Coronavirus Kindness
Many people are pulling together to help others as more and more people need to stay at home and avoid contact with people because of coronavirus (Covid-19).
Together we can help those who need it the most.
How to help others safely
Do
- Always follow the advice about keeping your distance and washing your hands
- Keep it small, if you just look after the people in your street you will be staying safe and making a huge difference
- Stick to a patch you know well
- Keep to where people will recognise you and trust your offer is genuine
- Contact people by phone or through their letter box to offer support.
- Put postcard type notes through the letterboxes of the people you can support. Use the Support Staffordshire template if you can
- Ask people to send you a text or give you a call so that you have their phone number and know what support they need
- Keep an eye out for fraudsters, and if confident to do so, politely (and safely) challenge any cold callers in your area
Don’t
- Put your home address on a public forum
- Put details about people on the internet or give them out to anyone you don’t know
- Share neighbour’s phone numbers or personal information with other neighbours without their permission
- Go into people’s homes
- Get into personal care or going into people’s houses – be assured that other agencies are looking at this
Do
- Always wash your hands before handling anything you will be delivering to others
- Shop regularly for small amounts, so that you are having regular contact and can check on anyone who is vulnerable
- Put shopping on doorsteps or in other arranged safe places
- Ring the doorbell and then step back – keep two metres (3 steps away) from the front door or chat through open windows
- Ask if your neighbour is well, check regularly on anyone who is vulnerable
Don’t
- Go into people’s houses
- Help if you or anyone in your household shows any symptoms of coronavirus – a cough or a high temperature
- Accept any payment for your support
Do
- Always wash your hands before handling anything you will be delivering to others
- Put medication on doorsteps or in other arranged safe places
- Ring the doorbell and then step back – keep two metres (3 steps away) from the front door or chat through open windows
- Ask if your neighbour is well, check regularly on anyone who is vulnerable
Don’t
Do
- Make regular contact with friends, family and neighbours to make sure they are ok and are up-to-date with what they need to be doing
- Help a person staying at home create an easy to read list of phone numbers of friends and family, which they can keep by the phone
- Start a FaceBook or WhatsApp group
- Tell people about the free online resources from Staffordshire Libraries and Information Service
Don't
- Post details of vulnerable people on the internet or to anyone you don't know
- Assume everyone has heard the latest about what they need to do
- Share content which could cause unecessary anxiety
- Go into people’s houses
If you can offer your support, please do this through Support Staffordshire. This is the most effective way of supporting your local community.
Many of Staffordshire’s voluntary groups already provide everyday support for vulnerable people. But these groups are often staffed by people who are in the vulnerable groups now being asked to stay at home.
Support Staffordshire are co-ordinating people who can volunteer to fill the gaps and support the vital work going on in their neighbourhood.
Visit Support Staffordshire for details of how you can get involved.