodbox.org or 07743 547262

www.hounslowfoodbox.org.uk

Contact Chiswick Councillors

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How to contact your councillor

Councillors have cancelled their surgeries and all face to face meetings during the Coronavirus emergency, but they are all available by phone and email. Scroll down to find contact details for councillors in LB Hounslow and those in LB Ealing who represent people in Chiswick.

Here are the contacts for Hounslow councillors representing Chiswick:

Chiswick Homefields ward

Cllr Patrick Barr
patrick.barr@hounslow.gov.uk
07976 703263

Cllr Gerald McGregor
gerald.mcgregor@hounslow.gov.uk
07866 784821

Cllr John Todd
john.todd@hounslow.gov.uk
07866 784651

Chiswick Riverside ward

Cllr Michael Denniss
michael.denniss@hounslow.gov.uk
07976 703274

Cllr Gabriella Giles
gabriella.giles@hounslow.gov.uk
07966 270823

Cllr Sam Hearn
sam.hearn@hounslow.gov.uk
07833 376222

Turnham Green ward

Cllr Joanna Biddolph
joanna.biddolph@hounslow.gov.uk
07976 703446

Cllr Ranjit Gill
ranjit.gill@hounslow.gov.uk
07976 702956

Cllr Ron Mushiso
ron.mushiso@hounslow.gov.uk
07976 702887

Here are the contacts for Ealing councillors representing Chiswick:

Southfield ward

Andrew Steed
andrew.steed@ealing.gov.uk
07736 649 664

Gary Busuttil
gary.busuttil@ealing.gov.uk
07985 443 860

Gary Malcolm
gary.malcolm@ealing.gov.uk
07813 205 218

Where to get help? Hounslow Council

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Where to get help? Hounslow Council

Hounslow House has closed, along with libraries, leisure centres, community halls and visitor attractions such as Hogarth House and Gunnersbury Park museum. The council has closed all public buildings and stopped providing public services which are non essential while they focus their efforts on protecting the vulnerable during the Coronavirus emergency.

Council leader Steve Curran says: “The Council is still working and delivering frontline services, though with the majority of staff working from home, and we’re in regular contact with our local partners, particularly those in the NHS, as well as Public Health England and the Government”.

The best way to communicate with the council at the moment is online. For Council Tax / Benefit / Housing / Business rates and all other enquiries, go to the Hounslow Council website. You can access most council services online or by phone 020 8583 2000. 

hounslow.gov.uk

Online services include: 

In his daily updates Cllr Curran has said:

Waste & Recycling

‘We’re working hard to keep the streets clean, keep collecting your rubbish and make sure your recycling bins continue to be emptied as often as possible, while protecting the health of all our workers – designated as essential front-line workers – as well as the general public. But as most of us are now staying at home, it seems likely that this will create more household waste and put pressure on our recycling and waste services. We continue to run all of our refuse and recycling collections, but we have closed SpaceWaye, our civic amenity site to the public’. Richmond council has also closed the Townmead recycling centre in Mortlake.

Council Tax

‘During the current coronavirus crisis we will look sympathetically on any resident struggling with their Council Tax payments and will treat each situation on a case by case basis’.

Support for businesses

‘The council appreciates that this is a challenging time for all businesses and we are working hard to ensure the support schemes recently announced by the Chancellor are implemented as quickly as possible’. See advice to businesses here.

CW9 works suspended

Transport for London has decided to cease construction of Cycleway 9, currently underway on Chiswick Bridge. A number of works will need to be completed to ensure the site is left in a safe condition, but the site is expected to be cleared by Saturday 28 March. 

Parking

There is now free parking available for frontline NHS staff. Eligible staff should email parking.permits@hounslow.gov.uk  from a recognised emergency services email address providing a picture of their staff ID or warrant, details of their place of work and vehicle registration documentation.

Residents can also ‘stop and shop’ when picking up shopping for volunteers who are providing services to vulnerable or self-isolating residents.

‘To take advantage of this, residents picking up medicines, foods or other essential goods from shops or suppliers and delivering them to addresses in the borough should put their hazard lights on and place a note in their front window – ‘Covid-19 community response activity – 30 minute free parking’  Arrival time: xx:xx’.   When dropping off goods at addresses the same approach should be taken, however as this is expected to be a quick activity it is not necessary to enter the arrival time each time’.

Se Cllr Hanif Khan, Cabinet Member for Transport’s full statement on this and also provision for care staff here.

Contact a councillor

Face to face meetings with councillors have stopped; local surgeries have been cancelled, but you can contact Chiswick councillors by email and phone. See their contact details here.

