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  • Writer's pictureMori Reithmayr

SitRep update 23

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


Oxford Mutual Aid are looking for donations of puzzle books, pencils, pens, notebooks, reading material, DVDs and similar to make life more bearable for those in self-isolation here. Bulk donations only at this point.

For a map detailing the location of local supermarkets with their opening hours, information regarding deliveries and any arrangements regarding special opening hours set aside for the elderly, vulnerable, or NHS and key workers, see here.

The County Council is inviting everyone to get involved in this year's online May Morning celebrations - https://www.oxford.gov.uk/news/article/1405/city_council_invites_oxford_community_to_get_involved_in_virtual_maymorning_2020_celebrations

'Every Mind Matters' is the new NHS site providing mental health resources - https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/

The NHS has provided some home exercise videos that you can access for free at https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/for-your-body/move-more/home-workout-videos/

The Help Hub is providing free 20-minute appointments with qualified therapists for those feeling anxious or isolated - https://www.thehelphub.co.uk/

Farmers and vets are now on the list of essential workers who can get tested for Coronavirus - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested?

The Windrush Bike Project are looking for donations of bikes and money so that they can continue to provide free bikes to essential workers without access to transport - http://windrushbikeproject.uk/make-a-donation/

Vale of White Horse District Council is offering garden waste collection again

Oxford Tenants' Union Day of Action, Wednesday 29th April: Join Oxford Tenants Union and ACORN Oxford's joint day of action to support renters and prevent illegal evictions, without leaving your home. See here for full details. How to take part: Make a banner or poster saying: BE SAFE, JUST STAY, EVEN IF YOU CANNOT PAY - RENTERS CANNOT BE EVICTED DURING COVID 19 #StandUp4Renters (Or a phrase or slogan of your own making!) On Wednesday 29th April, hang your banner out of your window, take a picture, and share it on social media.

Call for donations: Emmaus Oxford is still delivering essential household items to vulnerable people in Oxfordshire. They really need: electric cookers; washing machines; fridge freezers, TVs, kettles, pots and pans; and microwaves (see https://emmaus.org.uk/oxford/urgent-appeal-for-donated-items/) for the full list. If you have useable things you want to get rid of, give Emmaus a call on 01865 763698 or email furniture@emmausoxford.org - staff will collect from your address, using PPE and practising physical distancing.

Call for donations: Oxford Mutual Aid is looking for items to make self-isolation more bearable for homeless and precariously housed adults and children in Oxford. Can your business make a bulk donation of any of the following? Puzzle books; colouring books & pencils; wordsearch books; pencils, pens & notepads; puzzles; DVDs; books; board games. Individual donations also accepted, though bulk preferred. Please email comms@oxfordmutualaid.org if you can help. Alternatively, please donate to the Oxford Mutual Aid fundraiser to help purchase these items for distribution: https://opencollective.com/oxford-mutual-aid?#section-budget

Oxford Tenants' Union Day of Action, Wednesday 29th April: Join Oxford Tenants Union and ACORN Oxford's joint day of action to support renters and prevent illegal evictions, without leaving your home. See https://www.facebook.com/events/649747435571394 for full details. HOW TO TAKE PART: Make a banner or poster saying: BE SAFE, JUST STAY, EVEN IF YOU CANNOT PAY - RENTERS CANNOT BE EVICTED DURING COVID 19 #StandUp4Renters (Or a phrase or slogan of your own making!) On Wednesday 29th April, hang your banner out of your window, take a picture, and share it on social media.

Like cooking? Know some good recipes using simple ingredients? Oxford Mutual Aid is collecting recipes which can be made using food bank items (pasta, rice, tinned food, beans and pulses, basic veg, UHT milk, etc.) which can be printed and distributed with food bank parcels to people who may not have regular internet access or money for recipe books. If you've got any creative recipe ideas, please direct message Marianne Tambini on Facebook.

Review of the impact of coronavirus on people with protected characteristics: How have you and people you know been affected by the pandemic? Parliament's Women and Equalities Committee would like to hear from you about the impact both of the coronavirus and the government's response. Go to https://committees.parliament.uk/call-for-evidence/94/unequal-impact-coronavirus-covid19-and-the-impact-on-people-with-protected-characteristics/ for more information and to give your opinion.

Domestic abuse, hate crime, cybercrime: Victims First has a directory of services on its website, searchable by postcode: https://www.victims-first.org.uk/service-directory/

Thinking of growing your own food? Replenish Oxfordshire has some tips and suggestions here: https://replenishoxfordshire.com/gardening-on-a-budget-during-lockdown/

OxUnboxed non-profit refill shop is reopening this week to sell essentials at the Oxford Hub, 36 Little Clarendon Street. Fridays and Saturdays only, 2pm-6pm. Visit https://www.facebook.com/oxunboxed/ for an updated stock list soon.

Oxford City Council has launched an online directory to help people deal with the financial impact of the pandemic on their lives. Please do get support here and share with friends and family, so that anyone who needs support can get it: here

- Home Start Oxford have volunteers and Co-ordinators ready to support additional families by phone. They can offer this through the volunteer / staff experience in early years, parenting, mental health support, domestic abuse, access to crisis grants, advocacy with housing etc. Our new number is 01869 322 394, staffed 8-2 Mon-Fri.

- Oxfordshire Breastfeeding Support offer 1-2-1 breastfeeding support via video or phone call. More information and resources here.

- If you are worried about your baby or yourself, please contact your midwifery or health visiting team, or NHS 111 (999 if it's an emergency).

- Devie parent app is available on the app store (here) and play store (here).

First human trials of new vaccine began in Oxford. See here

Cotswold Wildlife Park celebrates 50 years in old pictures here

Oxfordshire Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre: www.osarcc.org. Text service is reopening next Thursday April 30th from 6.30-8.30pm. It will then be open at that time every Thursday and Sunday evening. You can still email as well and receive a response within 7 days at support@osarcc.org.uk.

For a map and database of services providing free or subsidised food in Oxfordshire see Link. If you work with a community food bank that is not listed by the council's food services map or spreadsheet or if your bank's details their need updating, please email mail@goodfoodoxford.org. If you need to use a community larder or food bank - temporarily or longer term - then note that some that are usually referrals-only are taking non-referrals clients and some others will accept referrals made through your local community crisis aid group with the assistance of Oxfordshire All In and Oxford Covid-19 Mutual Aid. Work is currently being done by these groups and local authorities to collect more up-to-date information for food banks across Oxfordshire.

As of 16th April, all UK supermarkets can only take new priority customers for deliveries if they are registered as a clinically extremely vulnerable person with the UK government. If you have not received a shielding confirmation and find you do not meet the criteria to register (see here) but have another vulnerability requiring deliveries for groceries, you can contact your GP and ask them to register you. If you do not meet the criteria and your GP will not register you but you still need help - one off or regularly - with deliveries of essentials, check which Mutual Aid groups and food banks are helping with groceries in your area.


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