BSL-friendly advice and information on how our services are affected by Coronavirus

BSL February update

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Message from RBC Leader Jason Brock

Infection rate in Reading still going down
If you have symptoms or NHS Test and Trace tells you, please ensure you self isolate properly
Please continue get vaccinated when contacted for your appointment
We know lockdown and self-isolation has big impact on mental wellbeing. Reminder of One Reading Community Hub support. Will support with urgent food or medicine, or emotional support. You can contact via Reading Deaf Centre (SMS 07704 687 298 or fax 0118 950 0507)
In March applications will be considered for new leisure facilities at Rivermead and Palmer Park, with two new swimming pools

COVID-19 vaccine information

More BSL information about COVID-19 and Vaccine available via SignHealth

Census 2021

Nationwide census every 10 years since 1801
Census date 21 March 2021
You will receive a letter to fill in the Census online in early March
Will ask questions linked to sex, age, work, health, education, household size, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity
Office for National Statistics partnering with RAD to make Census accessible for deaf people. Further information to come, BSL video available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDpMf38oPBs

New weekly food waste service

Weekly food waste collection now launched
Why? Reduce greenhouse gases – food waste now turn into fertiliser for farming
Please join in using service, put food waste bin next to waste or recycling each week before 6am on collection day
If you not already have new small bin it will be coming in next few months. Please don’t use black bin bags in new bin.

It is new service so hold on while RBC settle into routine, if collection is missed they will come back for it. You can report missed collection, check if your collection day has changed and order extra red recycling bins

Act Early to prevent radicalisation

RBC supporting Government campaign ‘Act Early’.
We work with police to protect vulnerable people being targeted by extremists.
‘Act Early’ provides guidance if you think someone is at risk of being led to extremism.
Signs could be:
– Posting on social media extreme views
– Obsessive, angry, ‘want something done’
– Blaming others
– Influenced or control from a group
More info on Act Early website

Using playgrounds safely

Playgrounds across Reading staying open following national guidelines
RBC want to ensure children and families can benefit from playgrounds during lockdown
Being outdoors good for physical and mental health
Needs to be balanced with risk and everyone needs to be responsible for using playgrounds safely
If you are isolating or have COVID symptoms (cough, high temperature, loss of taste or smell) you should stay at home
Remember to:
– take hand sanitiser
– stay 2m apart
– if playground is busy, consider coming back when quieter
– wipe down surfaces after use
– put rubbish in bin or take home
Other outdoor facilities like outdoor gym, tennis court, sports court are all closed. Please respect closure and don’t use these facilities.

Walk through testing at Prospect Park

New walk through covid testing opened on 22^nd January at Prospect park
Means easier access to test for residents
Testing site is on foot only, do not travel using public transport or taxi, wear a face mask
Testing is 7 days a week, 8am-8pm for 3-6 months
Must book test in advance, no appointment means no test
If you are unable to walk to local test site, you can request home test kit or go to nearest drive through site when booking test

Reading Deaf Centre – Information Officer

Remember Reading Deaf Centre Information Officer is available to contact if you need any support or guidance. See the contact details at the end of this update.   

Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives

Latest situation

Waste and recycling service

Parks

Town centre reopening

Homeless people

Employment and benefits

How to get urgent food and medicine

Loneliness

Mental health and wellbeing

Safeguarding

Shopping and food deliveries

Useful links for BSL users

Reduce noise and nuisance

One Reading Community Hub

How our services are being affected

Adult social care

Concessionary bus pass travel

Libraries

Financial difficulties

BSL summary video

Homeless people

Homeless people – information on what we are doing

Employment and benefits

Information for furloughed workers, about housing and homelessness and welfare advice organisations

How to get urgent food and medicine

Information on getting food and medicine

Loneliness

Advice on how to avoid loneliness

Mental health and wellbeing

Mental health and wellbeing advice

Safeguarding

Advice on safeguarding

Advice on avoiding scams

Shopping and food deliveries

Advice on shopping and food deliveries

Useful BSL links

If you wish to have information translated in BSL please take part in the survey.

If you need any support or guidance please contact the Information Officer at Reading Deaf Centre, Marie Oxenham-Hall, – readingdeafcentre.co.uk. Contact details: info@readingdeafcentre.co.uk or SMS/Facetime on 07704 687298.

Reduce noise and nuisance

Advice on avoiding causing nuisance

One Reading Community Hub

Hub Support and Volunteer Line 0808 1894325

Reading Deaf Centre: SMS: 07704 687298

The public is being urged to only contact the Hub if they have urgent welfare needs which a family member or trusted friend or Reading Deaf Centre cannot help them with. This is so that resources can be directed to the people that need it most at this challenging time. All offers of help and support are welcome from individuals, businesses and other organisations. The Hub cannot provide health advice and will direct customers to NHS 111. BSL Access connect https://interpreternow.co.uk/.

Further information on the One Reading Community Hub

How services are affected

We have closed most of our public buildings but will continue to run essential frontline services.

Our priorities at this time are to:

ensure continuity of
support vulnerable people
support the local economy

If you need to contact us please contact the information officer at Reading Deaf Centre https://readingdeafcentre.co.uk the first instance, this service will support you contacting the council. We appreciate your patience as we deal with enquiries at this busy time. We will prioritise those in most urgent need of our help, and we will respond to everyone as soon as is possible.