Councils mobilise to fight Coronavirus

Our local councils are organising themselves to mitigate the effects of the Coronavirus. The London Boroughs of Hounslow, Ealing and Hammersmith have all launched special sections on their websites giving information about what they are doing. LB Hounslow leader Steve Curran issued a statement on 17 March saying:

‘I want to assure you that the Council is working closely with our local partners, particularly those in the NHS, Public Health England and the Government, to control the spread of coronavirus. Plans are in place to help manage any potential impact on services, and we’re meeting with local community and voluntary groups to see how best we can support and help coordinate this inspiring groundswell of good work’.

The Council has a Coronavirus advice’ section on its website which is updated daily and pulls together a range of information and advice.

Cllr Curran is also sending out regular e-newsletters to residents with updates on the latest information, access to support and ways you can get involved in the community effort. Sign up here.

You can read Cllr Curran’s full statement here.

Stay at home to save lives

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement to restrict all non-essential travel, Cllr Curran reiterates that people must stay at home except for:

  • Shopping for basic necessities
  • Daily exercise
  • Any medical need
  • Travelling to work only when you absolutely cannot work from home

Shops selling non-essential goods are being told to close and gatherings in public of more than two people are prohibited. The Prime Minister has said that the police will have powers to enforce these rules including through fines and dispersing gatherings.

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar

See also: Where to get help – LB Ealing 

See also: Where to get help – LB Hammersmith & Fulham

Where to get help? Chiswick Covid-19 Mutual Aid

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Where to get help? Chiswick Covid-19 Mutual Aid

Chiswick Covid-19 Mutual Aid  is a Facebook group set up mid-March in response to the Coronavirus. Philippa Griffin started it as a platform to connect local volunteers with isolated neighbours in the W4 area. It has very quickly become a popular site, with many members setting up individual WhatsApp groups on their own street, leafleting the houses to reach their neighbours.

Chiswick COVID-19 Mutual Aid provides a non-hierarchical platform.

‘We share collective responsibility for ensuring that everyone who receives and offers help stays safe and supported at all times’.

Their aims are to:

  • Help those quarantined by conveying their requests for help to people willing and able to support them
  • Share clear advice from authoritative sources
  • Support and consolidate efforts to organise community action

Find the Facebook group here.

Offer your support here.

COVID-19 Where to Get Help

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COVID-19 Help Directory


Where to Get Help & Information

Where to get help? Ealing Together

Parks & Playgrounds

Lockdown Parking Rules in LB Hounslow

Where to get help? Hounslow Community Hub

COVID Symptom Tracker

Your NHS needs you

City Harvest appeal

Food banks urgent appeal

Contact Chiswick Councillors

Where to get help? Hounslow Council

Where to get help? Chiswick Covid-19 Mutual Aid

Where to get help? St Michael’s, Elmwood Rd

Where to get help? St Paul’s

Where to get help? Christ Church

Where to get help? St Michael & All Angels

Where to get help? St Nicholas Church

Where to get help? St Michael’s, Elmwood Rd

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Where to get help? St Michael’s Elmwood Rd

Church services have been shut down and Church buildings are also closed to visitors. Many of the churches are live-streaming their services and organising volunteers to help people within their parish who are isolated and need support, be it emotional or practical.

Images above: Rev Martine Oborne; St Michael’s Church, Elmwood Rd

Practical and emotional support

The church has a small team of volunteers who are able to offer phone chats and practical help, as much as they are able. ‘We keep a list of people willing to help others in their street and those who need that help.

Contact vicar Martine Oborne

Tel: 07805 928584
Email: revoborne@gmail.com
Twitter – Follow @Martine Oborne

‘I’d love to hear from you, whether we’ve net before or not, so please don’t be shy and get in touch!’ she says. Martine also sends out regular updates by email, which you can subscribe to through her website: www.martineoborne.com

Am I in St Michael’s parish? Find out by looking on a church near you website. Put in your postcode, click on your address and by the marvels of modern technology it will tell you which parish you live in.

Image above: St Michael’s parish area

Online services, prayers, bible readings and meditation

St Michael’s is sharing Morning Prayer online – Mondays-Fridays 9.00-9.30am
Use the ID no. 665-971-399 to join in via www.zoom.us

They also have an online bible reading group – Tuesdays 10.00-11.30am
Use the ID no. 855-707-389 to join in via www.zoom.us

Online meditation sessions – Wednesdays 7.15-7.45pm
Use the ID no. 418 193 238 to join in via  www.zoom.us

St Michael’s is also recording Sunday services and uploading them to their Youtube channel
Subscribe to the channel – St Michael’s Chiswick – to receive notifications when they upload a new service.

www.stmichaels-elmwoodroad.org

Read other stories on The Chiswick Calendar

See also: Churches live-stream services

See also: That’s when neighbours become good friends – community support groups