Coronavirus updates - Lockdown 3 in progress
The Corona Virus epidemic and restrictions are making changes to all of our lives, and following the current advice isn't always easy - but it is important to do so as much as we can.
There are many local organisations gathering to offer help, if you are self-isolating and need help, or simply need to speak to a friendly voice.
We will be publishing details of local organisations as we hear of them:
Teignbridge Council website is a good place to start if you have any questions
and Devon County Council have information about schools and more.
The latest medical advice from the NHS is here.
We have a list of contacts for economic help for Teignbridge residents here.
Local councillors are working with the organisations locally to help, so please contact your local councillor if you need help.
How you can help others
If you would like to help your neighbours, our community and those vulnerable, we recommend the following in the first instance:
- Let your nearest neighbours, maybe the nearest 5 - 10 know your contact details so that they can call you if they need help. You will be someone known to them, a familiar face rather than a stranger. (Sadly we must still be aware of safeguarding concerns even at this time).
- Set up or join street level or Resident's Association level WhatsApp groups, Google Groups, Private Facebook Groups or email chains to help connect those offering help with those needing help at a micro level. Some have already done this (particularly Residents' Associations), and they are the optimum way of turning offers into action.
- Some of the existing facebook groups we know of in Newton Abbot Town are Our Fairways, Hele Park Community, Jetty Marsh Residents Group, Orleigh Cross Residents Group, Buckland Estate and Proud of It, and Newton AbbotCovid-19 Mutual Aid - Other towns and villages have set up similar groups
- Do not buy too much produce or goods. Those that are most vulnerable are left even more vulnerable if our stores are bare of the essentials. Several supermarkets have over 70's only shopping hours, check their websites.
- Donate to foodbanks. Panic buying has led to a reduction in the number of donations to local foodbanks when they need them more than ever, so please do donate what you can. Many people on lower incomes or zero hour contracts are likely to struggle more now than ever. If you are self-isolating and wish to help you can donate online to both foodbanks.
- HITS Foodbank https://hitsfoodbank.org/contact-us/ info@hitsfoodbank.org Tel 01626 906371 (Hits Food Bank are looking for more volunteers especially evening drivers)
- THAT Foodbank https://www.thatfoodbank.com/ mailto:thatfoodbank@gmail.com Tel 01626 437310 (THAT need more volunteers and donations)
Helping us to help you
As councillors we want to assist in facilitating resources where we can, by putting together a resource list, but we need your help to do so.
Please send us details of the local street/community communication group or mailing list you have setup, as well as a primary contact for this group so that we can direct people that contact us or known vulnerable residents to it if they are in your area.
Contact us if:
- you are a community or volunteer group and would like our support in any way;
- you are a local business or trader that is helping as part of your business, such as with local deliveries.
- Please let us have any information about the community response to the coronavirus, that you would like us to share in our next email newsletter. Please shae this email with others.
We cannot cover everything in this post, so will try to answer any questions on things we have missed as we can, however, please appreciate that some of our councillors are already, or are likely to be self isolating themselves as well.
Please do always take the NHS and Government's advice as the primary source of information and recommendation for how to act in the coming weeks:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response
Other help can be found at,
CAB citizensadviceteignbridge.org.uk Tel 0344 411 1444
Federation of Small Businesses https://www.fsb.org.uk/ Tel 0808 20 20 888
We will provide you updates on this as regularly as we can.
Thank you,
News...
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Article: Jan 13, 2021
It is completely unacceptable that parents have received woefully inadequate food parcels in place of free school meals.
The Secretary of State must urgently investigate this situation.
The amount of food parents have received to feed their children is not anything like enough to provide an adequate, nutritious lunch every day.
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Article: Jan 12, 2021
Over the past year, Liberal Democrat MPs have tabled a number of Private Members' Bills that would make important changes to help build a fairer country, tackle deep-rooted inequalities and ensure a more effective response to the Covid pandemic.
Eleven key Liberal Democrat Bills were due to have "Second Reading" - the next stage of their progress through Parliament - over the next three months.
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Article: Jan 11, 2021
By Lisa Smart
Last month's Federal Communications and Elections Committee (FCEC) kicked off with a productive Q&A with deputy Leader Daisy Cooper. Daisy's approach to collaborative working across parts of the party was warmly welcomed and FCEC expressed its support, and desire to assist, Daisy's ongoing work to support a diverse range of candidates to stand.
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Article: Jan 10, 2021
Seven years and millions of pounds later, children across Devon are still being failed by Devon County Council.
Found 'inadequate' by Government inspectors, the Conservative-run council has failed yet again to make improvements to satisfy the national tests of a sound and safe service for children.
Even their own managers have reported that highly-skilled Social Workers are leaving Devon for jobs in neighbouring councils, and a report to councillors highlighted that Devon paid staff from a social work agency £19,000 a year more than its own social workers.
Parents of children with special educational needs have been kept waiting months longer than they should have for help and support to be agreed through Educational Health & Care Plans.
Cllr. Martin Wrigley says: "It's a very sorry tale of failure and disappointment at County Hall. They've simply failed to get to grips with the problems. In contrast, nearby Torbay (with its Lib Dem-led council) has greatly improved its Children's services."
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Article: Jan 9, 2021
Devon Liberal Democrats have called for teachers to be vaccinated against coronavirus after the government admitted schools were the epicentre of high community transmission.
Devon Lib Dems are calling for teachers to be vaccinated as part of category seven. This would make them a top priority after everyone working in the NHS and social care and those most at risk by virtue of their age, being clinically vulnerable or having an underlying health condition.
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Article: Jan 8, 2021
By Andrea Glover
The pandemic brought out the kindness and strength of our communities. Volunteer groups sprang up across towns and villages to help others. We were offered practical help with shopping and collecting prescriptions. Food was delivered to those in need. Friendly voices called people who were alone and lonely. Just knowing that someone cares can help in difficult times.
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Article: Jan 8, 2021
By Tim Farron
In the early months of this pandemic, the Government's messaging was clear. 'Stay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.' And so it is once again. Monday's lockdown announcement, although belated, was absolutely right.
But why must we protect the NHS? So that it can continue to tackle COVID, but also, equally, so that the NHS can carry on its life-saving work in every other area.
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Article: Jan 8, 2021
Like you, I watched domestic terrorists and insurrectionists storm the US Capitol last night with a sense of horror and shock.
I watched with a sense of horror and shock
A symbol of democracy worldwide was shown to be fragile, vulnerable.
It is a stark reminder that will remain etched in our memories.
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Article: Jan 7, 2021
The chaotic incompetence of a government that declares schools safe on a Sunday, sends children back for a day and then closes them is the sort of thing that should be the domain of political fiction.
Sadly and tragically, it's the government we suffer from in Westminster. It is a reminder about how important it is that we recover as a party, and a spur to our efforts to ensure we do our part in defeating the Conservatives at the ballot box.
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Article: Jan 7, 2021
Our intervention comes amidst growing concern for safety in schools, including headteachers launching legal action to force ministers to reveal data behind the decision for some schools to reopen.
Time and time again, this Government has squandered opportunities to get ahead of the virus in schools.
"Changing Britain's Future: no one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity"
Liberal Democrat Constitution
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