Community Support Information

To provide an extra helping hand to our communities; our Community Team has been collecting together some community support information in partnership with many of our local and national partners. 

There are numerous links to community support information; including official government and council advice, support and advice for accessing vital services, and fun activities and keep fit whilst at home. 

Check out the Ageing Well website here. There is also information on shopping and accessing food, as well as an activity pack for older people with some great at home activities which is updated every week. 

This web page is being updated regularly therefore if you or your organisation wish to be added to this information page please contact the community team - Victoria and Sam - via community@buses.co.uk 

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has helped us put this information page together. Your contributions have been invaluable. The coronavirus has already changed our lives in so many ways and catapulted us into uncharted waters but we believe we can come through this together.

VirtualBus360

We are very excited to launch our very first online virtual bus experience - the VirtualBus360 

Follow the link above to step inside three different virtual buses, you will hear about bus services first-hand from real customers; bus drivers and customer service colleagues, as they share their own travelling experiences and tips in 23 separate videos. The videos and online information cover every aspect of bus travel including accessibility, tickets and payments, journey planning, real-time bus information and environmental and technological features.     

You can use your phones, tablets, or computers to hop on board a virtual bus and explore, checking out seating - including priority seating, wheelchair, and buggy spaces; as well as the bus's manual ramp; luggage racks; handrails and grab poles. You can also check out the hearing loop system, GPS tracking, CCTV, USB charging points, anti-virus air filters, Wi-Fi and next stop audio and visual announcements and even ring the bells!    

VirtualBus360 was designed through a collaboration involving the technical expertise of 4WardFutures, and the support of several charities including Grace Eyre Foundation, Guide Dogs, Speak Out, Switchboard and Possability People.

Mobile Vaccination Service

Did you know you can get your COVID vaccination on board a bus? 

Mobile vaccination buses are now active around the city, offering the vaccine to people who cannot get to the larger sites. Brighton & Hove and Metrobus are very proud to be part of this programme. 

For dates and locations for this week see here.

Together Co: Vaccine Buddies service

Together Co are now offering a Vaccine Buddies service to accompany and reassure people who are anxious about attending their vaccination appointment. The Buddy will call the person ahead of the appointment to introduce themselves and will then meet them at the relevant vaccination centre - this includes the Racecourse, Brighton Centre, and MVUs. A phone call after the appointment will also be offered.

To refer, email socialprescribing.togetherco@nhs.net with the title Vaccine Buddies.

You can also call on 01273 229 002 and leave a message.

They will ask for the following information:

  • Person's name, age, address and mobile number
  • Summary of need
  • Date and venue of vaccination appointment if already arranged - we prefer 5 days' notice if possible
  • Anything the Buddy needs to know that would help them be sensitive to the person's situation.

Please note that they cannot offer transport or mobility support.

The Buddies will have a letter showing that they are from Together Co that they can show to vaccination centre staff and the person referred.

Bus information 

Train Information

Face coverings on public transport

See our current advice of face coverings and safety on board our buses here.  

Social distancing and capacity on public transport

From Monday 17 May the government relaxed some social distancing guidelines.

All forward-facing seats can now be used with people sitting side by side as on trains and tube. Passengers may also sit on side-facing seats.

What stays the same, is that rear-facing seats and seats within 2 metres of the driver must be empty and passengers are not allowed to stand.

See here for more information. 

Keep Fit whilst #StayHome - Helpful links for at home fitness

Other activities whilst #StayHome

GOV.UK Official advice - Including NHS and County Council information 

Brighton and Hove Council

Coronavirus - Updates and changes to services

Switchboard- 01273 290000.

Concessionary Travel - 01273 296270

Supporting your wellbeing 

Looking after your mental health | Financial Wellbeing | Taking advantage of some time to yourself | Keeping Active | Sleeping Well | Eating Well | Working Well from home | Advice for parents | Advice for pregnant women and new mums | Advice for carers | Relationship support | Bereavement support | Suicide Prevention.

