Get advice and information from Amber Valley regarding Business grants during the pandemic by following the link https://www.ambervalley.gov.uk/business/covid-19-business-grants/additional-restrictions-grant-tier-4-and-lockdown/

Covid 19 Community Fund for Organisations - Last chance to apply

Please follow the link to find further information about the fund and how to apply

https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/community/lottery-funding/covid-19-emergency-fund/covid-19-emergency-fund.aspx

This is a new round of this funding with a closing date of March 2022

Covid-19 Community Response Fund.

Fund aims to support voluntary and community sector organisations with funding to allow them to continue to play a key role in the local response to COVID-19 and to improve the health and wellbeing of Derbyshire residents during the ongoing pandemic. New online application now available via the link below formally constituted organisations apply for a maximum of £2,000, and non-constituted organisations can apply for a maximum of £250. COVID-19 Community Response Fund - Derbyshire County Council

The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is safe and effective. It gives you the best protection against coronavirus.

Wait to be contacted. The NHS will let you know when it's your turn to have the vaccine. It's important not to contact the NHS for a vaccination before then.

Letters are being sent out every week – you might not get your letter straight away.

If you've been sent a letter you can book your vaccination appointments online with the NHS.

Book your COVID-19 vaccination appointments

How safe is the COVID-19 vaccine?

The vaccines approved for use in the UK have met strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness set out by the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Any coronavirus vaccine that is approved must go through all the clinical trials and safety checks all other licensed medicines go through. The MHRA follows international standards of safety.

Other vaccines are being developed. They will only be available on the NHS once they have been thoroughly tested to make sure they are safe and effective.

So far, thousands of people have been given a COVID-19 vaccine and reports of serious side effects, such as allergic reactions, have been very rare. No long-term complications have been reported.

To find out more about the vaccines approved in the UK, see:

• GOV.UK: Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for COVID-19 approved by MHRA
• GOV.UK: Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine for COVID-19 approved by MHRA
• GOV.UK: Moderna vaccine for COVID-19 approved by MHRA

There have been some reported myths about Covid-19. Derbyshire County Council has produced the following link to provide some accurate information about the virus https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/community/community-champions/your-questions-answered/your-questions-answered.aspx

Healthwatch Derbyshire want to hear from local people about why they won't or can't have the Covid-19 vaccine

We want to hear the concerns people have about having the vaccine.

We also want to know if there are any difficulties booking or getting to the appointment, to have the injection.

We would be grateful if you could spare a few minutes to complete this short survey giving us as much detail as you can.

To complete the survey online, please visit https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/genQWQLDPZ

or call the Healthwatch Derbyshire team on 01773 880786.

All responses will be treated confidentially and will be shared anonymously with Derbyshire Public Health Services and the NHS Derby and Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group, which is coordinating the county's vaccination programme.

Your feedback can help to remove any practical barriers preventing people from having the vaccine and help to identify where there might be a need for more information.

New Rules from 12 April 2021. Click here to find the latest information

To find out the most up to date advice and support information see the Government's website link https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

See here for Derbyshire County Council's latest updated information and advice for Amber Valley

Derbyshire County Council also has the following page https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/social-health/health-and-wellbeing/health-protection/disease-control/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid-19.aspx offering advice and local links regarding services during the pandemic

Amber Valley Borough Council has the following link https://www.ambervalley.gov.uk/council/news/amber-valley-moves-into-tier-two-covid-19-restrictions/ to their up to date Covid advice and support page on their web site

If you have Covid-19 symptoms you should follow the advice from NHS via the following link https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Covid-19 – Rolling Weekly Tracker Local Authority Review

Use this link to find useful statistics regarding Covid-19 https://lginform.local.gov.uk/reports/view/lga-research/lga-research-report-covid-19-rolling-weekly-tracker-la-view?mod-area=E07000032&mod-group=AllDistrictInRegion_EastMidlands&mod-type=namedComparisonGroup

If you are self-isolating and need help with shopping or collecting prescriptions etc you can contact the Belper Covid-19 Mutual Aid Group on 01629 888111, you will need to leave your name and contact details

Derbyshire Test and Trace Schedule 24 February 2021

As part of Derbyshire's response to COVID-19 and to help minimise the spread of the virus to other people, it recognises that some individuals may continue to need support with basic needs such as getting food.

This paper outlines options available in the event that people either need to self-isolate, or are otherwise financially impacted as a result of the virus. The Community Response Unit (CRU) can offer advice on how to access a range of support channels to help people access food.

