Community Wellbeing

There's never been a more important time for us to think about our wellbeing, and the wellbeing of others. This page provides many useful links that can help with the many challenges that this year has given us.

There is little doubt that the COVID 19 pandemic has had an enormous impact in all our lives: whether we are relatively young and healthy, elderly and vulnerable or have serious health issues, things have been difficult to a higher or lesser degree. Not going to school has probably had an until now, unknown effect on our youngsters as many families having to stay at home for months at a time have suffered tension and, regrettably, even domestic violence. And then there is the financial impact with its immediate and, possible, long term effects.

 Add to this the devastating effect on our businesses which have had to close or spend large amounts of money to make them Covid 19 safe.  The same can be said of many of our community groups the majority of which cater for our older residents or, as in the case of Bidford Community Library, are managed by volunteers of a “certain age”.

Fortunately, both the Government and Local Authorities have realised that help is needed and help is being offered by many bodes: from the NHS to volunteer groups.  Cllr Meredith and the Clerk have attended a COVID 19  Course, run by Warwickshire County Council and are now “official” COVID 19 COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS – if you need any help or signposting please fell free to contact either of them: Suze Meredith on 07800 873195 and Elisabeth Uggerloese on 07718 628925 – it is important that you all know that there is always someone that can help.

 Here are some links to information and/or contacts for specific problems – don’t suffer in silence and make sure you seek help.

Your Local COVID 19 Community Champions

Myth Buster: Covid-19 vaccine

It is important to check any speculative information about the vaccine with a reliable source i.e. the dedicated enquiries email address: warnoccg.vaccinecoventrywarwickshire@nhs.net. This is monitored and someone will come back to you.

  • Myth #1: Covid vaccines are unsafe because they have been fast-tracked into production
    Truth: Safe Covid vaccines have been produced quickly because of a global effort among experts. They have all focused on a single task and learned lessons from recent outbreaks of Ebola and Zika viruses.
  • Myth #2: I will be forced to take the vaccine and that infringes my human rights
    Truth: You will not be forced to take the vaccine, it is a choice. But if you choose to take the vaccine you will be protecting both yourself and the vulnerable.
  • Myth #3: Natural immunity is better than vaccine-acquired immunity so I’ll take my chances
    Truth: Re-infection with Covid is possible and we cannot predict who will get severe disease. We do know that the new vaccine protects around 90% of people so the safest option is to have it.
  • Myth #4: The vaccines are pointless unless everyone takes them
    Truth: If you are vaccinated you will be protected regardless of who else is vaccinated. But the more people who are vaccinated the better because this will protect babies and other vulnerable groups who can’t be vaccinated themselves.
  •  Myth #5: The type of vaccines for Covid have never been tried before – we’re all just guinea pigs
    Truth: mRNA vaccines have been tested on animals and were very safe and effective against influenza virus, Zika virus, rabies virus and others. mRNA vaccines have also been tested in human clinical trials to treat cancer.

Covid-19 vaccination websites now LIVE

Some webpages have been set up to help with the most common questions about the COVID vaccination, these will be on all of the CCGs websites, Warwickshire North CCG’s website, click here and for South Warwickshire CCG, click here. The information on both sites is the same and will be duplicated on Coventry and Rugby CCG website early next week, but hasn’t been possible today due to a technical issue.

We will be adding to the web pages all the time and now that the vaccination programme is gathering place locally as well as nationally, we will share vaccination centres as soon as they are available. However, it will be stressed that patients have to be invited for a vaccination, they cannot simply turn up and they should wait to be contacted.

Email for questions

There is dedicated email address for enquiries about the vaccine warnoccg.vaccinecoventrywarwickshire@nhs.net. Please make sure that all enquiries about the vaccine, vaccine delivery programme or vaccine availability are sent to this address, in order to guarantee a timely response.

Charlotte Temple on 07795 367825 charlotte.temple@uhcw.nhs.uk

Pam Martin on 024 7696 5833 pamela.martin@uhcw.nhs.uk

Other useful resources are:

Useful articles for supporting a griever:

Warwickshire’s Local Welfare Scheme can offer help to vulnerable families and individuals particularly affected by the pandemic this winter with access to

  • Food
  • Energy bills
  • Water bills

Contact the Scheme to find out more about this and other support by calling 0800 408 1448 or 01926 359182 or visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/localwelfarescheme

  • Families with children under the age of 19 years old if you are struggling you can apply for financial support during the Christmas Holiday Period be contacting advisors in the Local Welfare Team  0800 408 1448 or 01926 359182 or visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/localwelfarescheme
  • Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) Residents Warwickshire County Council is available to help support vulnerable residents stay at home as much as possible.  Call the COVID 19 SUPPORT HOTLINE 0800 408 1447

Advice to support your Health, Wealth, Housing and Wellbeing

  • Citizens Advice South Warwickshire  0300 330 1183 or email via the website www.casouthwarwickshire.org.uk
  • National Debtline  Call 0808 808400 or visit www.nationaldebtline.org
  • Citysave Credit Union Ltd – have you thought about using a Credit Union? They provide an alternative to high street banks, payday loans & other lender. Citysave is a modern credit union providing services online.  To find out how they can help you call 0121 616 6200 or visit www.citisave,org,.uk

Are you worried you might lose your home? – Preventing Homelessness Improving Lives (p.h.i.l.) prevents people losing their home by tackling the early warning signs.

  • Lost your job
  • In debt
  • Missing rent [payments
  • Asked to leave your home

Don’t want for your problem to become a crisis? p.h.i.l. can help. Call 01788 533644 or 01788 533646 or contact via Facebook: fb.me/preventinghomelessness

Is your child entitled to Free School Meals? To apply visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/education-learning/apply-free-school-meals If your application is successful, your child(ren) will be eligible for free school meals until at least summer 2023. For more information contact WCC on 01926 359189 or email freemeals@warwickshire.gov.uk

Support for Families – the Family Information Service provides a range of information, advice and 1:1 support for families. Call 01926 742274 or visit https://warwickshire.gov.uk/fis

Support for Young People

  • Rise  provides emotional wellbeing and mental health services for children and young people: https://cwrise.com/ Contact the Rise Team on 02476 641799 between 8.00 am and 8.00 pm or on 0300 200 0011 outside these hours
  • Chat Health  - a text messaging service that enables young people between the ages of 11 and 19 to speak to a member of the school nursing team.  You will get a reply within 24 hours between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) Text 07507 331525
  • The Dimentions Tool – free online personalised information to support a persons/s wellbeing and mental health https://cwrise.com/dimensions-tool

Take care of Your Mental Wellbeing

  • Wellbeing for Warwickshire – telephone support to anyone in need of contact. Call 024 7771 2288 or email wbw@cwmind.org.uk
  • Samaritans if you are having a difficult time, whatever you are going through a Samaritan will face it with you. Call 116 123 any time, day or night, 365 days a year
  • Mental health Helpline and webchat Available 24/7.  Call 0800 616 171 or via the Time Online Webchat www.mhm.org.uk/coventry-warwickshire-helpline
  • Togetherall – an online community sharing what is troubling them, guided by trained professionals. www.togetherall.com

For more information and further resources visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/mentalhealth

Hardship Support in Warwickshire leaflet  available at https://api.warwickshire.gov.uk/documents/WCCC-1980322935-1767