The Department for Education have today asked schools to remind parents that people should not travel to ‘amber’ and ‘red’ countries, and that strict rules on testing and quarantine remain in place to protect public health and the vaccination programme. Further information can be found in the guidance on red, amber and green list rules for entering England.

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 would love to hear your stories, advice or tips – whether that’s something that’s helped you through this difficult time, a recipe you’ve enjoyed, ideas for things to do as a family, a new walk you’ve discovered or how you’ve adapted to an everchanging situation. Please reply to this email with any ideas!

As before, 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

Top Tips Friday messages 28/05/2021
 

From 1 June to 4 June, free grab-and-go lunches for children can be collected at libraries and adventure parks, with no sign up required. Just turn up and tuck in. 

 

There are serving locations spread across the borough, and a full list of times and places can be found on the Royal Borough of Greenwich's website.

 

With more things opening up and having a bit more freedom, it’s ok to feel low, anxious, concerned or frustrated. It’s a difficult time, and we may be facing new challenges every day.

It’s important to ask for help, and lots of support is available on Live Well Greenwich. There’s also advice for people who have, or care for someone with, a mental health problem, as well as advice for parents and carers.

Taking time to relax, connecting with others, limiting screen time, looking after your body and focusing on what you can control is all even more important than ever.

Live Well Greenwich’s ‘Look After You’ hub has lots more advice and support, whether you need a friendly chat, emotional support, or are struggling with day to day life and need help urgently.

With the Government announcing its new roadmap out of lockdown, there is now a light at the end of the tunnel for things to hopefully re-open slowly. Outdoor sports such as golf, tennis or basketball are now open, as well as indoor leisure centres and gyms.

It’s still very important to follow the guidelines to stop the spread of coronavirus – remember ‘hands, face, space, fresh air’.

Greenwich has lots of parks and open spaces to make the most of when you do go out. Just remember to stay local (within walking distance) and keep at least 2 metres from those not in your household. Visit Walking for Health to download some local maps of walks to try.

Live Well Greenwich also has lots of information, ideas and support to help you look after your body and mind – which is even more important at the moment.

Although it’s an extremely difficult time at the moment, we can get through this together and it’s important we find whatever way we can to do that.  Thank you to everyone who’s already emailed their stories, we hope you enjoyed reading them.
 

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

Dear All

As part of the Deep Engagement work with neighbourhoods and communities, we held an initial engagement event with West African communities in Greenwich on 26^th April.

We are holding a follow up meeting on Wednesday 2^nd June where we can present feedback from the first meeting and decide together priorities and where to go next.

We would have liked to attach the report from the first meeting to this invite, but unfortunately due to some serious technical difficulties, we will send it early next week. We wanted to give as much time as possible for you to get this in your diaries and let others know, rather than delay at this point. 

Please find the full invite below and do pass on to any local West African residents/ organisations who might be interested in the event.

West African Communities, COVID-19 and recovery – Feedback Meeting

Hosts: Royal Greenwich Public Health Team

Date: Wed 2^nd June 2021

Time: 7-9pm 

Online: Zoom 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83713538562?pwd=bmR1THN3MXhHOFBvdVZZMC9tZVo0Zz09

Meeting ID: 837 1353 8562
Passcode: 649951

 

 

Robin Clarke

Health and Wellbeing Strategist

Public Health and Wellbeing

Royal Borough of Greenwich

 

*   The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London SE18 6HQ

8 www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk

Dear All

As part of the Deep Engagement work with neighbourhoods and communities, we held an initial engagement event with East, Central & Southern African communities in Greenwich on 5^th May.

We are holding a follow up meeting on Fri 28^th May where we can present feedback from the first meeting and decide together priorities and where to go next.

Everyone from local East, Central & Southern African communities is welcome, whether you were able to attend the first meeting or not.

