Community advice and support

While everyone is at risk of contracting COVID-19, some people are at an increased or “higher risk” of severe illue due to their age, chronic illness or underlying health conditions. You can find a list of the people who are clinically vulnerable on the NHS.uk website. 

As the community lead we are connecting people in need with the appropriate specialist organisations who are providing support on the ground.

Anyone that is self-isolating or social distancing due to coronavirus symptoms or underlying health conditions, and who does not have friends, family or neighbours they can call on, should contact us for help.

Thanet District Council’s Community Support Team is leading the response for our most vulnerable residents. Working in partnership with a wide range of specialist organisations, the team is responsible for coordinating the support requested by people without family, friends or neighbours to help them. We have set up a dedicated helpline open for calls five days a week (open year round excluding public holidays). Our Multi-agency Task Force previously stepped in and delivered food parcels to people ahead of the Government’s plans coming into play.

As well as helping those who contact us directly, we are using local and government data to identify where our most vulnerable residents are, matching them to volunteer agencies and groups that are providing support on the ground locally. We are also monitoring the supply chain and highlighting any issues to the Kent Resilience Forum, the Kent-wide emergency planning group which we are a part of, along with all the other local councils in the county. This command chain provides a direct link into central Government.

People can also call 01843 577 330. There are people taking calls Monday to Friday – from 9am to 5pm (excluding public holidays).

As an organisation we have a well established Safer Neighbourhoods team that includes staff dedicated to working within all the communities in Thanet particularly those which may be seen as harder to reach. Through our liaison with the NHS, local community groups, individual community leaders and local councillors as well as intelligence from our Multi-agency Task Force officers, we are already aware of some of the most vulnerable residents who require help. The coronavirus means that people who were previously managing may now need additional support.

We also need your help. If you or someone you know is in the higher risk group and is therefore taking extra precautions, or is self-isolating and cannot get out then please tell us. We want to ensure that we are aware of everyone who needs help so that we can share their details with our partners who are out in the community providing the assistance people need.

We are working with a number of established local voluntary organisations, charities and community groups to deliver the help that people need.

The organisations we are working with include; Salvation Army, Age UK, Our Kitchen, Margate Independent Food Bank, Thanet Food Link, The GAP Project, Parish & Town Councils across the district, NHS volunteers and Connect Well East Kent as well as a number of other organisations.

With the help of these organisations we are able to provide assistance with referrals to food banks, collection of prescriptions and offer access to a paid for hot meal delivery service. In some situations we can arrange for an emergency food parcel to be delivered too. We are also giving general advice for residents as well as putting people in touch with local befriending services.

Every caller’s need is different, and we work regularly with NHS colleagues to help discharge patients and people with complex medical needs. Anyone who contacts the support line with a specific need will be referred to the appropriate agency.

When we receive a call to the helpline we gather as much information as possible about the caller and the needs they have. We aim to identify the most appropriate organisation to share that information with and pass all the details on. We use the information we are given by the caller to understand how quickly help is needed. The aim is for the assigned organisation to make contact within 48 hours but it depends on the urgency of the call.

If someone is experiencing a medical or health emergency they should call 111 or 999.

Our dedicated rough sleeper support team – RISE – worked hard and quickly found accommodation options for all the rough sleepers known to us during the first lockdown. A large number subsequently accepted the offer of somewhere to stay and moved in. We do still have some people who, despite being offered accommodation, have chosen not to accept it at this time. We’ll continue to stay in contact with them and encourage them to take up an offer of a safe place to stay.

During periods of extreme weather, the Council operates a Severe Weather Emergency protocol (SWEP). Extreme weather can include any conditions that increase the risk of harm to people who are rough sleeping. This is often, but not exclusively, periods of cold weather or significant rainfall. When deciding whether to trigger the protocol, the Local Authority must take into consideration local context and weather forecasts.

When the protocol is triggered, the Council will promote this on its website and via social media channels that it will provide emergency accommodation for any person sleeping rough in the district so that it can prevent unnecessary deaths due to extreme weather.

There are a number organisations across Thanet offering help to people who are clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19  and to other individuals who needs support at this time:

Organisations offering food collection:

• St Paul’s Church – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 10:30am-12pm 01843 447187 (covering Margate)
• St Peter’s Food Bank – Friday 10.30-12 01843 447187 (covering Broadstairs and St Peter’s)
• Margate Independent Food Bank – 6 Duke Street, Margate (covering Margate)
• Salvation Army Margate – 01843 298260
• Salvation Army Ramsgate – 07900 497326
• St Austin’s & St Gregory’s Food Bank – 01843 220825 (covering Margate)
• The GAP Project – Queens Road Baptist Church, Broadstairs (covering Broadstairs)

Organisations offering shopping services

• Age UK – 01843 223881  (covering whole of Thanet)
• Thanet Community Transport Association – 01843 602030  (covering whole of Thanet)
• Seniors Helping Seniors – 01843 606991 (covering whole of Thanet)

Befriending services and support

• Age UK – 01843 223881  
• The Gap Project – 01843 602762 or 074325 85515
• Kent Coastal Volunteers – 01843 609337
• Connect Well East Kent – 0300 3020178
• Ageless Thanet – 01843 210005
• Seniors Helping Seniors – 01843 606991
• Citizens Rights for Older People – 01622 851200
• The Silver Line – 0800 470 8090

Mental health support

• Porchlight Aspirations  – 0333 880 2730 (mental health support)
• Kent Association for the Blind  – 01227 863366  (support & advice)
• Kooth (online mental health support for under 18’s)
• Release the Pressure – 0800 107 0160 (mental health support)
• Samaritans Helpline  – 116 123

Domestic abuse support

• National Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0808 2000 247 (24-hour helpline)
• Oasis Domestic Abuse Service – 07718 657160
• Men’s Advice Line – 0808 801 0327 or email: info@mensadviceline.org.uk
• Galop  – 0800 999 5428 (LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline)

Most domestic abuse websites have support and advice online, with quick exit buttons. 

Other support, including help with skills, transport and financial advice

• Kent County Council – 03000 419292 
• Citizens Rights for Older People – 01622 851200 (Help with gaining new skills and everyday living)
• Citizens Advice – 0344 411 1444 CA is offering services via telephone, email, web chat and video chat. They can help with things such as:
  • Employment issues
  • Debt
  • Housing
  • Applying for benefits
  • Family issues
  • Food vouchers
  • Immigration issues
• GRASS Cliftonville – 01622 851200
• Lets Get Working – 01227 469792 (Support for 18+ with skills to acquire a job)
• Live Well East Kent – 0800 567 7699  (Help with gaining new skills and everyday living)

• Thanet Community Transport Association – 01843 602030 (Offers a transport service for elderly people in need of transport)
• ‘Sudden’ Bereavement Support – 0800 2600400 (Support, advice and a helpline for those who have lost someone suddenly)