See the latest news and get more information regarding coronavirus (Covid-19). Find out more about help for affected businesses and individuals. Please use our online forms, webchat, app and phone number to contact us. Our offices are closed to the public. We have suspended garden waste collections to free up resource for the other collections.
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Community help and volunteering
The measures designed to combat the spread of coronavirus will have an effect on many people in our communities - especially the elderly and sick.
Emergency support line for vulnerable people needing urgent help
There is a new emergency support service for people at high risk of becoming seriously ill, as a result of COVID-19, and who do not have support available from friends, family or neighbours.
The Emergency telephone support line is 0800 783 1966
Or you can email your request for help to: COVID19support@cumbria.gov.uk
Or you can make a request by online form
The telephone ‘call’ centre will operate Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and 10am to 2pm at weekends. The service will also accepts referrals from members of the public who may be concerned about people in their community
The helpline is there to support those at ‘high risk’ and include people over 70 years old, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions who should be protecting themselves by staying at home.
The majority of these people will already be receiving support from family, friends or local voluntary groups with tasks like shopping or collection of medicines if they require it. But we know that a small number of people will not have this support. If they have no alternative, these people will now be able to call the Freephone number to request help with getting food, medicines, essential supplies and home deliveries.
Cumbria County Council has been working closely with District Councils, CVS, Cumbria Community Foundation, community and voluntary sector, private sector and military to establish these new arrangements. To support the new helpline every area is coordinating a supply of essential food, medicines and supplies which can only be accessed via the emergency helpline or email. The requests received asking for help will then be matched with local support and supplies being offered by community groups, volunteers, councils and businesses.
Cumbria is already seeing widespread community and voluntary sector support for the response to COVID-19 and informal support, including neighbourhood WhatsApp groups and community Facebook groups, alongside a commitment from existing community emergency planning groups, local churches and faith groups and formal voluntary sector organisations who are working with the county council and partners including District Councils and NHS.
Volunteering in your community
Vulnerable people and elderly people in your community who are staying at home, self-isolating or shielding may need the support of volunteers - could you help?
The SupportCumbria website is a collaboration of agencies and communities across Cumbria to offer volunteering support at a community level. They are looking for volunteers of all levels.
You might have specific skills to offer or may want to help with tasks like shopping, dog walking, collecting prescriptions and other help.
Go to the SupportCumbria website to register as a volunteer or to register a volunteer group.
Advice for volunteer groups
The latest government guidance for staying at home and away from others says people may leave home 'to provide care or to help a vulnerable person' - we hope this will reassure people that it is still OK to shop for neighbours, friends or family members. We would advise volunteers to make themselves familiar with the guidance below and the latest guidance on gov.uk.
Download the CVS Coronavirus Volunteer Handbook
Download volunteer guidelines produced by Cumbria CVS
More advice is available via these websites:
- Supporting others in your community during COVID-19 with shopping
- Access resources from Cumbria CVS at cumbriacvs.org.uk/coronavirus and cumbriacvs.org.uk/coronavirus/covid-19-volunteering
- Community groups and COVID-19: what you need to know about data protection
Together we can
Cumbria #TogetherWeCan is a campaign bringing you positive stories and information from across the county, lifting morale and showcasing the efforts of people responding to the outbreak of #COVID19 #Coronavirus.
So why not send stories and snippets to them by email or via their social media channels:
- Twitter: @TogetherCumbria https://twitter.com/TogetherCumbria
- Instagram: @TogetherCumbria https://www.instagram.com/togethercumbria
- Facebook: @TogetherCumbria https://www.facebook.com/TogetherCumbria
We are using the hashtags #TogetherWeCan and #TogetherCumbria and hope that you are able to share your support for the campaign through your social media.
The themes are:
- Together we can…. Stay fit and healthy at home
- Together we can … Keep our minds healthy
- Together we can – share our fab food stories
- Together we can – educate our kids at home
- Together we can – cooks great recipes at home
- Together we can – shop local and support our businesses
- Together we can – learn new skills
- Together we can – celebrate our public sector heroes
- Together we can – stay indoors, support our NHS, save lives
Other groups that offer help and assistance
Cumbria County County is coordinating efforts to help communities. There website has a wealth of information for residents.
Go to the Cumbria County Council website
The are many established community and volunteer groups such as Cumbria CVS, as well as Cumbria Community Foundation (CCF) who may be able to provide financial help.