The campaign is being led by the Pembrokeshire Community Hub in partnership with Pembrokeshire County Council, Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services and a variety of agencies including Hywel Dda Health Board, Emergency Services and the Voluntary Sector.
The cost of living crisis affects everyone and it is a worrying and uncertain time for so many people. Therefore, work is taking place to connect people to local information, support and services over the coldest months of the year.
Across Pembrokeshire we are already seeing communities and organisations doing a fantastic job responding to the crisis offering a range of local solutions including hot meals and community activities, plus energy, money and debt advice.
If you or people you know are experiencing financial hardship or would like information about what support is available in your area, you can get in contact with the Pembrokeshire Community Hub.
They can talk to you about your situation and put you in touch with the right community group or service – as there is a lot of help available both in Pembrokeshire and across Wales. They have also created an online one-stop-shop through the Connect Pembrokeshire website at www.connectpembrokeshire.org.ukwhich has lots of useful information and an interactive map of Warm Welcome spaces across the county.
Welcome Warm spaces offer welcoming places where people can meet with others in their local community and take part in a range of activities.
Lee Hind Manager of the Pembrokeshire Community Hub said: “If you are worried about making your money stretch and how you are going to pay for essential bills over the winter, we’d really encourage you to get in contact with the Pembrokeshire Community Hub. No-one should feel uncomfortable about getting in touch and we have a really friendly team who can chat to you about some of the fantastic community support that is local to you.
“We have an easy ‘one call that’s all’ approach, call 01437 723660, or you can email enquiries@pembrokeshirecommunityhub.org. We are also recruiting community volunteers to ensure no-one goes cold or hungry this winter – if you have a spare hour or two, please call us.”
Cllr Tessa Hodgson, Cabinet Member for Social Service at Pembrokeshire County Council said: “With the weather starting to get colder as we approach winter we are keen to ensure that everyone knows where they can go in their local community to find a warm space and a warm welcome.
“We’re working with our local partners, building on the great work we did during the pandemic, to create a network of Warm Welcome Community Spaces where people can come together, enjoy some company and get involved in local activities. From libraries and leisure centres to community halls and sports clubs, everyone is welcome and visiting is free.
“I’d encourage everyone to have a look at the new interactive map or get in touch with the Community Hub to find out what is going on in their community.
“Together we will make a positive difference to our local communities and help residents during this crisis.”
Through Welsh Government funding being made available by Pembrokeshire County Council, the Keep Warm Keep Well campaign is making money available to organisations offering information and advice, support for individuals with fuel costs, extra funding to support demands on food banks, pet food banks, emergency keep warm packs and support for individuals who are experiencing data poverty.
Organisations are also invited to apply for a Warm Welcome grant offer of revenue and capital grants of up to £3,500 to constituted voluntary and community groups – and Town and Community Councils. You can call the Pembrokeshire Community Hub for more information.
Pembrokeshire County Council is also making separate grants available to community organisations and groups who are part of the Pembrokeshire Food Poverty Network. Additional support is provided through the Pembrokeshire Community Support Network as an opportunity for communities and volunteers to access support from each other via www.facebook.com/groups/2895034667221453/
Living alongside coronavirus
We have learnt so much during the pandemic. We all made changes to the way we work, live and socialise, to protect each other and to keep Wales safe. These changes can be used to not only protect us from future waves of coronavirus, but from other respiratory infections such as flu and norovirus.
If we all keep doing the following protective behaviours, we can continue to keep each other and Wales safe:
- Get vaccinated
- good hand hygiene
- stay at home and limit your contact with others
- wear a face covering in indoor crowded or enclosed places
- meet others outdoors
- when indoors, increase ventilation and let fresh air in
What are the rules around car sharing?
If you cannot work from home and need to travel to work, you should consider how to do so in the safest way possible. Please refer to the https://gov.wales/coronavirus
Where it cannot be avoided, you should take steps to minimise the risk of coronavirus such as increasing physical distancing as much as possible, opening windows for the whole journey or for 10 seconds at a time, or wear a face covering and take lateral flow tests twice a week if you don’t have any symptoms.
As always when you are lift sharing, passengers and drivers should use common sense in taking relevant precautions, and make their own decisions about giving or requesting lifts.
Please follow our advice below for specific precautions to be taken in the light of COVID-19:
- Consider whether you need to travel at all, particularly if you are more vulnerable (i.e. aged 70+ or living with underlying health conditions that put you at greater risk from COVID-19). People vulnerable to the virus, or anyone showing signs of infection, should not be travelling at present unless it's essential. There is support within communities to pick up shopping and prescriptions for people who are self isolating or who have been advised to stay at home Please contact us (hello@takemetoo.org.uk or 07553 500400) and we can put you in touch with support in your area.
- Take a Lateral Flow Test at least 30 minutes before the journey to check you are not carrying the virus (see https://gov.wales/lateral-flow-testing-people-without-symptoms )
- You can order LFT kits, to use at home, via the NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing/regular-rapid-coronavirus-tests-if-you-do-not-have-symptoms/
- The Welsh Government advise Face coverings must be worn in all health care settings. Please note that social distancing and hygiene measures remain the most effective ways to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
For the purpose of reducing the spread of coronavirus, a face covering is something which covers the nose and mouth. You can buy or make reusable or single-use face coverings. The World Health Organisation recommends a minimum of three layers in a face covering. https://gov.wales/face-coverings-frequently-asked-questions
For our general advice about lift sharing safely, please go to: https://takemetoo.co.uk/en/safety/
- Care should be taken to keep 'touch points' (door handles, seat belts, etc.) clean between each car user. Viruses can live on hard surfaces for up to eight hours.
- Keep the car ventilated during the journey, keep windows open for the whole of the journey or at least 10 seconds at a time and consider sitting further apart if if this is possible (e.g. passenger in the back and driver in the front)
- Wash hands with soap and hot water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available, both before and after the journey.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
For our general advice about lift sharing safely, please go to: https://takemetoo.co.uk/en/safety/
For advice and information from Public Health Wales about COVID-19, please go to: https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/latest-information-on-novel-coronavirus-covid-19/
For advice and information from Community Transport Association (CTA) about COVID-19, please go to: https://ctauk.org/covid19-guidance/
