Time to Take Care
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Issue 426 April 2020 50p Time to take care The Covid-19 crisis means we can and must all look after ourselves and each other as a caring and compassionate Chippy community While the Government leads families, neighbours and friends. on protecting us and our way Let’s show our community of life, we as individuals must spirit’. focus on our own health and Events are moving rapidly. To behaviour, and as a community help, a special Chippy News work together for the best. Covid-19 bulletin (ps 2-3) has Chipping Norton Mayor Don latest (at 25 March) national Davidson stressed the guidance on staying at home importance of following latest and where to find out more. government advice – including There’s also lots on how social distancing and self- volunteer groups and isolation. But he also asks organisations in Chipping everyone to look out for Norton and our villages are others in their street who need rallying around when needed. help saying ‘this is the time for A heartening message from Don’t feel you are alone. We us to pull together to help our Chippy’s mystery Yarnbomber are all in this together. Your Chippy News News in this Issue The full printed editions of the • Town Sports awards – this year’s winners at Town Hall presentation Chipping Norton News will be • Where’s our money? – 1200 homes but suspended for at least three broken promises on town investment months during the current • Grant Award for Town Youth Projects crisis. The Team are printing and • Easter messages from Pastor Joyce distributing a free version of Rice and Rev James Kennedy the Covid-19 Bulletin. We’ll do • Spotlight on Chippy Hospital our best to keep you updated • And look for that April Fool article watch out for latest news on Plus all the Arts, Sports, Clubs, Schools our Blog: www.chippynews.org and Letters Covid-19 special bulletin 25 March 2020 This bulletin contains information and news of tremendous town & village efforts to help each other. Time to take care Our MP Robert Courts said ‘It is crucial that we stand strong together as a community in our towns and vil- lages across West Oxfordshire’. Chipping Norton’s vicar James Kennedy encouraged everyone to join with the church family, regardless of belief, ‘to look out for family, friends and neighbours who need practical help’ Staying home helps everybody Health advice and support The Prime Minister said on 23 March that the single most im- See the latest Government advice at www.nhs.uk or on TV and portant action to fight Covid-19, save lives and help the NHS, radio. But the current message is clear. Staying at home is is to stay at home. Chipping Norton’s local pubs, restaurants, best! If you have coronavirus symptoms – a high temper- leisure facilities and non-essential shops are closing. Strict ature or a new continuous cough – measures, to be reviewed in 3 weeks, mean everyone must not •Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital leave the house except for shopping for basic necessities, one form of exercise a day, and any medical need. If it’s essential, • Try and get help online – start with nhs.uk such as for running key services or helping those housebound, • Then, if needed, ring 111 & follow advice, including follow-up then travelling to and from work is allowed. •With symptoms, stay isolated at least 7 days (if alone) and the whole house hold for 14 days (if with others) Whether at home or out we should follow the rules, including: • If you are at serious risk the NHS will con- tact you for next steps. • No social gatherings of more than two – except the household Chipping Norton Health Centre are gear- • Follow the 6 feet rule strictly ing up for a large expected rise in demand by: • Wash hands thoroughly – particularly when leaving and arriving home •Doing all triage (including with clinicians) on All this gives the best chance of keeping it the phone. The GPs will bring people to safe for our amazing critical workers help- them only if necessary ing us get through this – including NHS, So- • Postponing all routine appointments and cial Care, emergency services, food, utilities, changing building space to avoid infection and transport. Latest updates at www.gov.uk • Asking all to: be honest about symptoms, Wash your hands! allow 5 days for repeat prescriptions, and Chippy’s schools and nurseries are follow all advice! mainly closed with provision for key worker and vulnerable children (helpline 0800 046 8687). For help with self-isolation Chippy’s GPs urge us to keep up the positive Chippy commu- see www.gov.uk (covid-19 response), and www.publichealth- nity spirit, be polite and respectful, and offer help – particularly matters.blog.uk. The 1.5 million people with extra-vulnerable to those in isolation. health conditions should stay fully at home for 12 weeks – they will be contacted and can register for special support at