coronavirus

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Edinburgh Council coronavirus update

This was circulated to CCs on behalf of Cllr McVey on 23 May.

Dear colleagues

I wanted to write to you to make you aware of our ongoing efforts to deal with the impact of Coronavirus on our city and our residents, and to give you further details of the support we’re providing in conjunction with our partners.

Alongside a substantial city-wide effort, we’ve been astounded by the goodwill and generosity of the people of Edinburgh to offer help and support in responding to the impact of covid-19 on our most vulnerable.

We’ll get through it together, and I know we’ll emerge stronger. Thank you all for the part you are playing.

Supporting the people of Edinburgh

Over the last six weeks, we’ve all had to manage the implications of Coronavirus on our lives. For many of us, this has meant a change in how we work and coping with the reality of home schooling. For some, it has also brought worry and anxiety about the health of our families or paying the bills and practical things like getting out to buy food and essential supplies.

During this time, teams across the Council has been helping residents with these challenges, be they at immediate physical risk from the virus due to an underlying health condition, or in need a bit of extra financial or practical support. We’ve also been supporting businesses and local groups at the heart of our communities with grants and access to local and national funding support. We’ve been working remotely around the clock to ensure that queries can still be dealt with and our residents continue to have points of contact

Early action

  • We strengthened our welfare and benefit teams to respond to the immediate need for financial advice and support and offered assurance that no council tenant need worry about losing their home during this crisis. The Council has processed over 4,600 applications for support and distributed nearly £600,000 in payments to date.
  • The Scottish Government wrote out to citizens already coping with serious or long-term illnesses, who are at greater risk from the virus, asking them to self-isolate. We stepped up an emergency team to provide support to people in this ‘shielding’ group who can’t get support from family or friends to help with essential food supplies and medicine deliveries. To date we’ve distributed over 1,600 food parcels and organised 87 pharmacy deliveries across the city.
  • As schools shut, we responded immediately to support families who needed help with the added costs of having children at home all day. Around £390,000 and over 5,000 food boxes have gone out to Edinburgh’s families so far with continuing support planned until the end of June.
  • We established five Council Resilience Centres across the city to offer critical support to people in vulnerable situations, while adhering to physical distancing measures. The centres support to people most at need in three critical situations of experiencing homelessness or serious/significant harassment, or in need of pre-arranged emergency cash payments.
  • We’re continuing to deliver as many frontline services as possible, but only if safe to do so. Services meeting the needs of vulnerable adults and children remain open and offering support. An up-to-date breakdown of our services and how they’re operating is available from our website www.edinburgh.gov.uk

Expanding our support network

As the crisis progresses, we know that more people will experience new and increased forms of vulnerability and need, many of whom will not previously have engaged with us before.

  • In addition to setting up the shielding support, we’ve made it as easy as possible to seek support through one team which processes all requests and makes sure the right support is available, advice given, or connections made.
  • Rather than seek to recreate local networks, we’ve entered into a funded agreement with key groups of local organisations through EVOC to enable food distribution and essential supplies to residents who are being affected by COVID 19.
  • We’ve made four school hubs available to support local food storage, packing and distribution with staff on the ground ready to work with our voluntary and third sector colleagues to get essential supplies out as quickly and efficiently as possible.
  • This support is now in operation and we’re taking over 100 calls a day, with requests for support being met within 48 hours, whether that be for essential food, medicine deliveries or other forms of support like dog walking or befriending.

Supporting community resilience

We know also that voluntary and local groups have stepped up local activity to provide a safety net of support for people who are finding they need help as a result of the crisis. Their support is wide-ranging, including mental health and wellbeing support for those who are struggling with isolation, targeted at young families and older people or people with disabilities. Some of these third sector/voluntary groups may be struggling with the financial consequences of increased demand, so we’ve established a team to support them to access Scottish Government funding and put in place a fund of small loans to help groups as they apply. We are aware that many community groups and third sector organisations in Edinburgh have already been successful in applying for funding from a range of grants.

Volunteering in the city

Alongside this substantial city-wide effort, we’ve been astounded by the goodwill and generosity of the people of Edinburgh to offer help and support in responding to the impact of covid-19 on our most vulnerable.

