The NIB Neatishead, Irstead and Barton Turf Parish Magazine THE BENEFICE OF St BENEDICT The Parishes of Ashmanhaugh, Barton Turf, Beeston St Lawrence, Horning, Irstead and Neatishead Rector: The Rev’d David Smith 01692 630216 [email protected] From your Parish Priest If any of you recall my comments in last month’s magazine, you’ll remember how I observed that, when we don’t have an answer to a question or problem, many resort to simply saying “It’s complicated”. Well, as we all now know, life has just become particularly complicated and we shall continue to face and deal with the Coronavirus threat for weeks, if not months, to come. It will impact our individual lives, nations, and economies around the world, and the after effects will persist long after we have conquered the virus itself. All this may seem daunting, frightening, and so overwhelming that there is little or nothing we can do locally to help. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Although this is a global problem, it’s only going to get fixed by individuals – and that means all of us – playing our part in limiting the spread of the virus, protecting those most at risk, and providing what help we can to those who need it. It encouraging to see so many of you doing this already and it is already making a difference to those who are struggling in any way. To help this, your churches and parish councils have together produced the help sheet that has been distributed to all homes in our communities with this edition of the magazine. This re-iterates the current government and NHS health advice, and crucially provides contact details within our local community where you can obtain further advice, practical help with day-to-day essentials, and find people able to provide a listening ear, particular for those folk at home on their own. You will also be aware that all churches have now taken the necessary decision, in line with Public Health England recommendations, that all public worship must cease for the time being, although funerals and weddings could continue, but with the minimum possible number of people attending. That said, all our churches in the benefice will remain open for private prayer, and we shall distribute worship material and notices, to those who would like them, so that people can read these for themselves at home, by way of staying connected with the wider worshipping community during the crisis. Nevertheless prayers will be said each day at one of the churches in the benefice, so do let us know if there is someone or something we need to pray for on any particular day. In due course, we hope we may be able provide worship services via the internet. Also, the people from our churches listed in the flyer have offered to co-ordinate a “listening ear” provision for anyone in any of our various parishes and villages. In the meantime, please remember our nation and our communities in your own prayers and keep on being good neighbours to all those around us. If you know of anyone nearby who needs help, or would welcome a phone call just to chat, do please use the various contact numbers on the help sheet, or above, or indeed call or e-mail me. David ISSUE NO: 503 APRIL 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic The events/dates contained in the magazine were correct at the time of going to press but all are subject to change because of the Coronavirus Pandemic. To find out whether an event listed in the NIB has been cancelled please contact the relevant contributor direct. PLEASE FIND MORE CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION AND HELP IN THE ACCOMPANYING HELP SHEET/lFLYER Letter to Constituents from Duncan Baker MP, 18th March 2020 Dear all, I write to thank you for the amazing work your council members and staff are doing to support the local resilience effort in the face of the coronavirus outbreak. At this difficult time, all tiers of government, along with community organisations, need to put differences aside and pull together for the common good, and I’ve been greatly encouraged by the extent to which this is happening in North Norfolk. I want to assure you of my support for all you are doing and to let you know I am happy to help wherever I can. My constituency office team has dealt with hundreds of enquiries and questions from constituents already, so I know the extent to which we will all be under pressure in the days and weeks to come. If there is any issue which you face, either as a council or on behalf of your residents, where I can provide support as your MP, please do not hesitate to contact me on 01692 557140 or at [email protected]. My team has been collating details of individuals and organisations, across the constituency, who are offering practical help to the vulnerable, housebound, and self-isolating. Whilst many will have families, partners, and friends to help, I am concerned that we get the right help to where it’s needed, and that we do not forget those who may be lonely or struggling with the present situation. This database is growing by the hour and can be found at www.duncanbaker.org.uk/coronavirus. I would be very grateful if you could let your members and residents know about this resource: whilst it will not be the only such list available, it will be kept accurate and up to date with the latest guidance from NHS England, and with details of places to seek help and support. If you know of individuals/organisations in your own parish/town offering this support, it would be very helpful if you could ask them to fill in the form at www.duncanbaker.org.uk/support, so that we can add them to the list and so that my team and I can point people in the right direction if they contact us. In the most difficult of circumstances, I have been heartened to see this situation bring out the best in those who live and work in North Norfolk and, working together, I have no doubt we can keep everyone safe and healthy, and move past this to enjoy our beautiful home and its strong community spirit once again. Please do feel free to forward this letter on to others within your council and/or distribute it more widely within your communities. Your sincerely, Duncan Baker MP Letter from Beat Manager, Hoveton Police Station, 17th March 2020 Dear all, I felt it appropriate to make contact with you as parish and town representatives in the area I serve to keep you up to date. It is important you should all be aware and reassured that steps are in place to ensure that the police continue to provide an effective service in the coming months whilst the Covid-19 issue continues. There is a proposal that myself and other Beat Managers across the county be redeployed to cover response commitments and it is likely we will be utilised to support the response policing teams before long. This is so that the organisation can meet the emergency call demand across the county and beyond. Like all services we will no doubt be affected as far as staffing is concerned so we need to be flexible and adaptable. You are all very aware of the unprecedented demand that this virus is placing on our communities. I’m sure that you will all understand the need to provide an emergency service first and foremost in the weeks and months ahead. I will continue to monitor my emails and will assist where I can of course. I am grateful for your understanding and patience in the current climate. Reassure your communities that they can still contact the police via the 101 non-emergency number or via the force website ‘Contact us’ link. Always ring 999 in an emergency. Best wishes to you all. Tom Gibbs, PC 1298 2 BEWARE – Coronavirus scams The coronavirus has given scammers a golden opportunity both online and in person. Please be cautious of calls, emails and messages that you receive out of the blue. Never respond to unsolicited or unexpected contacts and never hand over personal or financial information if you are asked/pressured to do so by these contacts. It is also important not to click on links or open attachments contained in any suspicious emails. Cyber criminals are using phishing scams to take advantage of fears caused by the virus – for example an email is circulating purporting to be from the government regarding a new tax refund programme which is being used to get your bank details. People knocking at the door claiming to be from the Red Cross and offering to do shopping are not genuine. Please also ignore all offers of testing kits and respiratory masks for sale. If you have any doubts about emails, phone calls or people knocking at your door please contact your village representative first for advice. If you need supplies (e.g. food/medicine) let your village representative know and they will delegate this task to a trusted person. Details of each village’s representatives are to be found in the Covid 19 flyer which accompanies this edition of the NIB. Door Safety Sticker Able Community Care is a Norfolk home care company which was established in 1980 and now provides care 24/7 throughout the UK and beyond. We continually read news/articles flagging up the activities of doorstep criminals: fraudulent roofers, gardeners, service officials and other non- genuine visitors who target older people.