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Dear AU Member...


Welcome to another edition of our eNewsletter. It's been a week and a half this week, hasn't it? So much uncertainty, and we know that lots of you are facing competing pressures. We've got some information further down for you on various avenues of support and information, so keep reading and find out more.
 

COVID-19

Hands Face Space

New Government Guidelines for England


As you will all almost certainly be aware by now, England has this week entered into a new four week period of national restrictions. You can find the official Government guidelines for this period here.

As part of this, the Government have announced two things that may be particularly important for you and your family to be aware of:

Firstly, the list of those who are felt to be extremely clinically vulnerable to COVID-19 has changed since the first lockdown. The Government have this week issued us with the following guidance:  

"More evidence has emerged that shows there is a very low risk of children becoming very unwell from COVID-19, even for children with existing health conditions. Most children originally identified as clinically extremely vulnerable no longer need to follow this advice. Speak to your GP or specialist clinician if you have not already done so, to understand whether your child should still be classed as clinically extremely vulnerable. Those children whose doctors have confirmed they are still clinically extremely vulnerable are advised not to attend school while this advice is in place. Your school will make appropriate arrangements for you to be able to continue your education at home. Children who live with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable, but who are not clinically extremely vulnerable themselves, should still attend school."

You can read the current guidance around protecting extremely clinically vulnerable people here.
 

And secondly, families with young people with Down's Syndrome should be aware that the Government has this week added those aged 18 or over with Down's Syndrome to the extremely clinically vulnerable list. The Down's Syndrome Association have produced a helpful page on this, including an Easy Read Guide, which you can visit here.

Mencap have also created a series of Easy Read guides to help explain the current situation, which you can read here.
 

Public Health Suffolk


COVID-19: Symptoms and testing


The symptoms of COVID-19 in adults and children are: 
  • a high temperature 
  • a new, continuous cough (this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours).    
  • a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste 
Anyone with these symptoms should firstly self-isolate and get tested, requesting a test via the online portal or via 119 if you do not have internet access.  Testing slots are added throughout each day so if you are at first unsuccessful, do keep trying.  

If children are experiencing common cold symptoms (such as a runny or blocked nose, and/or a sore throat), and do not have any of the above COVID-19 symptoms plus do not fall into either of the following categories:  
  • a household member has COVID-19 symptoms or has had a positive test result in the last 14 days 
  • the child has been identified as a close contact of a COVID-19 case through NHS Test and Trace or local contact tracing efforts 
they should not be excluded from school and may continue to attend school providing they are feeling well enough to do so.
Schools should not request that the child has a COVID-19 test before returning to school.  
Parents of children with common cold symptoms who do not have any of the 3 COVID-19 symptoms listed above should not request testing for their child.  
For more information on COVID-19 symptoms and arranging testing for children, please see the following links:
Coronavirus in children
Coronavirus (COVID-19): getting tested

The Coronavirus page on the Suffolk County Council website is regularly updated with the latest local information from the Public Health team.
 
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Suffolk Collective Advice and Support Service (SASS)


The service provides free professional advice in confidence on a range of issues including:
  • mortgage or credit cards
  • rent arrears or other debts
  • COVID-19 related concerns and what it means for you and/or your family
  • access to food
  • one off grants for things such as:
    • white goods
    • fuel vouchers
    • other unforeseen expenses
Find out more

Message Cascaders


We're not quite sure what to say about this really, but it made us smile and we thought it might make you smile too. We wonder how they managed to get the dog to agree. We suspect sausages were involved....

If you'd like to become a COVID-19 "message cascader", click the image above to find out more. Woof.
 

AU Holiday Lodges CLOSED


We're sorry to have to let you know that our holiday lodges are closed for the next four weeks in line with Government guidelines. If you have an existing booking, our team should already have contacted you, but if not do contact us. We will let you know when you're back up and running again. Thanks all.


 

Resources

Kooth - free, safe and anonymous

What is Kooth?

Kooth is a free, safe and anonymous online chat and emotional wellbeing service for young people aged 11 to 25, across Suffolk.

Kooth is here for you when you need someone to talk to.

If you are going through a hard time and you are not sure who to speak to, login to Kooth.

You will find friendly councillors who can help you talk through your problems and help you with anything that's on your mind.

This could be about bullying, relationships, work life difficulties, money worries, problems at home, coping with stress, anxiety or grief from losing someone.

Who can use Kooth?

  • Young people 11-25 years old
  • Young people who live anywhere in Suffolk

Read more, visit www.thesource.me.uk/kooth

TOPE Support Service


Survivors In Transition (SiT) is a specialist service for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. They have opened a new support service for young people called ‘TOPE’, for any young person aged 13+ who is or has in the past experienced any form of abuse. 

Young people can call the TOPE line on 0808 168 1154 or text 07375 296229, from 9am to 9pm daily. There is also a web chat facility available from 6pm to 9pm Monday to Friday on their website.
 

Update for prepaid card holders - please read!


Mastercard Identity Check is a service to enhance your existing Mastercard prepaid card and gives you an additional layer of security that protects you against unauthorised use of your card when shopping online.

Read the guide for more information.
Lastly we loved receiving this message and photos from Lisa, Mum of Tyler, aged 16, who has learning needs and autism and who receives an AU award. Lisa writes,

"Tyler struggles to make friends, doesn't have much of a social life and would never go out if it wasn't for Felixstowe Sailing Club and Level 2; they have both been amazing with him. The funding AU have provided allows him to sail - he loves it, and most of his funds go on his sailing and sailing gear. Whilst he might not have progressed as far as other students his age, he has shown progression; arrives early to help get the boats out and is the first to help put them away again. Sailing helped push his need to learn to swim, has increased his confidence in the water and is helping him form some friendships with people who understand him."
 

Tyler, we think you sound awesome, and you certainly look the part - keep it up! And Lisa, thank you so much for taking the time to write in with your feedback. It really does mean a lot to us.

If you have any stories of how you're spending your award, send them through to us, we love to see and hear what you're up to.

That's all from us for this week. We know the options are more limited than usual this weekend, but we hope you can find ways to safely relax and enjoy some familiy time together. Stay safe and well and we'll be in touch again soon.

The Activities Unlimited Team

 
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