  • The power of being a good neighbour and reaching out to help friends and families has been invaluable. The everyday kindness and support being offered in communities across the city helps to meet the needs of the most vulnerable every bit as much as those who are on the front line. There are around 35 online peer-to-peer support groups currently operating, helping to connect people in need with people who can informally help. Volunteer Edinburgh produced a short video to encourage peer to peer neighbourliness and has guidance on being a good neighbour safely on their website www.volunteeredinburgh.org.uk/covid
  • Over 5000 people have volunteered to help either locally or via the national campaign and we’re working closely with Volunteer Edinburgh who are contacting every volunteer to match the skills and capacity with demand. This means ensuring the right checks and safeguards are in place before anyone can start, and while some may feel this process is frustrating, it’s important for the safety of our volunteers and the people they will help.
  • At the same time, we are re-aligning Council staff who are not able to carry out their normal role into critical roles, such as in care homes and waste services, to make sure we continue to keep essential services operating.

Sources of information and support

Main contact points are attached. We’re updating our coronavirus website section daily, so please check there regularly for new information. You’ll also find many resources which will help parents, carers, young people and families cope, home learning support, financial and debt advice, mental health support, and information on our services, to mention a few areas. Our contact us section also gives you the key contact points for key services.

Adam McVey
Leader
The City of Edinburgh Council

Useful contacts

During this difficult period, we’re experiencing significant pressures and need to prioritise services to provide support to those who need it most. We really appreciate your patience and support at this time. This information is correct as at 8 May 2020. Please check the contact us section website for updates as we may have to make changes to our services at any time.

Vulnerable people
Shielded people
Council resilience centres
Homelessness
Customer contact centre
Council Tax, benefits and welfare
Council house repairs
Business support
Waste and environmental services
Support for third sector/voluntary groups to apply for funding

Vulnerable people

If you are over 70; have a disability; need support from mental health services; are pregnant; have dementia; receive a flu jab for health reasons; and/or don’t have online access to get information. Contact us during office hours if you need help. We are open Monday – Thursday 8.30 am – 5 pm, Friday 8.30 am – 3.40 pm. Telephone: 0131 200 2306 or email edinburghvulnerable@edinburgh.gov.uk

Shielded people

  • If you are shielding at home due to higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus, register for the SMS Shielding service – send text from your mobile phone to 0786 006 4525. The text you send should only include your CHI number.
  • If you don’t have a mobile call 0131 200 2388 or email shielding@edinburgh.gov.uk You will need your CHI number which is on the letter your received. The telephone line is open Monday – Thursday 8.30 am – 5 pm, Friday 8.30 am – 3.40 pm. If it’s an emergency, the out of hours team will respond on 0131 200 2000.

Council resilience centres

Five Council resilience centres have been established across the city. These are not open to the general public. Customers are asked to attend in person only if it is critical and you are experiencing homelessness, experiencing serious or significant harassment or collecting an agreed cash payment. The centres are located in:

  • Wester Hailes – South West Locality Office, 10 Westside Plaza, EH14 2SP
  • West Pilton Gardens – North West Locality Office, 8 West Pilton Gdns, EH4 4DP
  • Captain’s Road – South East Locality Office, 40 Captain’s Rd, EH17 8QF
  • Craigmillar – North East Locality Office, 101 Niddrie Mains Road, EH16 4DS
  • Leith – Criminal Justice/ Social Work Centre, Newkirkgate Shopping Centre Units C&D, Newkirkgate Shopping Centre, Edinburgh EH6 6AD

All the centres operate 10am to 4pm, except Craigmillar which operates 8.30am to 5pm Mon-Thurs and 8:30am to 4pm Friday.

Homelessness

Customer contact centre

To help with the efforts to limit the spread of coronavirus, we’re providing critical services and support only in our contact centre. This means we’ll be running an essential and emergency phone service to help our most vulnerable residents.

  • Use our online services: please make use our online services wherever possible to request it, report it or pay it.
  • Emergency situations: Support for those most at risk and hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak will be prioritised in all circumstances. If you’re experiencing an emergency or critical situation, please phone 0131 200 2000. Please only phone if the issue is urgent. Otherwise, if the service you wish to access isn’t available on our website, please email us and we’ll deal with your enquiry as soon as possible. You’ll find email addresses for our services below.

