Coronavirus: advice and updates

We all need to develop a strong community response to the coronavirus and take positive action to support and care for each other in the coming months.

Keeping up-to-date with the latest advice and what precautions to take is key to helping our organisations, volunteers, colleagues and members of our community.

This page will be updated daily to reflect current advice so keep checking in for the latest information.

Page updated 3 April 2020 1:00pm

Community response and volunteering

• If you would like to volunteer to support your local community and others please read our ‘how to’ guide (please note that on 30 March the NHS have temporarily paused recruitment of volunteers to process those who have signed up already).
• Our Community Support North Yorkshire service has produced guidance for community groups to help with the increase in people wanting to help their community through volunteering their time.
• The government has an extensive guide on planning the coordination of spontaneous volunteers and a factsheet on safeguarding community volunteers during the outbreak.
• North Yorkshire County Council has provided advice for how you can help your community.
• Over 500,000 people have signed up to be NHS volunteers, but there is room for more! Find out more and sign up here (please note that on 30 March the NHS have temporarily paused recruitment of volunteers to process those who have signed up already).
• Through Covid-19 Mutual Aid UK you can find your local mutual aid community group to help out in your area.
• North Yorkshire County Council are co-ordinating the county’s community response to help those isolated by the pandemic. Read more about it here.

Guidance for organisations and community groups

• The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) has issued guidance for steps you can take for your organisation, staff and visitors.
• Our Employment Support Advisors have written advice for staff, guidance on Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) in relation to self-isolation and guidance on how employers can claim employee wages on the Job Retention Scheme.
• The government has released guidance for the charity sector.
• ACAS has information and webinars available for employers and employees.
• The government has guidance on the closure of educational settings, which identifies key workers, including front-line charity workers, health staff, and food industry workers among others. This forms part of wider guidance for staff, parents and carers, pupils and students in educational settings.

Guidance for village halls and community buildings

• We’ve produced a Village Halls & Community Buildings FAQ which aims to answer your questions from hall closures and funding, to building works and insurance.
• Allied Westminster has updated a statement about insurance and village halls and community buildings.
• The briefing from the government on the evening of 23 March stated all playgrounds, libraries and shops not selling essential items must shut. ACRE has this poster for putting up at playgrounds if they are attached to your village hall or community building.
• ACRE have released guidelines on the eligibility for support from the government for village halls and rural community buildings.
• Download venue posters from Public Health England.

If you have a specific query please contact communitybuildings@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk

Information for carers and people with health conditions

• North Yorkshire County Council has collated information and include advice for community care, schools and educational settings
• Carers UK and Carers Trust have issued a joint statement for people who are providing unpaid care
• Healthwatch North Yorkshire are collating information relating to specific health conditions

Accessible guidance

• North Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults Board have compiled easy-read guidance for people with autism and/or learning disabilities and their families
• Doctors of the World and the British Red Cross have put together advice in a number of languages. So far there is English, Albanian,  Dari, French, Pashto, Portuguese, Bengali, Vietnamese, Kurdish Sorani, Mandarin, Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, Spanish, Turkish and Farsi, with others coming soon
• Migration Yorkshire have launched a Migrant Information Hub offering information and resources to migrants, and those supporting them.
• You can find a range of translated documents on social distancing on the government website.  It was reported by some local authority Arabic speakers that the Arabic translation was not adequate, so North Yorkshire County Council have produced this Arabic translation and a poster in Arabic for the prevention of spreading and catching the virus

 

We are following the advice of the Department of Health and Social Care, and Public Health England to look after ourselves, colleagues and volunteers:

Do

• wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
• always wash your hands when you get home or into work
• use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
• put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards
• try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell
• stay at home and self-isolate for seven days if you develop any symptoms, or for 14 days if anyone in your house shows symptoms. This longer period is because it can take 14 days for symptoms to appear and you may not know if you are infected
• follow social distancing; if you have to go out stay at least 2 metres away from other people to prevent transmission of the virus
• work from home where possible
• avoid large and small gatherings in public spaces
• only leave your house for limited purposes; shopping for basic necessities as infrequently as possible, a medical need or to provide care for someone, one form of exercise a day either by yourself or with members of your household

Don’t

• do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
• have contact with anyone who has symptoms
• go to your GP, pharmacy or hospital if you have symptoms, instead phone NHS 111

For the most up to date information on number of cases, social distancing and self-isolation visit the government’s website.