Greetings to each and every one of our U3A Newport Members from your committee. We hope that you have all now settled down into the new way of social life that has been foisted upon us by the current pandemic. As the vast majority of our members are either IN or APPROACHING the ‘vulnerable’ section of the population, we must all be very careful what help we can personally offer if we are not to exacerbate our own risks and those of the ‘helpee’. Remember – the virus does NOT move itself, it is we humans who move it from place to place. We are well aware that there are many groups who are offering help and it can be difficult to keep track of them all. Therefore we are proposing that your committee keeps an up to date list of agencies who are offering the sort of assistance our members are likely to seek. We intend to routinely itemise them in emails and display them on this our web site. Please use these agencies where possible if you have any concerns – remember they are there for YOU not just everyone else. Government Advice What You Need To Know About Coronavirus and Food Social Distancing What You Can And Cannot Do Sign up to get emails when there is a change to any coronavirus information on the GOV.UK website Support Services Government support for those affected by Covid-19 which concerns only the most vulnerable is at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-for-those-affected-by- covid-19/support-for-those-affected-by-covid-19 Here you fill out a questionnaire that notes your address etc., and assesses if you are in the most vulnerable category; if you are not you are informed. Telford and Wrekin Council have a Community Delivery team and there are two ways to communicate. Web - https://www.telford.gov.uk/info/20692/coronavirus_covid- 19/3999/support_from_the_council Again, you are presented with a questionnaire form to fill in for what support you require and there is a comment box where you can better qualify your own situation. Phone - 01952 382030 . The line is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm and Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 1pm. They will keep these times under review and expand if necessary . Newport Town Council website - A local Volunteer Community Group (hashtag viralkindness) has been set up if you’re self isolating and need help. Contact the group coordinator Wendy Hesbrook on 07921 255598 for further details see:- http://www.newportshropshire-tc.gov.uk/Core/Newport- Tc/UserFiles/Files/viralkindness%20coordinator%20details.pd f Nextdoor (web site) includes a Help Map showing neighbours who can help you and even enables you to offer help. See:- https://nextdoor.co.uk/help_map/?is=nav_bar Mutual Covid-19 UK Volunteer Organisation where one can find out the Volunteer groups in your area at https://covidmutualaid.org/local- groups/ Simply put in Telford (this covers the Telford & Wrekin area and displays a list of groups. As of 28/03/2020 the Telford area groups are Telford Community support Priorslee telford Shawbirch, Bratton, Admaston and Telford, Shropshire Wrockwardine Covid-19 Community Help Lawley Farm, Telford, Lawley Farm Covid-19 Mutual Aid Shropshire 1.6km Leegomery Community Help & Support Leegomery, Telford 3.9km Group Friends of Bowring Park Covid 19 Wellington, Telford 4.2km Community Help North Telford, Shropshire, U K North Telford Mutual Aid 5.7km Jackfield, Telford, Shropshire Jackfield COVID-19 5.8km Muxton 6.1km Muxton Coronovirus Help Support Group Shifnal, Shropshire 6.3km Shifnal Helpline Broseley, Shropshire 7.4km Broseley Covid Sheriffhales, Shifnal, Sheriffhales Support Shropshire. 8.1km Waters Upton 11.8km Waters Upton Community Blymhill 12.9km Blymhill -Here to Help Sambrook, Newport, Sambrook Community Support Shropshire 15.9km Bridgnorth, Shropshire Bridgnorth Covid-19 Mutual Aid 16.2km Astley, Shrewsbury, Astley Parish SUpport Group Shropshire 17.7km Shrewsbury SY2 5JY 17.8km Shropshire European Organisation c.i.c. Gnosall 18.6km Gnosall community support for covid -19 Shropshire Covid -19 Mutual Support Shropshire 18.8km Network Shropshire 18.8km Shropshire Mutual Aid (COVID -19) Shropshire Coronavirus (Covid -19) Local Shropshire 18.8km Support Network Shrewsbury, Belle Vue Belle Vue Covid 19 Mutual Aid neighbourhood 19.1km National Newsletter - Finally you can keep in touch with the greater U3A community by visiting their Newsletter at:- Link to National Newsletter Express Please do not be afraid to use any of the above resources – they have YOUR wellbeing at heart and will be pleased to help. .