Another update during the COVID-19 emergency


Further update – for Sunday 19th April – from Councillor Fraser Macpherson (West End)​ and Councillor Craig Duncan (Broughty Ferry)

FURLOUGH SCHEME EXTENDED 
The Job Retention Scheme is being extended by one month to reflect continuing social distancing measures.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-extends-furlough-scheme-to-end-of-june

GET EMERGENCY CARE
The number of people attending Emergency Departments has dropped. Some seriously unwell patients are delaying coming to hospital or dialling 999. If you need help don’t wait.

MEDICINES
The advice is to please follow your normal repeat prescription ordering pattern and only order the medicines you need as there are no issues with the supply of medicines so there is no reason to stockpile.

Due to significant demand being placed on local pharmacies, some will close for short periods, or operate reduced opening hours.  NHS Inform has a complete list of local pharmacies at: https://www.nhsinform.scot/scotlands-service-directory/pharmacies
Prescriptions may take longer to process because of the additional workload on pharmacies.

PETS 
New advice relating to owners of pets, companion animals and livestock who may be required to self-isolate as part of government advice on coronavirus (COVID-19) is available https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-animal-owners/

Dundonians urged to maintain mental health
Dundee City Council has launched a new social media campaign urging people to look after their mental health during the coronavirus pandemic. The initiative offers advice and sources of information such as helpline numbers.

It is reminding people who may be experiencing difficulties of organisations including Breathing Space (0800 83 85 87), Samaritans (116 123) and Childline (0800 1111).

Online help is also available at www.suicidehelp.co.uk, www.samh.org.uk/about-mental-health/suicide and www.dundeehealth.co.uk/content/coronavirus

DOMESTIC ABUSE
There is concern that domestic abuse may increase during the lockdown.  You can access help here:
https://www.scotland.police.uk/keep-safe/advice-for-victims-of-crime/domestic-abuse/

EXERCISE
New advice on travelling to exercise has been issued by the police in England.  We have checked and it does not apply to Scotland. The advice continues to be to only exercise from your own home.

SUPERMARKETS
For Sainsbury customers who do not have access to the internet they offer a telephone order service – 0800 917 8557.

Scottish Community Councils
A website has been providing useful links for community councils that offer advice, information, funding and resources to help during Covid-19.  This is available at www.communitycouncils.scot/information-on-coronavirus-for-community-councils.html 

Support offered to unemployed from Barnardo’s
16-29, Living in Dundee, unemployed and needing help to prepare for the job market? If Yes, Barnardo’s can help you with their Employability Pathway programme and Barnardo’s Best programme.

Participants will be allocated a Project Worker who will take them through the registration process; create a clear action plan which will consider the above support areas plus any barriers to employment getting in the participant’s way to securing and sustaining employment, and also provide them with virtual training and support in vocational areas such as CV writing, job search skills, completing application forms and preparing for interviews.
Further enquiries can be sent to dundee.pathway@barnardos.org.uk or barnardosworkstayside@barnardos.org.uk

Social Security Scotland – devolved benefits

The Scottish Government has temporarily changed eligibility for a number of Social Security Scotland’s benefits. This is to help people who are impacted by coronavirus and can’t get an application in on time – due to illness or caring responsibilities – to still get the support that they need.   

Read more at www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/news/making-sure-people-impacted-by-covid-19-get-our-support 

INFORMATION
UK Government news: www.gov.uk/search/news-and-communications
Scottish Government Updates: www.gov.scot/news
Dundee City Council updates: www.dundeecity.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19
Covid community helpline for food, shopping, prescriptions, finances, personal care: 0800 952 0330  – People in Dundee on the shielded list only – 0300 123 1403.  People in Dundee who are vulnerable but not on the shielded list – 0800 111 4000
NHS Inform www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19
NHS Tayside website: www.nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk 
Helpline for those who do not have symptoms but are looking for general health advice Tel: 0800 028 2816.
Health Protection Scotland Guidance www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/covid-19
Federation of Small Businesses: www.fsb.org.uk/coronavirus
Helpline for small businesses, Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm. Tel: 0300 303 0660.
Ready Scotland Information – www.readyscotland.org/coronavirus
Tayside Cares – www.taysidecares.co.uk 

SUPPORT AND ADVICE

This is an anxious and uncertain time but we want you to know that we are here to try to help constituents in whatever way that we can.

CONTACT DETAILS

WEST END WARD – Bailie Fraser Macpherson
Phone – Dundee 459378 (home)
E-mail – fraser.macpherson@dundeecity.gov.uk
Facebook updates : www.facebook.com/dundeewestend


Marie Curie Information and Support

From Marie Curie :
If you, or someone you know, is affected by a terminal illness and concerned about coronavirus (COVID-19), our Support Line team are ready to help with the information you need when you need it.
Call free 0800 090 2309 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am to 5pm. Your calls may be recorded for training and monitoring purposes.) You can also find more information on our website here.
Support provided across the whole of the UK. 


Latest update during the COVID-19 emergency


Further update – for Friday 17th April – from Councillors Fraser Macpherson
(West End) and Craig Duncan (Broughty Ferry)

NEW SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS
Around £220 million of further grants are being made available for businesses.

The Scottish Government measures include £120 million to extend the Small Business Grant scheme to ensure that, in addition to a 100% grant on the first property, small business rate payers will be eligible to a 75% grant on all subsequent properties.

A £100 million fund is also being made available to protect self-employed people and viable micro and SME businesses. This fund will be channelled through local authorities and enterprise agencies to target newly self-employed people and businesses who are ineligible for other Scottish Government or UK Government schemes.

