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
Ramadan starts this evening, Thursday, April 23. Public Health England (PHE) and the Muslim Council of Britain have both published advice on celebrating Ramadan during the outbreak: here and here.
The Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine have advised that it is unsafe for Covid-19 patients to fast during Ramadan: see here.
CALL FOR DONATIONS: Botley Community Fridge is in need of toothbrushes, baby wipes, and tinned soup/stew (with ring pulls) for deliveries to the homeless community. Please drop off donations at Seacourt Hall (3 Church Way OX2 9TH, just off West Way, behind Barclays Bank) between 12 noon and 1pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
CALL FOR DONATIONS STILL OPEN: Do you have a restaurant or food retail business? Oxford Covid-19 Mutual Aid is urgently looking for unused packaging/storage for our food parcels, including: excess takeaway containers/food safe containers so that bulk donations can be safely split into parcels for individual families; and new/unused medium-sized boxes and carrier/takeaway bags. Bulk donations only, please. If you can help, please e-mail kitchencollective@oxfordmutualaid.org
CALL FOR NHS CARE PARCEL DONATIONS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES:
Do you have a contact with a local business/chain that would be willing to donate any of the following for deliveries to NHS staff? Please get in touch with Jack Doyle directly via Facebook message.
Scented candles
Bath stuff (soap, bath bombs/salts)
Skincare items (lotion, face masks, etc)
Plush toys
Chocolates and sweets
Small plant friends (seeds, succulents, bulbs)
Oxford Covid-19 Mutual Aid cannot accept individual donations of these items at present.
Oxfordshire Libraries: Libraries may be closed, but you can still borrow e-books and audiobooks, access newspapers and magazines online, and use the music streaming service. There are also lots of resources for schoolwork and study, a Facebook book club, and art and poetry competitions for under-18s. See https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/leisure-and-culture/libraries for more information and follow https://www.facebook.com/Oxfordshirelibraries/
Do you speak multiple languages in your household? If you have children up to the age of 18, NALDIC (the national subject association for English as an Additional Language) would love you to get involved in a study of how lockdown and school closures are affecting language use at home. See https://ealjournal.org/2020/04/21/multilingual-language-use-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/ for more information.
Free car breakdown service for NHS workers: Green Flag is offering free breakdown assistance to all NHS staff. If your car breaks down on your way to or from work, call 0800 0510009 and quote your NHS identification number; show your ID card to the Green Flag technician when they arrive. See https://blog.greenflag.com/nhs-cover-announcement/ for full details.
Need help managing your energy bills? Call Better Housing Better Health on 0800 107 0044 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm) or email bhbh@nef.org.uk for advice on lowering your bills, switching tariff/provider, or accessing financial assistance. You can also fill in the referral form (for yourself or somebody else) at http://www.bhbh.org.uk/make-a-referral/ and an advisor will be in touch within 24 hours.
NHS Volunteer Responders: Self-isolating? You can now self-refer to this service for help with essential supplies and/or to sign up for "check in and chat" phone calls. Call 0808 1963646 and see https://volunteering.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/nhs-volunteer-responders-portal for more information.
Oxford Mutual Aid have compiled a list of mental health resources in Oxfordshire: https://oxfordmutualaid.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/mental-health-resources.pdf
Oxford Mutual Aid have published a maternity guide for new and expectant parents: https://oxfordmutualaid.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/maternity-guide.pdf
Oxford Mutual Aid have compiled a list of resources for those volunteering or helping others during the outbreak: https://oxfordmutualaid.org/resources/protocols/
Oxford Mutual Aid is compiling a list of resources to help you stay safe during the COVID-19 outbreak, including healthcare advice and resources for those experiencing domestic violence: https://oxfordmutualaid.org/resources/lockdown-safety/
Oxford Mutual Aid have compiled a list of GP surgeries in Oxford - you can find the full list, along with the contact details of your surgery, here: https://oxfordmutualaid.org/resources/gp-surgeries/
Government/council updates
The Government has published new advice for driving instructors: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-letter-from-dvsa-chief-executive-to-driver-and-rider-trainers
The Government has published new guidelines for helping children aged 2-4 to learn at home: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/help-children-aged-2-to-4-to-learn-at-home-during-coronavirus-covid-19?
@QuitforCovid are providing a range of resources on Twitter to help those trying to quit smoking: https://twitter.com/QuitforCovid
Domestic violence: The police have provided a guide on what to do if you need to call 999, but do not feel that it is safe for you to speak: https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Documents/research-learning/Silent_solution_guide.pdf
If you are Deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired, you can contact the emergency services by text. Full guide here: https://actionfordeafness.org.uk/pages/emergency-services
Oxford City Council have compiled a list of resources for those experiencing hardship due to the outbreak, including advice on housing, benefits, council tax and domestic violence: https://www.oxford.gov.uk/essentialsupport
Public Health England (PHE) and the Muslim Council of Britain have both published advice on celebrating Ramadan during the outbreak: https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/04/22/stay-at-home-for-ramadan/ and https://mcb.org.uk/resources/ramadan/
A guide on getting tested for keyworkers and frontline healthcare staff can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested
Cherwell residents can now hire wheelie bins from the Council to removed excess garden waste: https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/info/10/rubbish-and-recycling/51/home-and-garden-excess-bin-service
The Central Oxford Mosque are asking members of their congregation who are in the most need (you have received an NHS letter identifying you as being at high risk; have physical or mental health needs; are self-isolating or vulnerable for some other reason) and who require help and support including food bank support to call Oxford City Council on 01865 249 811 or visit: www.oxford.gov.uk/communityassistance.
Need a listening ear? Oxford Nightline services remain open during lockdown to the students of the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes. Any student can contact them, regardless of where they are living, via an online chat function between 8pm and 12am. They are open and ready to listen every night until Saturday of 9th week. Students can speak to a volunteer through www.oxfordnightline.org.
Cherwell Community Larder helps fill the gap in food supply for those in financial need. Food parcels will be delivered once a week on Saturday afternoons directly to your door. For more information and to sign up for a parcel delivery see here. Email: cherwelllarder@gmail.com, phone 01865 817676. No referral necessary.
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