The Wiltshire Wellbeing Hub, which has proved a lifeline to many local residents during the pandemic, is now also supporting those who are self-isolating with no friends or family to help.
The multi-agency hub has provided support, guidance and signposting to help provide a community response for those who are at the highest risk of serious illness if they contract COVID-19 – the clinically vulnerable and clinically extremely vulnerable.
Wiltshire Council is one of the partners which has teamed with volunteer groups, voluntary and community sector and the food industry to play a key role in providing access to essential goods and facilities for those in need.
The Hub has taken on an additional role of supporting those self-isolating due to a positive test or as a close contact where they don’t have friends and family to help. The Hub will be able to provide advice or support for individuals who are required to self-isolate and need practical, social and emotional support.
People requested to self-isolate because of a positive test or due to being a close contact of someone with COVID-19 are required to self-isolate for 10 days. People need to self-isolate from the day the first person in their household started symptoms and for the next 10 days. This means to not go to work, school or public areas or use public transport or taxis.
People are only allowed to leave home to get the test if they need to but should observe strict social distancing advice and return immediately afterwards. People should consider plans in advance for self-isolating and consider how they can support family, friends and neighbours who need to self-isolate. Those who are self-isolating are contacted by Test and Trace and if self-isolation presents difficulties and they do not have family or friends who can provide support they can speak to the hub to access support.
For those who do not have that support and need help the Wiltshire Wellbeing Hub can:
• Put people in touch with community groups who can help collect and deliver essential supplies such as shopping or medication.
• Help to access a priority online shopping slot with Tesco or Iceland
• Signpost to sources of financial support and food banks
• Provide support for those experiencing loneliness
• Help speak to the right people if someone is on a low income and eligible for financial support www.gov.uk/ government/publications/test-and-trace-support-payment-scheme-claiming-financial-support/claiming-financial-support-under-the-test-and-trace-support-payment-scheme
The Hub is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and on Saturday from 10am to 4pm on 0300 003 4576 or email wellbeinghub@wiltshire. gov.uk There is also a COVID-19 community groups directory which can provide help and support www.wiltshire.gov.uk/media/4270/Community-Groups-Directory/pdf/Directory
Lucy Townsend, the council’s corporate director for people, said, “The Wiltshire Wellbeing Hub has been a constant source of support and advice for Wiltshire residents and we know it plays an important role for those in need who don’t have family and friends to help. People who are self-isolating are playing their part in helping to keep everyone safe and halt the spread of COVID-19. Where they don’t have family or friends to provide support we are here ready to help and provide advice. We are still here and ready to help others who also need that support so people can call us or email and we’ll do what we can to help.”