Applications will be open by the end of the month, and the new arrangements for the Small Business Grant will be in place to receive applications on 5 May.
https://www.gov.scot/news/additional-support-for-business/

SUMMARY OF CORONAVIRUS (SCOTLAND) ACT 2020

A summary of the key measures contained within the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 which came into force on Tuesday, 7 April can be accessed at https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-stakeholders-on-the-coronavirus-scotland-act-2020/.     The guidance for is primarily for central and local government and public bodies but will be of interest to a wider audience too.

STUDENT DECISIONS
Prospective university and college students are being reassured that they will receive their results on time, and universities and colleges will assess those qualifications as part of the admissions process. Universities are also being urged to observe a moratorium on changing offers made to undergraduate students. The UCAS May deadlines are being extended by two weeks to give students more time to make decisions about their future.
https://www.gov.scot/news/reassurance-for-students-during-coronavirus-outbreak/ 

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
After Willie Rennie MSP asked the First Minister to increase mental health support during the pandemic, we are pleased that new support is now available. It includes an investment of more than £1 million towards the expansion of the Distress Brief Intervention (DBI) programme to help people in distress. People who are in distress but do not need clinical intervention will be referred to the DBI programme by frontline staff, including NHS 24.

DONATE PPE
Medical Supply Drive UK (Scotland) is a voluntary organisation started by medics and medical students to free up dormant supplies of PPE for front line health workers. Local man Michael Farrell is volunteering for them. Do you have Personal Protective Equipment that you could donate to frontline NHS staff?
https://www.medsupplydrive.org.uk/scotland/
https://www.facebook.com/medsupplydriveuk/

CORONOVIRUS TESTING CAPACITY CALL
The UK government is requesting industry involvement in the manufacture of Coronavirus testing capacity and testing kits.   Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce is kindly amongst those spreading the word with its members and sharing the specification criteria.     Businesses who meet this specification should review the guidance on helping the government increase testing capacity and register at https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-support-from-business.  

COVID-19 – BUSINESS HUB
Alison Henderson, Chief Executive of Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce  advises – “The Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce Covid-19 Hub is an information & signposting service for ANY business looking to understand how the current situation impacts them, their staff and their future. At this time, we make no distinction between a member or non-member business looking for our support. To get our business and communities through this crisis will mean a partnership approach and there is no wrong door to helping a business access the support they need, or to see them survive. There of course remain many membership services that are only accessible to our members and we will continue to use every avenue at our disposal to maintain our strong community and  to be a trusted partner to businesses across Dundee & Angus. Please call us on 01382 228545 if we can help.”

Cycles for Key Workers

SUSTRANS has launched ‘Cycles for Key Workers’, a single online map helping key workers find free and discounted cycles, equipment, and bike-sharing schemes as well as repair and maintenance services in their local area.

SUSTRANS is calling on the cycling industry, local authorities and professional bodies representing an occupation that the government has defined as key, to get involved and support the campaign to help key workers travel safely during the crisis.

The online map is accessible at https://www.sustrans.org.uk/campaigns/cycles-for-key-workers/ 

SUPPORT AND ADVICE

This is an anxious and uncertain time but we want you to know that we are here to try to help constituents in whatever way that we can.

CONTACT DETAILS

WEST END WARD – Bailie Fraser Macpherson
Phone – Dundee 459378 (home)
E-mail – fraser.macpherson@dundeecity.gov.uk
Facebook updates : www.facebook.com/dundeewestend


Young Carers Shopping e-card


Dundee Carers Centre has developed an electronic shopping card for young carers who have responsibilities for shopping and/or picking up medication for family members. The card entitles young carers to access supermarkets and pharmacies during protected times.

The launch, the first of its kind for young carers in Scotland, has already attracted interested from other carer organisations, with some hoping to create their own versions.

So far, we have issued 20 e-cards to young carers and continue to take referrals.

If you are a young carer and have a responsibility for shopping and/or collecting medication on behalf of someone you care for, please contact Dundee Carers Centre on 200422 or email centre@dundeecarerscentre.org.uk.


Latest Friends of Wighton update!

From Sheena Wellington :

Hello everyone, I hope you are fit and well!  

We can’t invite you to the Wighton at the moment but we can invite you to enjoy the music some of our friends are providing online

First up, the great Thursday evening session at the Fisherman’s Tavern, Broughty Ferry, has gone digital and international.    It can be enjoyed at your leisure so catch it here.
And from our PhD student Mary-Jannet Leith and partner Thomas Allery :  

“#Ensemble Hesperi at Home – LIVE lunchtime concert series every Friday!
Having mainly figured out how to live stream, Tom and I will be giving a live concert every Friday lunchtime at 1pm from our little West London living room. Having reviewed the various options for platforms, we have decided to go ‘live’ on Facebook, rather than Twitter as previously advertised.

As far as we understand, you don’t need to have a Facebook account to watch – just head to here and we should, fingers crossed, be there.

We’ll be performing for about half an hour, and chatting a bit about what we’re up to, so please join us – it would be great to see you! There will be some Scottish Baroque, Handel, Fontana, Geminiani, Sammartini and some live chat if that turns out to be possible.”
Hands Up for Trad are also trialling a Hands Up for Trad Afternoon Show which goes out twice a week live on their Facebook page with live interviews and videos. If you can’t make it along at 2pm you can always watch later!
In May Feis Rois are having a virtual festival here.

Enjoy, keep safe and we’ll see you sometime!