Food and your economic welfare gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable. Supplies of food and essentials is a top priority and shops say restocking should be secure. The early rush should calm Wellbeing and safety down. In Chippy Sainsbury’s, Aldi, M&S, Co-op, Costcutter, Spar These are stressful times. Please look out for others with at the Esso garage, Roger’s & Oats are working hard – more mental health problems around Chippy, who are vulnerable hours and staff for restocking, purchase limits on key goods, through anxiety. Reassure anyone suffering that they can still and health measures at checkout. Please respect those running contact their GP, go to Accident & Emergency, or call the our local town and village stores – they are at risk as well. NHS Area mental health team on 01865 902563. You can Income, employment, and financial support has seen un- call Chippy Police (via 101) for a welfare check on anyone se- precedented Government measures. Many Chippy and local riously at risk. For Samaritans call 116123 free or 0330 businesses can get relief (loans, grants, wage subsidy, and tax 0945717 local call. With intensified stress and household isola- holidays). There’s good advice at acas.org.uk/coronavirus for tion there are increased worries about domestic abuse. Get employers and employees, at gov.uk (employers Covid-19). For help via the Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse helpline on 0800 731 Help with paying for utilities (particularly pre-payment cus- 0055, or alternatively visit www.reducingtherisk.org.uk and tomers), contact your utility provider or housing association. www.womensaid.org.uk/. Chippy Cllr Laetisia Carter says Also contact Citizens Advice West Oxfordshire helpline please call 999 if there are serious safety issues. 0300 330 9049 and their website. Helping each other Here’s a start on help available in Chippy and surrounding villages. Don’t hesitate to ask. Local advice and help Town and Village support groups OCC’s Community Resilience – oversee all Oxford- Many volunteer local support groups are using phone, WhatsApp, Face- shire’s local action on Government measures, including ex- book (eg Next Door) and Covid19.mutualaid to help the housebound tremely vulnerable support (see gov.uk/ – for friendly regular chats, shopping, and collecting medication. See ox- coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable). They need connection fordshireallin.org/ for setup advice. Oxfordshireallin.org is a good re- with local support groups. Please Email community.re- source for support groups. [email protected] and Chippy County Coun- Chipping Norton – Chipping Norton & villages Covid-19 commu- cillor [email protected] or 01993 831822. nity help and support (on Facebook), St Mary’s Church (see below and Chipping Norton Town Council – A task group of stmaryscnorton.com), Chipping Norton Next Door Facebook groups. councillors will help neighourhood coordination with vol- Local street groups include SQUARE SUPPORT WhatsApp in Alexan- unteer groups and liaise with the County. See chipping- dra Square (Phillipa Weaver 07557 819764) and Street Support The nortontowncouncil.co.uk and facebook for updates. Leys (contact [email protected]). Any groups or isolated individuals needing advice or sup- Sarsden & Churchill have a popular NextDoor Facebook page, Con- port can contact Cllr Sandra Coleman on 07552 100176 tact Anne Mandry (07894 706919) and Amanda Ponsonby (01608 [email protected] or the Guildhall 01608 658244) for a friendly chat, advice or practical help. 642341 [email protected] Kingham has a ‘Kingham Village’ Facebook page. The Stockwells have an Age Concern Chipping Norton have 5 staff and 2 emergency line for the elderly and for volunteer coordination (contact minibuses at Highlands and are offering help and support, 01608 658100) or via Marina Colville [email protected]. Contact including errands and chat. Other volunteers welcome. Vicar David Salter (01608 652888) about Kingham in Need Relief Fund. Call 01608 643320. Age UK Oxfordshire’s free tele- Great Rollright’s coordinated volunteer hub is leafleting village res- phone support service includes a friendly weekly chat and idents. Contact Marilina on 07812 246991. help. Leave a message on 01865 411288. Someone will ring back. See ageuk.org.uk. Over Norton’s village support group has 20 volunteers so far. Con- tact [email protected] or call 07880 551267. WODC have advice at westoxon.gov.uk/coronavirus. Our Chippy District Councillors are available – Laetisia Carter Chadlington’s Good Neighbour scheme also covers Spelsbury, Tas- (01608 641828), Geoff Saul (01608 648202) and Mike ton and Dean (07541 235002 or via Chadlingtongoodneigh- Cahill (07876 685417) and see In Touch with Chipping [email protected]). Café de la Post and CQS community shop are Norton Labour Councillors Facebook. Our MP’s ‘one stop collaborating on village home deliveries.