Staying Safe

Keep yourself safe:

• This is a highly infectious virus and if you become infected, you are likely to infect others. By keeping yourselves safe, you help stop the spread of the virus and keep people around you safe.
• Follow Government advice on preventing the spread of the virus and social distancing.
• Avoid any physical contact with vulnerable groups or those who are self-isolating.
• If you are unwell, follow NHS guidance and do not seek to help others.

Advice to residents:

• Only accept help from someone you know and trust
• Never give anyone your cash card or credit card and PIN – always give cash and ask for a receipt
• If someone is doing shopping for you, provide them with a list and budget, based on what you can afford
• It is your home and you do not have to agree to anything a visitor may ask
• Never deal with unknown cold callers
• If you are in doubt, or feel pressurised or threatened close the door, call a friendly neighbour or in an emergency ring 999

We want to help keep the people of Norfolk up to date by highlighting scams which are using the current situation as part of their approach. The latest information and advice is available at: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/business/trading-standards/scams/consumer-alerts

Supporting your community

Key principles                       

• Always make sure residents wanting to help put their own health first and do not inadvertently spread the virus further.
• Residents should be aware of and follow Government advice – maintain good hygiene, such as regularly washing your hands and reduce social interaction between people in order to reduce the transmission by providing support over the phone and social media.

• For grassroots activity, hyperlocal works best – advise people to support their own neighbours on their street or a couple or roads nearby as large scale won’t be effective.
• For those wanting to undertake higher risk activities with safeguarding risks, they should volunteer for an existing charity.

 

Six Ways to Help:

1. Be a great neighbour

The most immediate form of help that residents can provide to their community during this time is to look out for vulnerable neighbours.

2. Donate

Anyone looking to donate money can be advised of the following routes:

• Norfolk Community Foundation, working alongside partners, has established the Covid-19 Community Response Fund to support our local charities working hard on the ground to keep vulnerable people safe and well. Further information can be found at: www.norfolkfoundation.com/giving-philanthropy/.
• The National Emergencies Trust (NET), in partnership with the British Red Cross, has launched a fundraising appeal, to raise and distribute funds to support communities made most vulnerable by the coronavirus outbreak.  Further information can be found here: https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/national-emergencies-trust-coronavirus-appeal

3. Give time

Voluntary Norfolk will be using their volunteering portal to gather the various roles that are needed in the sector. This can be found here: https://www.voluntarynorfolk.org.uk/volunteering/. More options will be added as more gaps arise.  This is a great option for those wanting a more structured way to help or to do roles which require safeguarding and training.

4. Support community groups

If you speak to people running an existing community group who are looking for guidance and advice, Community Action Norfolk are supporting in this way.  Their website has several resources for the VCSE sector: www.communityactionnorfolk.org.uk.

5. Advise local businesses

New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership via the New Anglia Growth Hub is offering free advice and guidance to local businesses, whether they are experiencing supply chain issues, order or booking cancellations, a reduction in sales, or any other challenge, they contact the Growth Hub to speak to one of their qualified business advisers. They are also offering free support and advice to help businesses to access the support measures put in place by Government.  Email: [email protected] or telephone 0300 333 6536 (Mon- Fri 9am-5pm).

More information about the measures put in place by the Government to support businesses can be found here: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/care-support-and-health/health-and-wellbeing/adults-health/coronavirus/business-support

6. Support vulnerable people

If residents feel a member of their family is at risk due to their age or an underlying health condition, the advice is to practice social distancing and consider isolating themselves before any symptoms occur.  The government has issued advice on how to self-isolate and reduce the possibility of transmission.

The NCC website has further information about supporting vulnerable people here: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/care-support-and-health/health-and-wellbeing/adults-health/coronavirus/supporting-vulnerable-people.