Request help for yourself or someone else

Finding help with shopping, collecting prescriptions and other support | Emergency foodbank referrals | Support to keep active and well and to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness | Looking after someone else | Domestic and sexual abuse and violence | Help for adults that need care and support | Report a hate crime | Local Community information

Covid Brighton & Hove

A new online coronavirus help directory has launched, providing trusted information on COVID-19 to residents of Brighton & Hove.

COVID Brighton & Hove is a new central resource which will be updated daily with the latest welfare advice, support offers, public health advice and all the vital rapidly changing information on COVID-19. It has a special focus on protecting and supporting the most vulnerable and excluded members of our communities.

Local charities Community Works and The Trust for Developing Communities set up this website in coordination with Brighton & Hove City Council, health organisations and local charities and community groups. The project was made possible by support from NHS Brighton & Hove Clinical Commissioning Group and Sussex Community Foundation.

Community Groups in Brighton & Hove area 

Community groups in East, West, Central and North Brighton

UK Power Network

This document provides useful information on how to contact UK Power Network in an emergency, and the Priority Services Register.

East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service - Home Safety Visits

East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service can now carry out special virtual "visits" over the phone where they can talk to you about the fire risk in your home, after which they may:

  • Post you further information leaflets AND / OR
  • Post you smoke alarms to fit yourself OR
  • If the risk is high and no one in your home is able to fit a smoke alarm they will take protective precautions and fit a smoke alarm for you in your home  

Please feel free to contact on behalf of a friend or relative, but their permission would be needed first.

If you would like to find out more about a Home Safety Visit, you can either:  

A member of the Community Safety Team will then be in contact to arrange a suitable time for a telephone chat, who will ask a few simple questions regarding your property and the occupants.  This will then help determine how best to assist.  

Mental Health and anxiety support and information 

  • Anxiety UK - 0344 477 5774 
  • Community Roots - Helpline- 0808 196 1768 - General Queries - 01273 405 800
  • NHS Every Mind Matters 
  • Mind - 01273 666950 - also see their Wellbeing Leaflet
  • MindOut - 01273 234839 
  • Samaritans - 0330 094 5717 or Free from any phone - 116 123. Monday 10am–10pm Tuesday 10am –2 pm / 8pm–10pm Wednesday 10am–10pm Thursday 10am–10pm Friday 10am–10pm Saturday 2pm–10pm Sunday 10am–10pm 
  • MindEd - Helping front line staff in the NHS and care services manage their own mental health and well-being. 
  • E-wellbeing - powered by YMCA Downlink Group to supporrt children and young people
  • BEAT - Eating disorder support - 0808 801 0677

Addiction support

  • OK Rehab - a specialist drug and alcohol treatment provider, offering inclusive treatment options in the community and residential settings.

Bereavement Support

Advice and support for people living with dementia and also carers

Support and advice for carers 

Information and support if you have a sight impairment

Information and support for people with a hearing impairment

LGBTQ+

Fraud and Scam Awareness Advice

Message on Track and trace scams:

The Police and Trading Standards are concerned that fraudsters will try and exploit this new system and get people to click on links or pass over information they shouldn’t. 

 The information below it to help you make sure you are in contact with the right people.

 Genuine Contact Tracers will;

Initially contact you by sending a text messages from ‘NHS’, calling you from 0300 013 5000 or by e-mail.

 They will ask; 

  • That you sign into the NHS test and trace contact-tracing website seen here:  https://contact-tracing.phe.gov.uk
  • Your full name and date of birth to confirm your identity, and postcode to offer support while self-isolating.
  • About the coronavirus symptoms you have been experiencing.
  • You to provide the name, telephone number and/or email address of anyone you have had close contact with in the two days prior to your symptoms starting.
  • If anyone you have been in contact with is under 18 or lives outside of England.

They will never; 

  • Try and get you to dial a premium rate (09 or 087) number to speak to them.
  • Ask you to make any form of payment or purchase a product or any kind.
  • Try and get you to download any software to your PC or ask you to hand over control of your PC, smartphone or tablet to anyone else.
  • Ask you to access any website other than this one https://contact-tracing.phe.gov.uk
  • Try and get any details about your bank account.
  • Ask you for any passwords or PINs.
  • Try and get you to set up any passwords or PINs over the phone.
  • Ask for your social media identities or login details, or those of your contacts.
  • Offer any medical advice on the treatment of any potential coronavirus symptoms.

