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Thu 23 April 2020:
Your regular update from Reading Borough Council on our response to the COVID-19 pandemic and how you can help
A message from Reading Borough Council leader Jason Brock
At 8pm tonight the people of Reading will once again unite on their doorsteps and clap for our carers, including the NHS staff who are doing such a wonderful job in difficult of circumstances.

NHS staff are quite rightly getting the utmost praise for their selfless crucial work in fighting coronavirus, however there are also many other stories of people working hard, often outside of their comfort zones, to ensure that vital services are provided for our residents.
At the Council, staff are playing their part to keep essential services running, and many have been redeployed to take on jobs that are entirely new to them. These include employees from our leisure centres and theatres who are now packing and delivering food parcels from the One Reading Community Hub for vulnerable residents. It also includes staff from different Council teams being trained on waste collection. You can read an account below from one of the Parks Team, Peter Timms, who is now driving a bin lorry to ensure your weekly collections continue even when colleagues are off sick or self-isolating. On the subject of waste services, I'm delighted to confirm that garden waste collections will begin again from Monday 27th April.

There is also an opportunity for people to try something new to help support essential services, as we urgently need more carers. I am calling on people to join our care agencies to help make sure vulnerable adults and older people in Reading are supported over the coming months - more details can be found below. 

You may have seen a rise in domestic abuse in the news recently as a consequence of lockdown. If you or anyone you know is worried about this you can find more information and find out where to get help here
 
Finally, Ramadan Mubarak to everyone observing Ramadan in Reading, which begins today. May this holy time bring you peace and good health. It will be a very different experience this year - some tips on observing Ramadan during the coronavirus pandemic are below.

How Redeployed Council Staff Like Peter Are Helping To Keep 
Essential Services Going For Residents

Peter Timms is one of a number of council workers who have been redeployed in response to the coronavirus crisis to ensure essential services are maintained for residents. With a number of waste crew personnel unavailable since the crisis struck due to self-isolation, Council departments from highways to parks and leisure facilities have pulled together to ensure cover for this vital service.

Peter has worked for the Parks Team for over 15 years and normally cuts grass and looks after the grounds of the Council's sheltered housing. However, with a HGV licence and confidence in driving large vehicles, Peter has become a fantastically valuable addition to the waste team in the last few weeks to ensure your household waste and recycling collections have been maintained. Peter said: "It is making me feel better about the situation to be able to do something valuable to help the cause. I have so much admiration for the waste teams who work really hard every day and have trained me up so well so I can contribute".

YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AS A CARER


 
READING Borough Council is working to recruit extra local carers to meet the growing demand and help the borough through the coronavirus pandemic. Carers and support workers are needed for people who may be elderly or frail or have multiple health conditions, people with learning and physical disabilities, and people with mental health issues, including dementia.

Work can take place in a variety of settings: in people’s homes, in a care home, supported living, in short breaks or day services and out in the community. Carers ensure people are safe and well and have access to food and medication. Tasks range from helping people to get washed and dressed or get ready for bed to preparing or collecting supplies, shopping and delivering vital equipment and a range of temporary, permanent, full time or part time roles are available.

If you are looking for temporary employment to support you with immediate income, or you're just keen to do your bit to help, then please apply. If you are caring and compassionate, and willing to get stuck in, there will be a role for you supporting adults of all ages. For more information click here.
Celebrating Ramadan During Lockdown
 
Ramadan Mubarak to all of those observing Ramadan which begins today. This year it will be a very different experience for Muslims around Reading and all over the world due to the COVID-19 restrictions. The Muslim Council of Britain has provided some guidance on things to consider to help celebrate, this year including:
  • Online – Stream Islamic lectures or taraweeh to your home, either pre-recorded or live.
  • Prayers – Organise prayers including taraweeh at home as a family and pray as a congregation in the home. Since it is no longer possible to do I’tikaf in the mosque, consider doing this at home.
  • Virtual Iftars – Try to organise virtual iftars with extended family and the community through the many online video calling facilities available. 
  • Plan food – Plan your iftar menus in advance so that you can limit multiple shopping trips and limit exposure given social distancing measures.  
  • Drink well – Hydrate well for the long work days. Dehydration can lead to tiredness, headaches, lack of focus/concentration. 
  • Energy foods – Eat high energy, slow burn foods for suhoor (starting your fast) – It is important that you remain energised throughout the workday, especially as we can experience heightened levels of anxiety during these times. 
Worried About Domestic Abuse During Lockdown? Help Is At Hand

With the current coronavirus lockdown restrictions, domestic tensions can become magnified and for some people home may not be a safe place. Domestic abuse is a crime, and escaping it is an entirely valid reason for leaving your home during the lockdown. Many organisations can help support you to do this as safely as possible. It's important to know you are not alone and support is available:
  • For help and advice to find somewhere else to live, contact Reading Borough Council’s Housing team on 01189 372165 or email housing.advice@reading.gov.uk
  • If seeking refuge or emotional support, Berkshire Women’s Aid can help. Call 01189 504003 (24/7) or go online
  • In an emergency, call 999. If you can’t speak, you can press 55 on your mobile to show it isn’t a hoax call but you are unable to make a sound
  • If you have any immediate safeguarding concerns about children, please call 01189 373641 or email cspoa@brighterfuturesforchildren.org without delay.
IMPORTANT SERVICE CHANGES
 
  • Garden waste collections will resume from Monday 27th April. Residents who have already renewed will automatically be updated to start from 27 April for a full year, with no charges for the period that the service was suspended. Existing customers who have not yet renewed, and new customers, can sign up and pay for the service now online at www.reading.gov.uk/garden-waste.
 
  • All Reading Borough Council-run cemeteries reopened to the general public on Monday 20th April
ONE READING COMMUNITY HUB


If you know of anyone isolated and with urgent needs for help with food supplies, prescription requests or emotional support, the One Reading Community Hub is here to help.

The phoneline – 0808 189 4325 – is open from 9am - 5pm on weekdays and 9am – 1pm at weekends, so please urge them to call us, or you can call on their behalf. The Hub can also be contacted
online.
KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST COVID-19 RESPONSE NEWS FROM READING BOROUGH COUNCIL

With the latest advice and service information changing regularly, you can keep up to date by following our dedicated page to the Covid-19 response here: https://www.reading.gov.uk/coronavirus
Please also follow us on Facebook and Twitter (links below) for regular updates.
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