Sent on behalf of:

Abu Bah - Engagement Lead, Thamesmead Moorings
Khadijah Ahmed, Engagement Lead, Plumstead and Glyndon
Philip Connolly, Engagement Lead, Charlton
Rahman Famuditimi – Engagement Lead, Woolwich Common
Abu Siddiki – Engagement Lead, Woolwich Riverside
Louise Botfield – Engagement Lead, Sutcliffe Park (Page Estate)
Brenda Mason – Engagement Lead, Greenwich Peninsula (Caletock & Flamsteed Estates)

We hope that you’re finding these weekly updates helpful. Some of the information included, around how to stay safe, where to get tested, and the support available, will be similar every week. However, each update will also include a different ‘hot topic’ which will be relevant to the current situation, plus an updated statistic for the local Greenwich area. 

We would really like to encourage you to share the following information through:

1. friends or family who live in your area
2. local networks
3. neighbour or community groups you may be members of
4. with people who you come into regular contact with through your work or local groups

If you haven’t already, it would be really helpful if you could take a couple of minutes to fill out this survey, which allows us to understand how widely this Community Update is being used, and whether it is reaching everyone it needs to. Click here to access the short survey.

KEY MESSAGES 04/05/2021

 

The Royal Borough of Greenwich is inviting local residents and members of the community to come together to develop and deliver projects to improve digital access within their community. Groups can apply to deliver one or more schemes including a tablet lending programme, a community WiFi scheme and digital skills training.  

Projects will be supported by the Royal Borough of Greenwich to improve digital access in their community between June and September this year.

The expression of interest is open until 23:59 on the 14th May. Complete online here.

To complete over the phone, or for further information please contact digitalproject@dgcities.com.

Digital Greenwich Cities and RBG are also hosting a virtual Market Day on 6 May 2021 from 10am to 11:30am. This is an opportunity to hear more about the interventions, the role community centres/champions will play in delivering them, and to ask any questions about the EOI.

To register for the event click here:  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/community-champions-digital-projects-market-day-tickets-152846531089

This Thursday 6^th May is your chance to vote for the new Mayor of London and London Assembly.

You can attend your local polling station between 7am and 10pm if you have chosen to vote in person. This year there are some differences at the polling stations to help protect you and others from COVID-19 whilst voting:

·         Please wear a face covering (unless you are exempt)

·         Please bring your own pen or pencil

·         Please bear in mind there may be a queue due to social distancing, as the number of people allowed in polling stations is limited.

·         Please use the sanitising stations at the entrance and exit of the polling station.

·         Please follow all COVID-19 guidance and signage in the polling station

For more information and guidance about COVID-19 whilst voting, click here to watch a short video

 

Engagement with the Caribbean Community – tonight at 7pm

Pastor Simon Esson and Royal Borough of Greenwich Public Health will be hosting an initial engagement event with Greenwich residents from Caribbean backgrounds. The event aims to improve understanding of the needs for the Caribbean community in Greenwich and to set the groundwork for stronger relationships and collaboration for a better, safer future. The event will take place between 7pm and 9pm on Tuesday 04/05/21. You can join using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84623290843?pwd=c2NqdVFrRmM5dm1ieUxlS05vLzBXZz09

 

Engagement with East, Central and southern African Communities – tomorrow at 4pm

Royal Borough of Greenwich Public Health will be hosting an initial engagement event with Greenwich residents from East, Central and southern African Communities backgrounds. The event aims to improve understanding of the needs for these communities in Greenwich and to set the groundwork for stronger relationships and collaboration for a better, safer future. The event will take place between 4pm and 6pm on Wednesday 05/05/21. You can join using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81260488199?pwd=bWJabHphTjFyUlB3R1ZtMWtabGVGZz09

Most people experience grief when they lose someone important to them. It affects everyone differently. There's no right or wrong way to feel.

Changes have been made to several services, including end of life and palliative care, as well as funeral arrangements.

You may feel that you need some extra help and support during this time. There are local places that can help, such as Greenwich Cruse Bereavement Centre, Greenwich and Bexley Hospice as well as national helplines such as Samaritans and Sudden.  

Live Well Greenwich has lots of helpful links that can hopefully help you during this difficult time.

1 in 3 people have coronavirus without knowing, so to reduce the spread, you can now get tested whether you have symptoms or not. The more people that get tested, the more we can prevent the spread of this virus.

Rapid test (LFD test)
If you don’t have symptoms, you can get a rapid test. Anyone can get one of these. If you have to leave your home regularly, it’s recommended you get a rapid test 2-3 times a week. It only takes 5 mins and results are emailed to you in 30 mins. Visit www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/rapidtest to book.

Test if you have symptoms (PCR test)
If you have coronavirus symptoms (fever, new continuous cough or a loss of sense of smell or taste), no matter how mild, get a test. These tests can only be taken if you have symptoms and it takes a bit longer for you to get the results – usually a few days.

Booking is essential. Order a home test kit if you cannot get to a test site. Go to gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test, or call 119.

Please see below for information on where you can get both types of coronavirus tests in the borough:

 

Testing is NOT available at the Emergency Department at the hospital or at your GP practice, so please do not attend here trying to get a test. 

 

No single person or group of people are more likely than others to catch or spread Coronavirus. You or someone close to may have been unwell with Covid or you may well know someone who has. It’s a very infectious illness affecting so many and there is absolutely no shame to anyone testing positive. The most important thing is to make sure you stay as well as you can, if you do get it, and that you don’t pass it on to anyone else.

If your test result is positive, you and your household will need to stay at home and self-isolate for 10 days. This is important to stop the virus spreading and keep your community safe.

This can be stressful and worrying when you need to go to work. If you are unable to claim sick-pay from your employer and are a low income household, a one-off £500 payment may be available from the Government to support you and your family during these 10 days. Find out if you are eligible to apply for this payment or call 0800 470 4831 to talk to a friendly, local advisor from the Live Well Greenwich Community Hub.
 

If you’re interested in helping your community through volunteering, a short training is available to introduce and prepare volunteers for the role of Neighbourhood Champion. This is an opportunity to learn, ask questions, share information and practice.

For more information, please email victoria.smith@royalgreenwich.gov.uk. 

If you think it would be helpful to share these messages via WhatsApp or text message, we have a shorter version available for this purpose. If you would like this, please let us know your mobile number and we can share this with you for you to forward on – please email robin.clarke@royalgreenwich.gov.uk directly with this information.

The community working in partnership with the Royal Borough of Greenwich and Public Health.