Pictured: Councillors Piers McCausland, Will Sweet and Rory O'Broin.
Your Essential Fairfield Update: May 2020
Dear Wandsworth Resident,
We understand that many local people are very worried about the effects of COVID-19 on our community here in central Wandsworth. We wanted to get in touch with you to share information about how we can best protect ourselves and support each other.
We are all working with Council staff to keep on serving the needs of residents and are proud of the work they have done to keep essential services running and support the most vulnerable in our community.
Local Charities
The Council has not, of course, been alone. Our very own Wandsworth Age UK, with its headquarters on Old York Road, has been working side-by-side with the Council to get care packages to those that need them. Locally, there are so many inspirational initiatives and unsung heroes who are supporting our community during these very challenging times.
We were particularly proud that the Council took the right decision this week to give an extra £100,000 to local charities on the front line.
Social Isolation
If you are self-isolating or know a neighbour who needs help, perhaps with prescriptions or shopping, you might like to know that the Council Hub is available and able to get help to those that need it. We would be more than happy to help if you contact us directly.
Not many Councils have a social isolation tsar, but ours has been giving tips. You can find some of the tips here.
You can also find out more information about other support that’s available in Wandsworth below.
As ever, if there is anything we as councillors can help with, then please just drop us a line by clicking on our names.
With very best wishes,
Will Sweet, Piers McCausland, Rory O’Broin
Stay at Home – Protect the NHS – Save Lives
The expert advice is clear, we all need to stay at home and minimise our social interaction for the next few weeks in order to reduce the spread of the virus. The Government has said people should only leave the house for one of four reasons.
- Shopping for basic necessities for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible.
- One form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household.
- Any medical need or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.
- Travelling to and from work but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home.
Working laptops and tablets needed to tackle Digital Poverty
Wandsworth Council has announced it will issue emergency phone data top-up vouchers to school pupils thanks to a £10,000 partnership with Battersea Power Station Foundation. This will support local families who are struggling to stay digitally connected during the COVID-19 crisis.
Also aimed at tackling digital poverty which affects the ability of some families to continue their children’s education from home, the ‘Power to Connect’ campaign works with local community partners to improve access to computers or tablets. As part of the initiative, a new laptop and tablet collection scheme is helping local families without a computer at home.
Local residents and businesses across Wandsworth are asked to donate old laptops and tablets that are in full working order to be re-purposed by volunteers with IT experience who are giving some of their time and expertise to help.
A computer renovation hub has been set up with strict social distancing practices in place. It will be staffed by a minimal number of volunteers who will wipe the computers before turning them into Chromebooks. Each device will be thoroughly cleaned and delivered to community organisations that will distribute them to local families and patients at St George’s NHS Hospital.
If you would like to support the ‘Power to Connect’ campaign through computer donations, by volunteering your IT expertise or your time to collect and drop off the refurbished Chromebooks, or by making a donation to the data top-up voucher fund, further information on how to get involved can be found at www.powertoconnect.co.uk
Helping Vulnerable People
The Council has created a Community Hub for residents, particularly those people who are elderly and/or vulnerable without support networks, who need support to access medical/care services and food supplies. It is designed to help those most in need to stay safe and well while they self-isolate at home.
You can call our Community Hub on 020 8871 6555 or click here to e-mail our Community Hub.
You can see a short video of the Council’s work with Wandsworth's AgeUK to deliver food parcels across the borough here.
You can find support for the voluntary and community sector by clicking here.
If you want to help
If you are an individual, business or organisation that is interested in helping, we would encourage you to visit our webpage and complete our online form in the ‘how your organisation can help’ section.
If you are an existing voluntary or community group in the borough, or one who has been formed in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, you can contact the Wandsworth Voluntary Sector Co-ordination Project (part of the Care Alliance) to liaise with the Council.
Helping Businesses, Employees, and the Self-Employed
In response to the economic impact of the virus, the Chancellor has announced an unprecedented package of financial measures. The measures include business rate relief, grants and loans to keep businesses and the economy going during these difficult times.
Details of the schemes and how to apply can be found by here.
The Council has already paid out over £20 million of grants, helping hundreds of local businesses. So please do visit the website and see what your business can apply for.
Update on Council Services
The Council has had to reduce or change a number of services across the borough as part of the emergency response, here are some of services that are affected:
- All libraries and leisure centres are currently closed however online resources continue to be available.
- Parks and green spaces remain open but signs have been placed on playgrounds and equipment reminding residents of the need to maintain social distancing measures.
- Rubbish and Recycling collections are running to schedule.
But we have had to postpone the collection of garden waste and we urge people not to dispose of bulky items at this time. The waste crews are doing a tremendous job keeping the service running with reduced staffing levels due to the virus. We have also had to close the tip at Smugglers Way for the time being.
Schools and Children
- School attendance in Wandsworth has been very low, which means local people are staying home to protect the NHS.
- We know it’s difficult having children unable to go out during these difficult times. The Council has put together a page with fun digital activities for young people, including yoga, audiobooks, boxing and cooking. There’s a section specifically on SEND, too: https://shar.es/aHhRZG
- Many Wandsworth schools are staying open for children of key workers and vulnerable children. A few have made alternative arrangements with nearby schools; you can contact your headteacher for details.
- Some key workers have been in touch because they need to work but their children’s private nurseries have closed. If you need help, please contact your ward councillors, who will try to help you find a place.
You can find the latest updates on the Council’s website.
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