KENT TOGETHER - HELPLINE LAUNCHED BY KENT COUNTY COUNCIL
A 24 hour helpline has been set up to support vulnerable people in Kent who need urgent help, supplies or medication.
The helpline – called Kent Together - provides a single, convenient point of contact for anyone in the county who is in urgent need of help during the Coronavirus outbreak. It is a collaboration between KCC, central Government, District, Borough and local councils, the voluntary and community sector, the NHS, emergency services and other partners to ensure help is at hand for vulnerable people.
It is also the place to report your concerns about the welfare of someone else.
Kent County Council Leader Roger Gough said: “In every district and borough throughout Kent and Medway there has been an incredible and heartening response to this pandemic, and we have a huge army of remarkable, public-spirited volunteers who are ready and willing to help each other through these challenging times.
“We now need to make sure that these vital resources are directed to where they are most needed. The new central helpline will link to Community Hubs across the county and ensure that we are effectively working hand in hand with the amazing teams out in the heart of communities in every part of Kent.”
Kent Together is being coordinated by Kent County Council which will feed the information through the network of volunteers, district and borough council teams and local support groups, to ensure people get the support they need, when they need it.
People’s needs will be assessed and staff will liaise with Community Hubs in the districts to prioritise those who need urgent help.
Mr Gough added: “At this unprecedented time, we all need to support each other to cope with the changes to our lifestyles we’ve had to make in order to delay the spread of Covid-19.
“I appreciate those radical changes have brought about difficulties and uncertainty and that we are all having to live our lives very differently.
“I hope with the launch of this service we can help bring some sense of familiarity and comfort back to those who desperately need it.”
If you are vulnerable and have an urgent need that cannot be met through existing support networks, you can contact the Kent Together helpline at www.kent.gov.uk/KentTogether or by calling on 03000 41 92 92. It is a 24 hour service.
Kent County Council also has a page on its website answering frequently-asked questions and the very latest Coronavirus information on its service updates page.
Visit www.kent.gov.uk to find out more.
#Kenttogether
24th March 2020
To all Sevenoaks Residents
Coronavirus COVID 19 Emergency Measures
Following the Prime Minister’s address to the nation on 23rd March 2020 all communal places within parks, such as playgrounds, skate parks, sports courts and outdoor gyms have been closed from today.
The instruction has also been given that people must stay at home except where it is essential for work purposes – but workers should be trying to minimise all meetings and other gatherings in the workplace. Our offices are now closed for the public to attend, answer phone messages and emails will be responded to asap.
Our Grounds Team (exception of cemetery staff) are therefore being asked to go home and be available only in essential situations and as back up to cemetery staff.
Please help us to limit the spread of the virus by:
- Taking your litter and dog waste home
- Respecting the closure of playgrounds, skate parks and outdoor gyms
- Following government guidelines
Tending allotments is still permitted but please observe strict social spacing and wear gloves when opening and closing gates.
Thank you for your support and assistance in keeping the special town of Sevenoaks and the community safe in these exceptional times.
Linda Larter MBE
Chief Executive / Town Clerk
24th March 2020
To all Residents
Coronavirus Advice
Your Town Council is with you and will support you in whatever way it can during this frightening and difficult time. We understand how stressful the present situation is going to be and whilst we may not be in a position to help you directly as we are a small organisation, we will post on this website any information we receive and contact details of help available from Government, local Councils and Community Organisations.
We will update information on this website as often as we are able. If you need to, email us on council@sevenoakstown.gov.uk and we will attempt to forward your enquiry to the appropriate group, if we cannot answer it.
We are supporting the Facebook group to help ‘Care for our Community-Sevenoaks’ and Sevenoaks Residents Associations have also distributed contact details of volunteers who may be able to offer assistance or direction.
The Town Council offices are closed. However the Town Council answerphone 01732 459953 will be periodically checked.
Linda Larter
Town Clerk/Chief Executive
Be a good neighbour – your community needs you
Over the coming days, weeks and months, it is likely that some of our Sevenoaks community will be required to self-isolate. Lets us help each other, as best we can, to get through this period of anxiety, uncertainty and potential loneliness.
Please think about the needs of your neighbours, especially (but not exclusively) the elderly and vulnerable. Give them a call or knock on their door to check they’re ok. Make sure they have food and other essential items, check whether they need help with shopping and make sure they have your phone number.
We thought it would be nice to follow the initiative started in Cornwall to spread kindness and offer to help those who may not like to ask for it. At the back of this leaflet, you will find two cut-outs that may be useful to offer help to a neighbour who you may be concerned about.
We are fortunate enough to have a local volunteer group that has set up a Facebook group to help those that have decided to self-isolate ‘Care for our Community-Sevenoaks’. Sevenoaks Residents Associations are also doing what they can to help.
Dear Sevenoaks Resident
The Coronavirus pandemic is now impacting on all of us. We are all worried and uncertain about the future. It is terribly important that we continue to follow government advice on how to mitigate the risks associated with this disease.
While central and local government have their roles to play, we all know in our hearts that all of us who are in a position to do so will need to step up to the plate and do their bit as this crisis plays out. My core message to the residents of Sevenoaks Town is: ‘Be a Good Neighbour - Your Community Needs You’.
I am grateful to those residents (including Residents’ Associations and Neighbourhood Watch groups) who have already started to organise support for vulnerable and older people in their streets. There is an excellent page on Facebook called ‘Care for our Community - Sevenoaks’, which offers support for those who want to get the ball rolling with their neighbours. I must also strongly advise that any person receiving offers of support – such as to do the shopping – should confirm that the volunteer is a genuine neighbour and not a fraudster.
Sevenoaks Town Council’s priority is to maintain public services and continue to support voluntary organisations wherever possible.
Councillor Nicholas Busvine OBE
Mayor of Sevenoaks
16th March 2020