Council Tax, benefits and welfare

  • You can find guidance in our Council Tax, benefits and welfare FAQs.
  • Due to the overwhelming demand we are continuing to support telephone contact, however, due to significantly reduced resources in our contact centre, our Council Tax and Benefits phone line will now be open Monday to Thursday 10am to 4pm, Friday 10am to 3pm.
  • If you need to speak to someone in the service as an emergency, please phone 0131 608 1111. We would request that all other contact is by email to income and benefits. We will come back to you promptly and are currently streamlining our service and resources to cope with current demand.
  • If you need debt or welfare advice, you can contact our advice shop.

Council house repairs

  • For a short period of time, we are only able to carry out critical responsive repairs in Council homes. We have made this decision because it’s vital that we do everything we can to prevent the spread of coronavirus while at the same time we look after vulnerable people, protect staff from harm and maintain, as far as possible, essential services.
  • Critical responsive repairs will be carried out where there is a serious risk to health and safety, a serious risk to the structure of your home and/or your home is not secure.
  • To report an emergency repair please call 0131 200 2345. Please only report emergencies on this number – this will allow us to prioritise the most urgent repairs for our most vulnerable tenants.

Business support

The business support section on our website has support and guidance information including details of Government’s Coronavirus Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund and Coronavirus Business Support Fund.

Waste and environmental services

  • We’re working hard to keep our bin services running and have put plans in place to allow us to continue to run collections. Staff shortages mean that we need to prioritise some collections and there will be changes to your collections and our street cleaning services, including some services running late. Find out more about out waste and recycling service.
  • Please use our waste online services where possible. If the service you require isn’t available on our website you can email waste.
  • Please only phone us if the issue is dangerous and a threat to public safety 0131 200 2000.

Support for third sector/voluntary groups to apply for funding

Our team is supporting community projects and organisations who may need support to identify suitable funding and assist them to helping their communities with the Covid-19 crisis. This may be in the form of advice or assistance with a funding application. Email the support for grants team.

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New resource to support community organisations during the Covid-19 outbreak

The Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC) has developed a new resource to help community organisations deliver their work safely.

The resource is designed to be interactive. SCDC will respond to questions and observations from users and update where appropriate.

The resource is here: https://www.scdc.org.uk/supporting-communities-safely.

Read more about it here: www.scdc.org.uk/news/article/2020/5/15/supporting-communities-safely-advice-for-community-groups-organisations-and-volunteer-networks.

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Facemasks from Leith Rotary

(adapted from an email from Leith Rotary, with apologies for taking a while to post this. LHNCC’s web-master has had a few too many personal commitments recently.)

Dear Friends

In view of our current difficulty in raising funds and, as many of you may know, Adam Robertson-Falk runs a Social Enterprise operating for the benefit of his staff, clients and the environment, working with fabrics to produce classic apparel. He has offered to produce non-medical Facemasks for us to sell to local charities, members of Rotary and members of the general public. The mask is a 3 layered face barrier with space for an additional filter layer and will be produced in Rotary blue with yellow stitching.  Masks are washable at 40-60 degrees and should be washed after every wearing. We are selling these for the very reasonable price of £7.50 each to the public. All profits will be donated to local foodbanks and to other organisations supporting those in need at this time.

An order form, together with a picture of the mask, is here. On the order form please show the total number of masks you require and then send completed order forms to leithrotaryfacemasks@gmail.com. You can also use this e-mail address for any enquiries.

Yours in Rotary

Jim Preacher
Hon Secretary
Rotary Club of Leith
District 1020

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LHNCC agenda: May 2020

Given the unusual nature of the circumstances we are in, we are doing our best for the Community Council and also the best in our responsibility to deliver upon our commitment to the community which we serve.

Because LHNCC is currently learning how to conduct meetings online, this will be a members-only ‘discussion’ meeting.

  • LHNCC welcomes public input in advance via the website contact-form at https://lhncc.org.uk/contact-us/.
  • Public input is equally welcome at any time after the meeting.

LHNCC is aware that online meetings exclude those who cannot access them, whatever the reason. However, this is the best it can offer under the current circumstances.

We would also like to thank all the valiant people who are providing essential services across all sectors in our community and beyond.

