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COVID-19

This is a difficult time for us all, but we are especially aware of the difficulties that our families are facing during the coronavirus outbreak. We want to do all we can to help you during this incredibly stressful time. There are a few provisions in place that can provide you with some direct support:

We have put together an information page detailing Government Guidelines and useful links plus how to register someone as vulnerable. We have also provide links and phone numbers of how you can get assistance with your shopping .
Your mental health is massively important to us and so we have included links to local providers and access to our Councellor Hayley.
You are also warmly invited to join our parent to parent befriending service.

On the resources page we have listed a variety of education / craft/ fun ideas for all abilities and have put them into categories for ease of use.

We hope our Facebook groups will continue to also provide a useful platform to raise concerns, offer advice, and provide a source of companionship and comfort to you all. Please do let us know if you have ideas for other ways to bring together our community of parents and carers.

We might be a really tiny team but all of us at The Dorset Children’s Foundation are there for you in these very worrying times and even though we can’t be with you we would like to send you the most enormous virtual hug.
Please remember we are all in this together and you don’t have to ever feel alone.

If you would like to get in touch about anything, please email hayley@thedcf.org or patsy@thedcf.org
Adrienne@thedcf.org

USEFUL INFORMATION

BCP Council Dedicated Helpline

BCP Council have launched a dedicated helpline to support vulnerable people. 0300 1237052

This is what they announced:

‘We know that this is a stressful and worrying time for everyone and we want to assure you that the local community is coming together to help and support those of you that need it.

Many of you who are self-isolating will have family, friends and neighbours already supporting you with accessing food and every day essentials. We’ve seen our communities unite to launch support groups across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole to help each other during this time.

We also know that there are some people in our communities who do not have a support network in place. For these vulnerable people, who have noone to support them, we have launched a dedicated helpline. The phone line is open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.

Through our Together We Can community response we have more than 1500 volunteers plus council staff who will be on hand to help by picking up and delivering food and essential items, as well as providing a cheerful voice to break up the long days of self isolation.

HM Government Guidance 

This guidance is for everyone, including children. It advises on social distancing measures we should all be taking to reduce social interaction between people in order to reduce the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19). It is intended for use in situations where people are living in their own homes, with or without additional support from friends, family and carers.

This Government site covers guidance on :

  • Staying at home
  • Social distancing
  • Those at increased risk
  • Hand washing and respiratory hygiene
  • What to do if you develop symptoms
  • how to get assistance with food and supplies.
  • Mental well being
  • Advice for informal Carers.

Extremely Vulnerable

Get coronavirus support as a clinically extremely vulnerable person
YOU CAN REGISTER YOUR SELF OR ANOTHER PERSON
You may have received a letter from the NHS telling you that you’re clinically extremely vulnerable, or been contacted by your GP or hospital clinician. If this has not happened by Monday 30 March, contact your GP or clinician AFTER you register with this service.

It may take time for any support offered through this service to arrive. Wherever possible you should continue to rely on friends, family and wider support to help you meet your needs.

Gas and Electric

For those on prepayment meters with the companies below you don’t need to worry or stress about gas / electricity if you don’t have money to top up or are self isolating.
Phone the relevant company if you have a prepay meter; tell them your self isolating and they will send you out 2 weeks worth of gas / electricity or if you have a smart meter they will top you up.

BRITISH GAS 0333 202 9802
EDF 0333 200 5100
EON 0345 052 000
N POWER 0800 073 3000
SCOTTISH POWER 0800 027 0072
SSE 0345 026 2658

Please pass on to those who may need it.

Contact Resources

Contact have some great resources for families with disabled children that are being updated regularly.

Resources

These are very worrying times for us all, more so for the families of disabled children. Many of our families chose to go into voluntary isolation well before the Government directive of 23rd of March as a common cold, let alone this virus, could be fatal to some of our most vulnerable children.

As we are all in lock down we are scouring the internet to find fun and educational things for you to do as a family.

PREVENTION

To help stop the spread of coronavirus, you should only leave the house for 1 of 4 reasons:

  • shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible
  • one form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle – alone or with members of your household
  • any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
  • travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home

These 4 reasons are exceptions – even when doing these activities, you should be minimising time spent outside of the home and ensuring you are 2 metres apart from anyone outside of your household.

You should also:

  • wash your hands with soap and water often – for at least 20 seconds
  • wash your hands as soon as you get home
  • cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
  • put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands
  • not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
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