WE ARE Islington Are you struggling because of Coronavirus (COVID-19)? We are Islington is here to help you Get in touch If you or someone you know needs support, then help is available. Islington Council, voluntary sector and mutual aid groups are working together to provide support. This could include help with getting food or medicine, online group activities, legal advice or a friendly conversation. You can contact organisations directly or call the We are Islington helpline on 020 7527 8222. You can also email weareislington@islington.gov.uk Minicom: 020 7527 1900 We are open every day from 9am to 5pm. For British Sign Language (BSL), look online at www.islington.gov.uk/accessibility. Signvideo lines are open Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm, Saturday from 9am-1pm, Sunday closed. Find local news, link to public health advice and sign up to our ebulletins at www.islington.gov.uk/coronavirus A big thank you to all the residents, volunteers and charities across Islington who are rallying round to support their community. We are Islington.
Support us If you/your business want to volunteer please approach a local group or check out www.islington.gov.uk/findvolunteering. You can also email volunteer@vai.org.uk Please ensure that any organisation that you help gives you advice on how to keep yourself and others safe. If you feel able to, you can donate to the Islington Giving Crisis Fund at www.islingtongiving.org.uk
Staying active from home in Islington During this time it’s important to stay active and find new ways to keep everyone in your home moving. Turn chores into exercise: Activities like vacuuming, cutting the grass and hanging the washing can all contribute to your 150 recommended active minutes a week.
Get creative with household items: Objects including cans and water bottles can be used as weights.
Dance it out: Put on your favourite playlist and dance out your stress for thirty minutes or so. This makes a great activity to do with kids.
Use your house: Use your sofa for arm dips and your walls for chair pose (stand with your back against the wall and lower down so it’s like you’re sitting on a chair. Hold for 30 seconds).
Get climbing: If you have stairs, climb these or use as a stepper.
Balance it out: Take turns balancing on one leg – closing your eyes makes this harder.
Go online: Jump on YouTube and find the workout for you, like Joe Wicks’ workouts for all the family. For tips and advice about staying safe, healthy and active visit www.islington.gov.uk/coronavirus
A message from Islington Council: Stay in to support our key workers During this strange and unsettling time, the weekly “Clap for Carers” has become a key fixture in our weeks. It is a chance for us to come together, at a safe distance, to show our gratitude to the frontline workers who are keeping us and our loved ones safe during this pandemic. It’s vital that we all do our bit to support them, by staying at home and maintaining social distancing. The majority of you have been doing so, and I thank you for that. But, with the warm weather set to return this Bank Holiday weekend, the outdoors may
seem more appealing than ever. The advice is clear: unless you are going out for vital trips or to exercise once per day, stay at home. If you’re even considering going out unnecessarily or breaking social distancing guidelines – by going for a picnic on our parks, sunbathing on green spaces or by meeting with friends – please pause to think about the frontline workers we applaud each week. NHS staff have been working tirelessly to save lives on critical care wards, and have barely had a break since the outbreak started. Our carers are doing everything they possibly can to look after the most
vulnerable. Council frontline staff, such as refuse collectors, social care workers and parks staff, are working in extremely challenging conditions to keep key services running. Flouting the Government’s guidelines now will only make their jobs harder, and puts them and their families, as well as countless other people, at risk from this deadly virus. So please remember that our role this weekend, and beyond, is to stay at home and protect our fantastic key workers. Cllr Richard Watts, Leader of Islington Council
For clear, up-to-date, easy-to-read guidance and updates, visit www.gov.uk, www.nhs.uk, www.islington.gov.uk, and the council’s Facebook or Twitter @IslingtonBC. All information on this page is correct as of 11am Thursday May 7.
Need help with work?
How we’re changing our services
Islington Council’s employment service offers one-to-one coaching and mentoring support to help unemployed residents into jobs they want to do. In response to coronavirus, the service is temporarily being offered by telephone, email and Skype. Please contact 020 7527 2706 or email iwork@islington.gov.uk.
So we can keep providing key services, and to support our most vulnerable residents, we have had to make changes to many council services. Here are the latest changes:
If you’re in work but your job has changed as a result of coronavirus, our partner The Shaw Trust’s ‘Get Back on Track’ service offers support on issues including furlough, annual leave, redundancy, changes to terms and conditions (pay, hours, etc), and managing mental health while working from home. Visit their website at getbackontrack.london or contact them at 0800 389 0177 and getbackontrack@nhs.net
LONDON
The care sector needs you more than ever…
to provide essential care and support to elderly and vulnerable people. During the Covid-19 crisis social care, alongside the NHS, is vital to helping people recover.
• Our housing repairs team are focusing on essential maintenance, safety checks and emergency repairs only. Please report emergency repairs by phone only, not online.
• Our textile banks are currently closed. For the latest information, including details of opening arrangements for Trent Park Cemetery and Islington & St Pancras Cemetery, see www.islington.gov.uk/ servicechanges
What you need to do to slow the spread It is vitally important that we all help to save lives by doing our bit to slow the spread of coronavirus. Here’s what you can do: You should only go outside for food, health reasons or for work that cannot be done from home. If you do go outside for any of these reasons, stay at least 2 metres (6ft 6in) away from other people at all times. That is roughly the length of two supermarket trolleys. You’re allowed to go into parks and some green spaces for exercise once a day for up to an hour. Try to go at quieter times, such early morning or in the evening.
We’re actively recruiting, for temporary and permanent sta�.
Do not meet with people that live outside your household, even friends or family. You can spread the virus to them even if you don’t have symptoms.
Make a di�erence today and register now at www.proudtocarelondon.org.uk
Wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds.
7
DAYS
If you start displaying symptoms, including a new, continuous cough and/ or a high temperature, self-isolate for seven days. Anyone you live with should self-isolate for 14 days from the day you developed symptoms.
If you do have to go out, keep your distance. Stand at least 2m (6ft 6in), roughly the length of two supermarket trolleys, away from others. Remember coronavirus can be spread even by those who do not display symptoms.
How far is 2 metres? How far is 2 metres? 2m
2m
For more information, see www.gov.uk/ coronavirus
Help us keep parks open by enjoying your