National Networks

Essential supplies

• NHS Volunteer Responders are available to help people in England to stay safe during COVID-19. Volunteers help people avoid busy places by collecting their shopping, medicines and other important items, have regular contact with other people by making regular friendly phone calls and get to medical appointments by giving lifts. To arrange support for yourself or someone you know call 0808 196 3646 (8am to 8pm seven days a week).

Money and benefits

• gov.uk/coronavirus guidance on if you can get statutory sick pay (SSP),  if you’re eligible for Universal Credit (UC), if you’re eligible for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), your rights if your hours are cut or you’re laid off and what to do if you cannot pay your tax bill on time.
• gov.uk/browse/benefits for information about UC; Tax Credit; Job Seekers Allowance; Carers and Disability Allowance; Child and Family Benefits and more.
• understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk for information about claiming UC if are prevented from working due to the risk to Public Health or if you’re not entitled to SSP, SSP if you are off work with coronavirus or self-isolating and if you are not eligible to receive sick pay you can apply for UC and/or apply for New Style Employment and Support Allowance.
• gov.uk/lay-offs-short-timeworking for guidance about lay-offs and short-time working and Covid -19 – Government Funding
• gov.uk/free-school-meals-guidance for guidance for schools and local authorities on free school meals arrangements during the coronavirus outbreak.
• stepchange.org for information and resources from one of the UK’s leading debt charities.
• gov.uk/guidance/help-and-support-if-your-business-is-affected-by-coronavirus-covid-19 offers help and support if your business is affected by coronavirus, including support for the self employed.
• gov.uk/government/publications/genuine-hmrc-contact-and-recognising-phishing-emails here can you find out how to recognise when contact from HMRC is genuine, and how to recognise phishing or bogus emails and text messages.

Health, wellbeing and safety

• nhs.uk offers advice for everyone, for people at high risk, information on symptoms and what to do and information on self-isolation if you or someone you live with has symptoms.
• nhs.uk/every-mind-matters provides tips and advice on things you can do now to help you keep on top of your mental wellbeing and cope with how you may feel while staying at home.
• nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing provides information on asking for a test to check if you have coronavirus, if you have symptoms, and you can find details of the NHS Test and Trace Service too.
• youthworksupport.co.uk provides advice, guidance, support and tools for youth workers during the coronavirus, resources to help you and young people keep calm, stay connected and be safe and links to other useful sites to support youth workers or use with young people
• mind.org.uk offers information about conditions, treatment options and practical issues if you’re living with a mental health problem, or supporting someone who is.
• Action Fraud has details of coronavirus related scams and crimes as well as advice on keeping safe and protecting yourself from fraudsters.
• National Domestic Abuse Helpline is a free 24-hour helpline for anyone impacted by domestic abuse. Call 0800 2000 247.
• Neighbourhood Watch is where you can find an existing Neighbourhood Watch scheme in your area.
• cruse.org.uk can support you after the death of someone close. They offer a range of free confidential support for adults and children.
• youngminds.org.uk provide tips, advice and guidance on where young people can get support for their mental health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
• childrenssociety.org.uk has activities and resources to help with young people’s mental health and well-being.
• Doctors of the World provide written and audio coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for patients in 60 languages, which were produced in partnership with the British Red Cross. Translated documents are updated regularly in line with the latest NHS and government guidance.
• yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk helps those who have contracted coronavirus to understand what has happened and what they might expect as part of their recovery as well as much more.
• www.nhs.uk/better-health NHS Better Health is a free weight loss app to help you start healthier eating habits, be more active and start losing weight.
• Age UK offers a number of befriending-related services including the free Silver Line helpline, available 24hrs a day on 0800 4 70 80 90.
• Compass Support operate be-friend, a free telephone-based service. Email sophie.edridge@compass-support.org.uk or call 0734 149 8996 for details.

