This update only contains the new content that was added to the SitRep today, in no particular order. For the full SitRep, please go to https://oxfordvirusaction.wixsite.com/home/sitrep
We, Oxfordshire Virus Action Group, are asking you for your feedback. On Friday, it will have been a month since we published our first SitRep. For us, this is an occasion to evaluate our work, to reflect and reconsider how we can be most useful to our Oxfordshire communities. We are asking all the big questions here: Is our SitRep useful to you (at all)? What is it that we provide that you can't find elsewhere? Should we continue updating our SitRep, and how often? It would be tremendously useful at this point to get more feedback from you, our readers. If you could let us know on our Facebook page or via email atoxfordvirusactiongroup@gmail.comwhether you find our SitRep useful, and what in particular you are finding helpful about it, that would be very much appreciated! Cheers!
Oxford Tenant Union
have written an open letter to Oxford City Council demanding a halt to all evictions, a rent freeze for anyone unable to work because of the virus, and an expansion of housing benefit.
are providing a host of resources to people struggling to pay rent, threatened with evictions or experiencing problems with their landlady/lord, including template letters
are calling on renters to share their stories via Facebook or by joining their weekly Zoom calls at 6pm on Mondays. They're collecting stories to better inform their campaigning.
Find them at https://oxfordtenantsunion.wordpress.com.
Free legal advice for keyworkers: LINK. Advice will be provided by way of a free telephone consultation with a suitably qualfied barrister (of up to 30 minutes) and a brief written note of their advice in an email.
How everyone can help: every day, Oxford Covid-19 Mutual Aid is posting 3 Ways You Can Help From Home, such as donating to the Trussell Trust (which operates a wide network of food banks), buying a voucher from a local business, or calling up all the people you know who live alone. See their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/202604247629195 for updates.
New NHS mental health helpline for Oxfordshire: For quicker and easier access to advice in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, call 01865 904997 (adults) or 01865 904998 (children and young people), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For more information, see https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/news/24-7-mental-health-helpline-replaces-111-in-oxfordshire-and-buckinghamshire/
New delivery service for local businesses: Local Oxford is using the power of Pedal and Post to deliver from local businesses. Fruit, veg, dairy, and local handmade toiletries available so far. They can also collect from/deliver to the Royal Mail depot and pick up click-and-collect shopping from supermarkets. See https://localoxford.co.uk/ and http://www.pedalandpost.co.uk/
Petition to protect workers during the pandemic: Oxford Living Wage Campaign has started a petition to ensure all workers for the University and colleges are protected and kept informed during the crisis. Read and sign here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1C56694x2Hjau4tN5wC9whGMZVUu_h2UUp56S5MRfZ-I/viewform?ts=5e8cd8ff&edit_requested=true
Domestic abuse - how and where to get support:
Anyone in immediate danger should phone 999.
If you are in danger and unable to talk on the phone, dial 999 and then press 55. This will transfer the call to police, who will assist without the caller having to speak.Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse Services offers free advice: 0800 731 0055 (Mon-Fri 10am-7pm). Email das@a2dominion.co.uk Alternatively, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247. Anybody worried about causing harm to the ones they love can get help by contacting Respect Phoneline - 0808 802 4040. https://respectphoneline.org.uk/
Oxford Mutual Aid mask making project: Oxford Mutual Aid are looking for volunteers who are interested in new community mask making project. Home-made masks will then be made following guidelines, sanitised centrally and then distributed to those who are vulnerable and/or frontline workers. If you are keen to be a part of this effort, please fill out the form below. Also, if you are not interested in mask making but have access to factory made masks you are keen to donate to frontline workers, please also fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeroHdNRopMpE2U3ZF6OjEDA_O8loOsGvKhtxIyf0fnR_3S0Q/viewform. If you have any questions about the project, please contact Nazan Osman directly at nazanayseosman1@gmail.com or on Facebook.
Investigating the PPE shortage: Are you an NHS worker lacking personal protective equipment? The Citizens, "a collective of journalists, techies, academics, filmmakers, lawyers & individuals from all walks of life investigating data, disinfo & threats to democracy", would like to hear from you. Please fill out their quick and anonymous questionnaire here: https://tinyurl.com/ryteczp
For more information, follow the Citizens on Twitter @allthecitizens
Call for donations- Oxford Mutual Aid are urgently looking for unused packaging / storage for their food parcels. This includes:
excess takeaway containers/food safe containers to safely split bulk donations into parcels for individual families, new/unused medium sized boxes and carrier/takeaway bags. They are not seeking individual donations but in bulk. If you can help, please e-mail kitchencollective@oxfordmutualaid.org
The Government has provided new guidelines for unpaid carers - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-providing-unpaid-care
The Government has provided new advice on safe volunteering during the crisis - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-how-to-help-safely--2/coronavirus-how-to-help-safely
There is a new NHS hotline for those with diabetes who are concerned about COVID-19 - The patient hotline number is 01865 857357, and is available seven days a week from 8am until 4pm. Patients can also email dsnop.ocdem@nhs.net. For more information, see https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/news/new-hotline-designed-to-help-patients-with-diabetes-during-covid-19-pandemic/
The NHS have introduced a confidential staff support line, operated by the Samaritans and free to access from 7.00 am – 11.00 pm, seven days a week. Alternatively, staff can text FRONTLINE to 85258 for support 24/7 via text, or access one of the free apps listed here - https://people.nhs.uk/help/
There is a new Oxfordshire mental health hotline, designed to take pressure off the NHS 111 number - adults can ring 01865 904 997, and children and young people can ring 01865 904 998. For more information, see https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/news/24-7-mental-health-helpline-replaces-111-in-oxfordshire-and-buckinghamshire/
South and Vale district councils have released a BSL version of their COVID-19 advice - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vltaXv55TGY&feature=youtu.be
