Coronavirus updates
The Corona Virus epidemic is making changes to all of our lives, and following the cirrent 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.
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: May 22, 2020
DEVON LIBERAL DEMOCRATS RAISE SAFETY QUESTIONS BEFORE CHILDREN RETURN TO SCHOOL
Devon Liberal Democrat councillors have asked 15 key questions about safety for children and staff before schools re-open across the County.
They submitted the questions to Devon County Council as concerns continue to be raised about the arrangements for schools to open for Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 children and the safety for both staff and pupils.
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Article: May 21, 2020
The latest Immigration Statistics, published this morning, show that 51,906 people are waiting for an initial decision on their asylum claims, an increase of 33% since last year. 31,516 have been waiting for more than six months, a 68% increase.
People who've come to the UK having fled war or persecution should welcomed, not trapped for months on just £5.39 a day
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Article: May 20, 2020
Today we have introduced a Bill to require the Government to seek a two-year extension to the Brexit transition period, in light of the Coronavirus pandemic.
To choose a No Deal Brexit and crash out, when the option to extend the transition is possible, would be an act of national self-harm - especially when our NHS, economy and food supply chains are already stretched and struggling.
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Article: May 20, 2020
Last week, we published the frank independent review into the 2019 general election. It rightly received plaudits in the media for its candour.
This review challenges us to change as a party and to change the country for the better.
We now need to get on with that work - and that's what we've done with a set of key decisions by your Federal Board.
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Article: May 19, 2020
Today on the ITV early show 'Good Morning Britain' Piers Morgan suggested that the Conservative Government would, in the future, be found 'criminally negligent' for allowing the clearing of NHS beds by returning elderly patients to care homes, without testing them for COVID-19.
free online survey
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Article: May 19, 2020
Responding to the figures published by the ONS showing that there have been more than 44,000 coronavirus-related deaths in the UK, Liberal Democrat Health, Wellbeing and Social Care spokesperson, Munira Wilson, said:
"Hearing that the number or coronavirus-related deaths is now more than 44,000, including 9,980 deaths which took place in care homes in England and Wales, the British public will rightly be appalled.
"The Government has failed to protect some of the most vulnerable people in our society from coronavirus. For Ministers to keep trying to claim they put a 'protective ring' around care homes is not only false, but will be regarded by many as only adding further insult to all those grieving the loss of a loved one.
"Government Ministers must now be frank with the British public. They must not only explain how this was allowed to happen under their watch, but how they are going to ensure that we step up the level of protective equipment as well as the system to test, trace and isolate so that they can get a grip on the crisis and prevent further deaths."
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Article: May 19, 2020
COVID-19 will leave a deep scar on our health and care workforce, who have gone above and beyond to tackle this dreadful virus. Thousands have lost colleagues, endured serious illness, or faced significant trauma.
Whilst we can hope to get a grip on COVID-19 in the coming months, the mental health impacts will last a lifetime.
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Article: May 18, 2020
COVID-19 will leave a deep scar on our health and care workforce, who have gone above and beyond to tackle this dreadful virus. Thousands have lost colleagues, endured serious illness, or faced significant trauma.
Whilst we can hope to get a grip on COVID-19 in the coming months, the mental health impacts will last a lifetime.
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Article: May 18, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the enormous contributions that workers from all over the world make to our country and our communities.
Tens of thousands of doctors, nurses and other NHS staff. Hundreds of thousands of social care workers. And millions more in sectors hit hard by this crisis, from restaurants and hotels to construction and manufacturing.
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Article: May 17, 2020
In the midst of the Covid 19 crisis it is easy to think it is the only issue in town. But there is another issue that as Liberals we should not need reminding of.
One aspect of it was highlighted to me this week when a friend told me that he cannot give blood.
My friend would like to help by providing blood from which plasma could be used in the fight against COVID-19 but regardless of how rare his blood group might be, of how healthy he is, he cannot donate because he is gay.
"Changing Britain's Future: no one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity"
Liberal Democrat Constitution
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