If you suffer from fraud as the result of any such scams then please do report to Action Fraud using the link here:  Action Fraud website

 The National Cyber Security Centre is also keen to have phishing attacks that people receive forwarded to them via the e-mail address here: report@phishing.gov.uk

Also see information on possible scams relating to the vaccinations here.

and NHS information on how you will be contacted for a vaccination and stopping a scam here. 

Loneliness and isolation support and information 

  • Campaign To End Loneliness - 0203 8653908 
  • AbilityNet - This FREE webinar will offer information and support on how you can stay connected with family and friends using technology during a time of social isolation - and to learn skills for when it is no longer necessary.
  • Together Co - Support Us and Coronavirus information. Telephone Befriending service: 01273 775888
  • The Deans Senior Tea Club - based in Rottingdean. 
  • The Silver Line  - Information, friendship, and advise for older people. 0800 4 70 80 90

Domestic and Sexual Violence Support

  • DASS The Domestic Abuse Specialist Service - Helpline Monday-Friday 9-5pm: 0300 323 9985 
  • DASS The 24hr 7-day-a-week Support line can be accessed via calling 0808 1689 111
  • DASS The 24/7 Live Chat service can be accessed here. 
  • Survivor's Network - Helpline Mon & Wed 12-2pm: 01273 720110. Still taking Counselling and ISVA referrals. Resource list for lockdown, including a self help guide for survivors, here.
  • Rise 01273 622 828 Monday –Friday 9am - 5pm
  • Women's Aid Survivors' Forum
  • The Portal - 0300 323 9985
  • BHCC Advice

Teen Mental Health – A Guide for Parents

- COVID-19 meant missing out on some of the biggest moments in their young lives, with school closed and social events cancelled. Months in lockdown also meant a rise in cyberbullying and body dissatisfaction as teenagers spend more time on social media. 

Check out the below link

Other group information 

As well as the links above we have also added information from:

Amaze Sussex

Amaze Sussex is a local charity working with disabled 0 to 25 year olds and their families.

Amaze helpline (Brighton & Hove and East Sussex): sendiass@amazesussex.org.uk Tel. 01273 772289 - Monday to Friday 9.30am to 2.30pm

Amaze FAQ about the coronavirus for parent carers of children with SEND   

Amazing community postcard 

Leisure, Learning and Lock-down

Age UK

National information from Age UK

0800 678 1602 Monday - Sunday 8am to 7pm 

Age UK West Sussex

Information and Advice, Telephone befriending, Doorstep Deliveries, Welfare and Safety Support, Wellbeing advice.

If you’d like to access any of the services above, or you’re worried about an older friend or family member at this time, please call on 01903 731800 or email information@ageukwestsussex.org.uk

The Bevy 

The Bevy community pub in Moulsecoomb is continuing to provide a ‘Meals on Wheels’ style service to vulnerable local people who can’t get out to buy food during the Covid-19 crisis.

If you live in Moulsecoomb and Bevendean, have been told not to or cannot leave your home and would like to receive one of these meals, or know someone who would then please phone 01273 281009

Brighton and Hove City Council – Falls prevention advice

You can watch exercise 'snacks' three times a day, via Facebook and then they're available on YouTube. Search 'Make Movement Your Mission'

If anyone has a family member or friend who might benefit but can't use the IT, it might work if they watch the films themselves so that they can get the information, perhaps make some notes, then talk through it next time they're in touch. You can share with your colleagues, professional networks and also think about your own health, your friends and your families.

Alternatively the very informative Get Up & Go falls prevention booklet contains lots of useful ideas and six exercises. It can be downloaded here, then maybe printed and sent in the post. A film of the exercises is here. Just the exercise sheet is here 

Team Domenica

Team Domenica’s mission is to help young people (aged 19-25+) with learning disabilities discover their career potential, to create employment opportunities and to remove barriers to work in local communities.

