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

BSL monthly update – November

Script

New National Restrictions

New national restrictions from Thursday 5th November to Wednesday 2nd December. After 4 weeks government will keep or stop restrictions – depends on new data.
From Thursday 5th November have to stay home as much as possible, only leave home for:
- School, nurseries and education (university etc…)
- Work (if can’t work from home
- Shopping for essentials – food and medicine
- Exercise outside with family (or with one person not from your house)
- Medical reasons or to escape harm/injury (domestic abuse)
- Care for vulnerable people
2 minute daily coronavirus update from 5th November, SignHealth

Changes to Council Services

Second lockdown means these services will close temporarily:

Reading Museum and Town Hall
- (The Coroner’s Court still open)
Marriage, Civil Partnership and in person citizenship ceremonies
- (Notice of Marriage appointments will still be open)
Leisure centres at South Reading, Palmer Park, Meadway and Rivermead
Outdoor sports such as football
Arts venues – the Hexagon and South Street Arts Centre.

Everything else is open, with some small changes.

Central and Caversham library are open (you have to book) but you can’t book computers at the moment
Birth registration service is open

One Reading Community Hub

One Reading Community Hub can help with:
- Urgent food & prescription needs
- Getting a priority supermarket delivery slot,
- Other problems like debt, loneliness, stress & anxiety.
  - Contact through the Reading Deaf Centre

Coronavirus data across Berkshire

New website for coronavirus data in Berkshire.
● Type in your postcode to look at local statistics and information on new restrictions.

Prospect Car Park – November Closures

Can’t park at Prospect Park Car Park on the 6th, 11th and 20th November (9am-4:30pm) because there will be a Covid Mobile Testing Unit onsite for pre-booked appointments.

2 Green Flag Awards for Reading

Forbury and Caversham Court Gardens have won awards again. Both have won green flag awards.
Caversham Court has also won Green Heritage Site award because they look after special historic features.

Support for Local Businesses

Two new government grant schemes announced:

Reading Deaf Centre

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.

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.