Regional Networks

Birmingham

Essential supplies

• www.findfoodbanksbrum.org.uk provides a directory of local foodbanks.
• Emergency Community Response Hub Birmingham City Council have an emergency community response hub to provide support to the most vulnerable citizens. This may be in relation to emergency food supplies or social contact. To access support you can also call 0121 303 1116, open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

Money and benefits

• Birmingham Settlement can support you with money advice. Their offices are closed but they can offer advice over the phone. Call 0121 250 0765 or email moneyadvice@bsettlement.org.uk
• Citysave.org.uk is a credit union and can offer advice on accounts such as savings, bill payment and budgeting and loans.
• stoplaonsharks.co.uk you can report a loan shark or get advice. Stop Loan Sharks can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 0300 555 2222, email reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk  or send a text to 07860022116, beginning your message with “loan shark”

Health, wellbeing and safety

• Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid can support women and children suffering domestic abuse. You can call them direct on 0808 800 0028.
• Rape & Sexual Violence Project provides support across Birmingham and Solihull, offering services to support children and adults of all genders who have been subjected to sexual violence and abuse.
• West Midlands Fire Service has safety advice, links and useful info to follow during the coronavirus pandemic.
• Birmingham City Council Adult Social Care has information about the range of adult social care services provided by the Council including health and wellbeing and social care assessments.
• Birmingham City Council Children’s Social Care has information on who to contact if you’re worried about a vulnerable child.
• NHS – Mental Health Support for Birmingham Solihull is offering a range of new, easily accessible mental health support for patients in Birmingham and Solihull.
• forwardthinkingbirmingham.org.uk is offering telephone support 10am – 6pm, 7 days a week by calling 0207 841 4470.
• west-midlands.police.uk is where you can find details of your neighbourhood team, report an incident and join WM Now.
• ageuk.org.uk/birmingham offers a free and confidential information and advice service for people aged 50 and over, their families and carers.
• forwardcarers.org.uk is a West Midlands based support service for carers, including those caring for an elderly frail, sick or disabled family member.
• West Midlands Network offer a guide on how to travel and stay active while social distancing.
• Sport Birmingham can provide you with information to help you stay active.
• Kooth is an online mental health support service for young people (aged 11 to 25). It’s a free, safe and anonymous service to support young people’s emotional and mental health in Birmingham.
• West Midlands Strategic Migration Partnership has information on COVID-19 of relevance for asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in the West Midlands.
• Route 2 Wellbeing Birmingham Portalis a directory of wellbeing services across Birmingham, provided by the local voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.

City-services

• Birmingham City Council have information on how they are dealing with the coronavirus and details of support to the wider Birmingham community, as well as information about all their usual services during this time.
• veolia.co.uk has a new online booking system to access Birmingham’s network of Household Recycling Centres and ensure that social distancing measures are followed.
• BVSC (the centre for voluntary action) has information on the routes available for accessing support in Birmingham.
  

Telford

Essential supplies

• Telford Foodbank will help those in crisis and who are unable to put food on their plates.
• Telford and Wrekin Council may be able to provide you with emergency assistance for things such as gas and electricity vouchers,  food parcels or replacement white goods, if you are eligible. The Council is also operating a Coronavirus Helpline (Operation Shield) particularly for the more vulnerable who are in urgent need of assistance. The helpline number is 01952 382030.
• Telford Crisis Network is available to order or request a food parcel. Please call 01952 380 400 (Telford & Wrekin Council contact centre).

Health, wellbeing and safety

• Live Well Telford can provide you with information and signposting to a wide range of services, activities and organisations in the area, to help you find the support you need to live a healthy independent life. They offer information on services, activities and organisations that can give advice or practical support, help at home, health conditions, childcare information, leisure information and more.
• Womens’ Aid offers domestic violence support for women in Telford.
• Telford and Wrekin Council offer domestic violence support for women in the borough.
• Shropshire Domestic Abuse Service offer services to women, men, members of the LGBT community and children and young people. Call 0300 303 1191 or email sdas@shropsdas.org.uk.

Older person’s services

• Telford and Wrekin Council Community Support Line Coronavirus offers an online form to request community support if you are over 70, or under 70 with underlying health conditions, and have no friends or family nearby due to the coronavirus outbreak.
• The Silver Line offers phone and internet-based information, friendship and support for older people. Open 24 hours a day and links to Age UK.
• Age UK Telford provides free, confidential and expert advice for older people.

Money and benefits

• Telford and Wrekin Council can provide information and help with council tax payments during this time, including if you are struggling to now pay your council tax bill.
• Citizens Advice Telford & Wrekin can provide help and advice on issues such as benefits, debts or employment worries as well as consumer advice, legal help and much more. Email case@telfordcab.co.uk, call 01952 567193 or 01952 567173 or for the advice line call 0300 330 1165.
• Just Credit Union and Fair Share Credit Union both operate in Telford and offer affordable loans and other services.