Derbyshire County Council is working with partners and local voluntary organisations, to support individuals and households who are in one of the following groups to access food:

1. Those self-isolating after testing positive to Covid 19 – those people who have tested positive to Covid 19, who will need to self-isolate for at least 10 days from when symptoms started (even if it means they self-isolate for longer), and with no support network available to shop on their behalf
2. Those self-isolating because they have symptoms (but are still waiting for a test)– those people waiting to access a Covid 19 test, but who are displaying symptoms of coronavirus (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste) and therefore need to self –isolate for 14 days, but have no support network available to shop on their behalf
3. Those told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace Team or the NHS Covid 19 App – individuals who have been told to self –isolate for 14 days by either the Test and Trace Team or the NHS Covid 10 App (due to being in contact with a person who has tested positive), and with no other support network available to shop on their behalf
4. People who receive informal care from family/friends where their carer needs to self-isolate (leaving them without anyone to collect food) – to support vulnerable people whose carers need to self-isolate, where no other support systems are in place
5. Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) – *The National Shielding Programme is currently paused (Oct 2020) but system leaders are maintaining lists. In the event that the Government advice on Shielding changes, the CRU will need to provide support to people in this group, who have no other support systems in place.

Food supply for this group: In a change to previous provision, no national system for the provision of food parcels will be initiated. If shielding is implemented in a local area, DCC will support CEV residents with no other support networks to access food using routes that promote independence and choice. People will be asked to contribute financially to cover the cost of any food provided.

6. Clinically Vulnerable Groups - people who are more vulnerable to serious illness if they contract the COVID-19 virus but have no other support network to shop on their behalf, including:

• Anyone aged 70 or over
• People with certain underlying conditions that entitle them to a free flu jab
• Pregnant women

The full guidance can be found here

Note: Some clinicians are also advising some patients to stringently socially distance before attending important hospital procedures, so we will advise on how to access food where no other support systems are in place

7. Other Vulnerable Groups - In addition to those people who are clinically vulnerable there are a wide range of other people who may also be vulnerable as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, and have no other support network to shop on their behalf, including

• People whose existing services are impacted by the COVID-19 response e.g. substance misuse
• Homeless people
• People living in more rural/isolated communities
• Traveller community

This list is not exhaustive and further guidance on those communities who are more vulnerable can be found here

8. Financial hardship – those individuals experiencing financial hardship as a result of Covid 19, and therefore unable to buy food

9. Children eligible for Free School Meals – children who meet the eligibility criteria for receiving Free School Meals (this does not include the universal school meal offer provided to all Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children).

Food Supply Options For Groups 1 - 7

There are a number of food supply options for those groups of people who need to self-isolate, or are vulnerable but don't have any other support networks to shop on their behalf, these are outlined in the table below.

Our strategy follows national government guidance on food provision and promotes independence and choice. Direct provision of food parcels will be on an exception only basis.

The CRU will discuss individual needs and support people to access one of the following provisions:-

Food Supply Options Of Group 8 – Financial Hardship

Different arrangements are in place for people who are experiencing financial hardship and don't have the means to buy food.

Food supply for this group: the Derbyshire Discretionary Fund can provide emergency cash vouchers to eligible Derbyshire residents that can support in buying food.

The DDF can also make referrals to food banks. Derbyshire residents can apply through the Community Response Unit.

Alternatively there is a network of food banks across Derbyshire that can provide food parcels to people in financial hardship. Additionally a number of community cafes across Derbyshire are also delivering Hot Meals at low cost via batch cooking schemes. For more information please visit https://www.ruralactionderbyshire.org.uk/foodbanks.

Food Supply Options For Group 9 - Children Eligible For Free School Meals (Fsm)

Schools remain responsible for providing Free School Meals to those children that are eligible to receive them, even where they are not in attendance because they:

• are self-isolating
• have had symptoms or a positive test result themselves
• are a close contact of someone who has coronavirus (COVID-19)
• are not attending as a result of local lockdown arrangements

Schools are taking different approaches across Derbyshire to providing Free School Meals. Parent and carers of eligible children should contact their school to find out what arrangements are in place.

Parent and carers can still register their children for Free School Meals if they meet the eligibility criteria. Please visit www.derbyshire.gov.uk/education/schools/your-child-at-school/meals/school-meals/free-school-meals.aspx or call 01629 536400 or 01629 536481.

Derbyshire Community Response Unit

For more information about the response to COVID-19 in Derbyshire please visit www.derbyshire.gov.uk/coronavirus. This website provides more details of the support available to local residents. If people need help and have no friends or family to call on, the Community Response Unit can help them by:

• access food
• collecting and delivering prescriptions
• phoning for a chat if someone has no one to talk to

To contact the Community Response Unit, please call 01629 535091 or visit www.derbyshire.gov.uk/coronavirus.