Cumbria County Council’s Community Learning and Skills service has launched a new programme of online courses. With more than 150 adult learning courses available online there’s bound to be a course that will spark your creativity!

More information about the service is available online at cumbria.gov.uk/learningandskills where you can browse and choose the courses you’re interested in.

GOV.UK

If you’re struggling because of Covid-19, you can find information about feeling unsafe; going in to work; paying bills or being unemployed; getting food; having somewhere to live; mental health and wellbeing at

https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support

South Lakeland District Council

For up-to-date information on South Lakeland District Council services, go to www.southlakeland.gov.uk, follow SLDC on Facebook or on Twitter @SouthLakelandDC.

Green Bins

A green bin waste collection is being partially re-introduced by South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) after it was suspended at the end of March.

From next week (week commencing 4 May) the council is introducing a monthly collection of green bin waste across the district, aiming to make one collection per household each month until further notice.

SLDC suspended green waste collections in response to reduced staffing levels due to the Coronavirus outbreak and restrictions to ensure crews could work safely and comply with social distancing guidelines. The council now believes it has sufficient staff numbers and available vehicles to look at re-introducing a green bin collection on a monthly basis, while still allowing crews to work safely.

From next week residents are being asked to follow these steps:

• Starting week commencing 4 May, check your collection calendar and leave your green bin out on your next scheduled collection day
• Collection crews will begin emptying green bins on the round on the scheduled collection day

If your bin has not been emptied by the end of the scheduled collection day please take your bin back in and present it again on the next scheduled green bin collection day according to your calendar, when the crews will return to continue the rest of the round

For more details and background see: https://www.southlakeland.gov.uk/news/green-bin-collection-to-be-partially-re-introduced/

• The front counter reception at SLDC offices at South Lakeland House in Kendal and Kendal Town Hall remain closed to face-to-face enquiries. Essential services are continuing, including waste collections, environmental protection and benefits payments. Services will also be accessible to the homeless and anyone who requires urgent assistance can still call a member of the homelessness team on 01539 733 333.

SLDC’s customer services team is still working and can be contacted by the same phone number or by emailing customer.services@southlakeland.gov.uk.

Any documents that need to be handed in can be left in a sealed envelope in the post box at SLDC’s Kendal offices. The post box is next to the main office entrance in Angel Yard.

• The public jetty, public slipway and public toilets at Ferry Nab, Bowness are closed. All council-managed play areas are closed, although parks will remain open for fresh air and exercise in line with government advice.

• Car parks operated by SLDC have been made free of charge to ensure key workers and volunteers involved in the Coronavirus response can access parking and to minimise the risk of virus transmission.

• All bulky waste collection services provided by Right2Work are currently suspended.

• Businesses impacted by the Coronavirus outbreak can now apply to South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) to access government support grants – the cash grant for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses (a one-off cash grant of £25,000 to eligible businesses with rateable values greater than £15,000 and less than £51,000), and small business grant funding (a one-off £10,000 grant to support small businesses that already pay little or no business rates because of small business rate relief (SBRR), rural rate relief (RRR) and tapered relief).

Those eligible should receive the payment within 10 working days from receipt of a valid application.

To date the council has received 4,600 applications and has processed payments worth nearly £50 million.

The application form can be accessed here: www.southlakeland.gov.uk/Covid-19BusinessGrants

Childcare Provision for key workers

Childcare and Learning Hubs have been set up during the period of lock down to ensure key workers and vulnerable children can access childcare and learning.

These are operating as a community of schools, staffed by teachers, volunteers and other school staff from across the county.

The children of key workers are eligible to attend if childcare cannot be provided by other means.

Details can be found at https://cumbria.gov.uk/coronavirus/serviceupdates.asp

Free School Meals

The Department for Education has developed a national scheme to provide supermarket vouchers. The scheme awards each eligible child £15 per week, and operates during term time only. More information can be found at

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools

Safeguarding

Children and Young People

Families may experience added stress at this time, with added financial pressure or isolation from support networks. These issues can add a great burden onto families and children and young people could be at increased risk of harm during these times.

If you are concerned about a child or young person who you believe might be at risk of harm, please contact The Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub on 0333 240 1727  cumbriasafeguardingchildren.co.uk  or NSPCC 0808 800 5000.

If you believe a child is at risk of immediate danger dial 999 and speak to the Police

Adult Safeguarding

We want to make sure that people are safe in their communities. Here are some things to think about if you are offered, or need, support during this time.

Try to use existing and trusted community groups. If not, could a family member, friend or neighbour who you know and trust help? Not sure? Don’t answer the door!

If you’re not sure about an offer of help, ask the person to leave details and talk to someone you trust about it.

If you are concerned that an adult is at risk of abuse or neglect please call 0300 303 2704; Out of Hours 01228 526690   In an emergency, call 999

Cumbria Adult Safeguarding Board (CSAB) and reporting concerns

CSAB have a number of resources which you may find useful to share, print or display, including how to report safeguarding concerns http://www.cumbriasab.org.uk/AdultSafeguarding/covid-19.asp

 Springfield Domestic Abuse Support in South Lakeland

Community support 01539 726171 Refuge 01539 720313

cs@springfieldsupport.org  refuge@springfieldsupport.org

We do not judge you for the choices you have made, nor do we discriminate against anyone. Our values are about making a difference for each woman at the refuge and for everyone who needs our services.
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Staff at Springfield are trained in all aspects of the support needed, including understanding mental health, drug and alcohol issues, the dynamics and effects of domestic abuse, suicide prevention, the benefits system, assessing and managing risk, and support planning.

“Springfield strives to meet the needs of women today who live with the terrible impact of domestic abuse. Through our refuge and growing community work lives are being changed. With your support, building on over 100 years of supporting women, we won’t rest until all domestic abuse is history.”

Domestic Abuse / Safeguarding Children webinars with Cumbria Police now available via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cumbriapolice