View their website here

For more information please get in touch: info@teamdomenica.com | 01273 681111 Monday - Friday 8:45am–4:30pm

Euan’s Guide

0131 510 5106

Visit their website here 

The team behind Euan’s Guide, the website where people leave reviews rating the disabled access at the places they visit, has now launched a new online forum 

The charity focused on making it easier for disabled people to get out and about has now turned their attention to keeping everyone amused whilst they stay indoors.

Love George Street

Their Facebook page information includes updates on:

  • Opening hours
  • Stock Levels
  • Parking
  • Council updates

Martlets Hospice

01273 273400 

These are exceptional and uncertain times for everyone, including Martlets.  Right now their hard-working doctors, nurses and healthcare teams are supporting the NHS giving vital care to vulnerable people in our community day and night. 

To help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, Martlets has cancelled all fundraising events, closed its charity shops and changed the way they work on their inpatient unit to keep people safe. They only receive a third of their funding from the NHS to help care for our patients, their carers and loved ones. To help them keep caring, they have launched an urgent Coronavirus Crisis Appeal current crisis   

At Martlets, they're trained to help support people through uncertainty.  To provide some words of comfort to everyone in our wonderful community, their chaplain Nicholas Rhoddis has begun writing weekly blogs hoping to offer inspiration and reassurance in these challenges times. Here is a link to the first two  https://www.martlets.org.uk/blog/how-to-find-solace-though-uncertainty/ and https://www.martlets.org.uk/blog/the-light-of-the-heart/ 

Possability People and Food Partnership 

Possability People - 01273 89 40 40 Monday - Friday 10am - 4pm

Food Partnership - 01273 234810

Possability People and Food Partnership are aware that shopping is an issue for people who are unable to shop for themselves because of the coronavirus, they understand there are local shops and traders who can offer food deliveries. If you are a business that does deliveries or you know of a shop near you that can deliver, please send us the details to hello@possabilitypeople.org.uk. 

If you could send the name of the shop and their contact details, preferably a telephone number and Possability People will make contact to find out about the service. They will then pass the information to Food Partnership to add to their list here.

Possability people have also put together a support pack here. With info on how their own services are operating (most are near normal, if virtual) as well as help on exercise, well-being, home school, culture and more.

Scope 

Helpline and advice - Scope's helpline provides free, independent and impartial advice and support on issues that matter to disabled people and their families.

You can contact the helpline by:

RadioReverb

They will continue to broadcast as normal. However, in order to protect the health of volunteers and the wider community, they have closed their studio in Brighton's Open Market.

Their presenters will be moving to home recording so they may sound a little different, and you may hear some repeats from time to time while they get everything in place. They are also planning to adapt the current schedule in the coming months to bring more content for those who are socially isolated or distancing. 

Join them on 97.2 FM DAB and www.radioreverb.com

Follow and chat on Twitter and Instagram @radioreverb; find them on Facebook @radioreverb97.2FM

YMCA DownsLink Group

Visit their website for advice and support for young people


Speak Out

Brighton & Hove Speak Out are continuing to offer the following support to people with learning disabilities during the Coronavirus emergency. 

Helpline and Support 

Things to do at home

  • Telephone helpline - Monday-Friday 9-5pm on 01273 421921
  • Check in calls - from Speak Out staff or a volunteer for people who are isolated and need this support.
  • Advocacy - over the phone or via video calls.
  • Online support including:
    • Advocacy groups via Zoom
    • Virtual drop-in sessions - Tuesday and Wednesday 2-4pm 
    • Speak Out chat rooms - including an information hub where people with learning disabilities can get information about local support  bit.ly/SpeakOutChat

Please see Speak Out's website for more information or email at info@bhspeakout.org.uk

Racial Harassment Forum 

RHF (Racial Harassment Forum) identifies and addresses community safety needs of the Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and faith communities within the Brighton and Hove area. The organisation primarily combats hate crime incidents that are racially and religiously motivated by working in partnership with individuals, communities, the voluntary and statutory sector.

e-mail rhfbandh@gmail.com or call 07523 610999.

 

 

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