Campaign to help vulnerable households through coronavirus outbreak receives 230 calls a day

#StokeonTrentTogether, an initiative by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and voluntary sector partner VAST, is seeing an army of volunteers collect prescriptions, help with shopping and provide other support to those who are self-isolating or shielding and do not have the help of family or friends to call on.

Council leader Abi Brown said: “During the Easter weekend we received 325 calls, and are anticipating over 1,000 calls during this second week of the half-term break.

“We’re working proactively to contact people who are clinically shielding and have made hundreds of calls already with the aim of making 2,000 by the end of the week. Volunteers are each speaking to 25-30 people a day. The very act of picking up a phone and speaking to people can be a really important social contact. The response from volunteers who are giving their time to answer calls and help people who need it the most is fantastic to see. It proves our city really cares.”

Residents can access the #StokeonTrentTogether website via www.corona19.vast.org.uk, or call 0800 5615610.

Meanwhile the council is advising residents and businesses to follow national public health guidance through the pandemic. It comes as the council received more reports over the weekend of families using playgrounds that are closed, and in some cases lifting children over fences to access them. The council’s trading standards teams continued to make visits over the weekend and made interventions in response to public complaints. They included an off-licence selling facemasks that did not meet health standards and a convenience store that wasn’t adhering to the two-metre social distancing guidance.

Councillor Brown said: “The measures being taken are to protect people from this horrible virus. We urge people to continue to follow the guidance ‘stay at home and save lives’. In the case of the businesses our officers visited, the facemasks are now off sale and we have been able to work with the store so that it stays open to support its local community, but now has notices and measures in place to follow the guidance correctly.”

Meanwhile, residents are advised that schools in the city are open over the Easter period for families who are in key worker groups and have indicated that they require care for their children. Residents are advised to speak to their school to check on the arrangements for this period, and it may be possible to use an alternative school if their usual school is closed. Residents can check which schools are open over Easter by visiting: https://www.stoke.gov.uk/downloads/download/789/schools_open_to_key_workers_-_easter_holidays_2020. Parents can contact education2020@stoke.gov.uk or call 01782 237074 for more information.

Stoke-on-Trent libraries may be temporarily closed following government guidance, but there is still a lot of online content to access. Every Saturday, libraries are now running an online Lego club and challenging residents and their families to make something amazing. There is a themed activity – and people have a week to complete it and share a photo of their creation on social media in the comments or tag in @stokeontrentlibraries on Facebook or @SoTLibraries on Twitter. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/stokeontrentlibraries/ or https://twitter.com/SoTLibraries.

The libraries also have online Singing Bears sessions – based on the same events that usually take place at the buildings. These happen on Mondays and Thursdays at 11am. For more details, visit the Facebook or Twitter pages.

Library users with a standard membership card number will also be able to access a full suite of online services – including e-audiobooks, e-books and e-magazines. During the pandemic, people who are not library members can now get provisional membership online to access all of the service’s e-audiobooks and e-magazines. No fines will be applied to books that are due back while libraries are temporarily closed.

Exercise classes run by qualified city council gym instructors are now being broadcast on social media to help residents stay fit and healthy. The mixture of live and pre-recorded sessions include high intensity workouts, home circuits, relaxation classes such as yoga or Pilates, joint and strength exercises, and more gentle chair-based activities.

The sessions are available on the Facebook pages of Dimensions Leisure Centre, Shapes Health and Leisure Club and Wallace Sports and Education Centre.

Residents who want to take part will just need clothing suitable to exercise in, enough space to work out safely and water to stay hydrated. Some of the sessions may need equipment but are designed to use items from around the home.

The live events will also give participants a chance to message – via Facebook – helping to bring people together during the coronavirus emergency. The videos will be posted for as long as needed while the authority’s leisure centres are temporarily closed.

The live streams will take place on various days and times throughout the week. Sessions will be scheduled via Facebook and followers can sign up to receive notifications of upcoming classes. Visit the Facebook pages for information on session dates and times.

For more information and advice on coronavirus (COVID-19) please visit Public Health England: https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2020/01/23/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-what-you-need-to-know/ and the NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/.

All residents are reminded about the critical importance of regular handwashing with soap and hot water for 20 seconds. The significance of this action cannot be underestimated.

For more information on digital services, visit www.stoke.gov.uk, download the MyStoke App, or follow the city council’s social media channels.