We’re in this together 🐝 – 2 April 2020
As we know, the whole of the UK is currently having to stay at home to make sure we slow down the spread of Coronavirus. Lots of announcements, changes and disruption to our everyday lives. We’re all temporarily giving up seeing others and socialising in different ways to make sure we save lives.
Let’s be together, apart.
The newsletter for everything Coronavirus, all things Manchester, and isolation tips
We’re working with our partners across Manchester to bring you the latest Government rules, disruption announcements, new ways of coping with working from home and homeschooling – along with other tips during these strange times.
We don’t want to fill your inbox with updates, but we would like to bring you updates that affect you on a local level – to make sure you know what you really need to know.
We’re also throwing in some tips for getting through self-isolation and social-distancing, as well as sending our best feel-good stories. We could all do with some positive news right now.
Here’s the latest,
Manchester City Council
Help is available if you need it
Freephone helpline to support most vulnerable in Manchester
A new freephone helpline to support the most vulnerable people in Manchester during the Coronavirus pandemic will go live on from 8.30am from Monday 30 March 2020 and this will sit alongside our comprehensive online portal www.manchester.gov.uk/coronavirus where people can access up to date information immediately.
This new service will initially offer support to:
- People over the age of 70 who are self-isolating and have no support network
- People who have received a letter from the NHS advising they are at higher risk or are medically vulnerable according to government criteria
- Those who are self-isolating with no support networks (ie. friends or family).
Help will also be available, but not limited to, other groups such as carers, care leavers or young carers.
The primary needs that call handlers can help with are:
- Delivery of food
- Delivery of medication
- Combating loneliness
- Managing fuel top-up payments
The Hub’s freephone number is: 0800 234 6123 and lines are open Monday to Saturday, between 8.30am and 5.30pm. The helpline is being operated by redeployed Manchester City Council staff.
Learn more about the support
Our service changes
Latest changes to your council services. Click bullet points to read more about the changes:
- All tips in Greater Manchester are closed until further notice. Please do not leave waste outside the tips – this is classed as fly-tipping.
- No green bin collections. Food waste to go in grey general waste bins. Grey, blue, brown bins collected as normal.
- Manchester City Council’s Customer Service Centre is currently closed to walk-in visitors, most services are available online and we encourage you to use our website wherever possible. The Council’s phone lines are also closed and only accepting essential and emergency phone services to support those that need it most. More information about how to contact us is available on our webpages.
- There are also changes across Manchester’s crematorium and cemeteries. We are working closely with funeral directors and staff to keep everyone safe. See the changes and how we’re supporting families.
- If you are at risk of homelessness, please do not visit the Town Hall as the Customer Service Centre is currently closed to limit spreading of the virus. You can find out more about how we’re helping the homeless on our webpages.
All council services changes
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Helpful links:
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) – UK government response: gov.uk/coronavirus
- Government travel advice: gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus
- Guidance for employers and businesses: gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19
- Help with debt, bills and borrowing: manchester.gov.uk/helpinghands
- NHS advice and information: nhs.uk/coronavirus