We would have liked to attached the report from first meeting to this invite, but unfortunately due to some serious technical difficulties, we will send it early next week, but we wanted to give as much time as possible for you to get this in your diaries and let others know, rather than delay at this point. 

Please find the full invite below and do pass on to any local East, Central & Southern African residents/ organisations who might be interested in the event.

East, Central & Southern African Communities, COVID-19 and recovery – Feedback Meeting

Hosts: Royal Greenwich Public Health Team

Date: Fri 28^th May 2021

Time: 4-6 pm 

Online: Zoom 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83765720863?pwd=VERCcTdtQklPUUlSZEp6amw2NTJzQT09

Meeting ID: 837 6572 0863
Passcode: 705035

 

Robin Clarke

Health and Wellbeing Strategist

Public Health and Wellbeing

Royal Borough of Greenwich

 

*   The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London SE18 6HQ

8 www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk

Dear All

As part of the Deep Engagement work with neighbourhoods and communities, we held an initial engagement event with the Caribbean Community in Greenwich on 4^th May.

We are holding a follow up meeting on 26^th May where we can present feedback from the first meeting and decide together priorities and where to go next.

Everyone from the local Caribbean Community is welcome, whether you were able to attend the first meeting or not.

We would have liked to attached the report from the first meeting to this invite, but unfortunately due to some serious technical difficulties, we will send it early next week. We wanted to give as much time as possible for you to get this in your diaries and let others know, rather than delay at this point. 

Please find the full invite below and do pass on to any local Caribbean residents/ organisations who might be interested in the event.

Caribbean Community, COVID-19 and recovery – Feedback Meeting

Hosts: Royal Greenwich Public Health Team

Date: Wed 26^th May 2021

Time: 7-9pm 

Online: Zoom 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82733990006?pwd=b3VBOGJEaVZrUFNTMm9kTG5hN1NBZz09

Meeting ID: 827 3399 0006
Passcode: 732010

 

 

Robin Clarke

Health and Wellbeing Strategist

Public Health and Wellbeing

Royal Borough of Greenwich

 

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 18/05/2021

 

Restrictions have been eased following the move to step 3, including the opening of indoor restaurants, pubs and cafes, entertainment venues such as cinemas, theatres and museums and outdoor gatherings can now include up to 30 people. Up to 6 people from different households can also now meet inside. Please see the helpful image below for more information:

 

 

However we must continue to be cautious to protect ourselves and others, especially with the rise in cases of the Indian variant. The Indian variant is thought to be more transmissible, meaning it spreads more easily from person to person than other variants.

Please keep practising ‘Hands, Face, Space, Fresh Air’ – wash or sanitise your hands regularly, wear a face covering when in enclosed spaces such as public transport and shops, stay 2 metres from others, and try to meet in the fresh air as much as possible, even with indoor venues opening.

If you show any symptoms (a high temperature, a new continuous cough or a loss of, or change in, your sense of taste or smell), however mild, please get a test immediately. If you test positive, please self-isolate to help reduce the spread.

There’s no reason to think that the covid-19 vaccine is not effective against the Indian variant, therefore it’s very important to take up your vaccine when you are invited. The vaccine is safe and effective and gives you the best protection against COVID-19. For more information visit www.nhs.uk/covidvaccine.

For more information, visit www.gov.uk.

Did you know, 600 people are diagnosed with dementia each day in the UK, and there are almost 3,000 Royal Greenwich residents living with dementia? This Dementia Action Week (17 to 23 May) take some time to learn more about dementia and find out what you and your communities can do to make your spaces more dementia-inclusive.

The Dementia Hub is the place to go for information, support, news and resources. Why not also join our online event (Wednesday 19 May, 2 to 3.30pm on Zoom), in which you’ll hear from people with lived experiences of dementia. You’ll learn about what communities and organisations within Royal Greenwich have done to make their spaces, work and services more dementia-inclusive.

Find out about the All Aboard project for people living with dementia and join activities run by the National Maritime Museum. Sign up via Eventbrite.

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.