Agenda: Tuesday 26 May, 7pm

  1. Introductions, apologies
  2. Declaration of interests
  3. Notes of April 2020 meeting
  4. Matters arising
  5. Police Report tbc
  6. Reports from Councillors and elected representatives
  7. Chair, Secretary, Treasurer reports
  8. Standing reports
    1. Planning
      1. 106-162 Leith Walk/Stead’s Place (20/01447/PAN)
      2. 57 Tower Street/5 Bath Road (20/01313/FUL)
    2. Licensing
    3. Transport
      1. Trams/CCTT (Community Councils Together on Trams) – next Meeting 28 May
      2. EBUG (Edinburgh Bus Users’ Group) – CEC traffic measures: Creating Safe space for walking and cycling
    4. Environment
    5. Heritage
      1. Edinburgh World Heritage in Conservation (virtual) – discussion ‘Is Edinburgh’s architecture at the dawn of a ‘New Golden Age’? (7 May 2020). Tbc Next meeting with Politicians and CEC leader.
    6. Community
      1. Coronavirus
      2. Heart of Newhaven
    7. Communications
      1. Newsletter
  9. Neighbourhood Networks
  10. AOCB
  11. Date of next meeting/AGM: Tuesday 23 June tbc

Zoom meeting guide

  • Many of you will be familiar with Zoom – but if not I hope this will help. Any queries please do ask beforehand.
  • During the meeting your audio and video will be turned off. If you have any technical difficulties, please use the ‘chat’ function.
  • We shall answer questions at the end of each item and will have an AOB session at the end of the meeting.
  • To ask a question on an agenda item, please type your question into the ‘chat’ function. Questions will be selected by the chair and you will have your audio and video switched on by the host.
  • If you wish to add to a point made in the question and answer session at the end, please click ‘participants’ and raise your hand. If selected, we will activate your audio.
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Active travel update

On Friday, the Council launched a campaign encouraging everyone to be considerate of other people and follow Scottish Government guidance when enjoying their outdoor exercise and travel.

The press release which was published on Friday can be found here.

Increase in people using off-road paths and parks

Since restrictions were introduced to help manage the coronavirus outbreak, there’s been an increase in people using the city’s network of paths, as well as parks, as part of their daily exercise and for travelling to work or local amenities – with up to five times their normal use.

Data up to week five of lockdown shows increases on the Union Canal towpath, with 17% growth in pedestrian numbers at Harrison Park, whilst cycling numbers have grown by 76% at Wester Hailes. On the North Edinburgh Path Network at Rodney St, pedestrian numbers have grown by 14%, cycling numbers by 32%.  At certain times of the week, especially weekends, much bigger increases have been recorded.

While it’s great that the routes are popular and well-used, we want to make sure that everyone can undertake and enjoy their daily exercise and travel in safety and comfort.

Paths for everyone code of conduct

The campaign will direct people to the Paths for Everyone section of the Council’s webpages, where we hope to be able to display information such as busy routes/times, coming from our pedestrian/cycle counter data.  This aims to encourage people to use alternative routes if they can, or exercise at a less busy time.  Smarter Choices, Smarter Places funding for this project is gratefully received from Paths for All.

About the campaign

example of temporary signageTemporary signage (example on the right: click the thumbnail to see the full-size image) will be rolled out this week, starting on the active travel network entry points, and signage in the parks will follow.  We will be running a complementary social media campaign also, and we would really appreciate your support with sharing this content amongst your followers and networks.

Report issues

There might be local issues that you are aware of where additional signs may help. Please email your suggestions to spacesforpeople@edinburgh.gov.uk.

Wishing you all the best and thank you in advance for your support with our campaign.

Kind regards,

Judith Cowie
‘Smarter Choices, Smarter Places’ Programme Manager
Active Travel
Road Safety and Active Travel
Transport Networks, Place Development
The City of Edinburgh Council
Judith.cowie@edinburgh.gov.uk

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Where to get help with your gas and electricity concerns

(adapted from an email from Changeworks)

‘As we continue to adjust to Covid-19 we’re all spending more time at home and using more energy than normal. Many households are experiencing financial strain and will be worried about the effect this will have on their energy bills.

Whilst Changeworks is unable to provide face to face outreach services to support people looking for energy and fuel billing/debt advice, we are still here to help. We’ve teamed up with SGN to produce a series of short films providing advice and support on managing energy use and where to get help with heating and electricity concerns.

Our first video – where to get help with your gas and electricity concerns – is now live on YouTube.

Handy links can be found here:

We’ll be publishing three more videos over the next few weeks and we’ll be in touch to share these with you too.

You can also still refer households you think would benefit from energy advice and fuel billing/debt support.

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Halmyre St (Leith Walk) online consultation extended until 1 June 2020

According to Lesley Porteous, Planner at CEC:

‘due to the Covid-19 lockdown the online consultation has been extended until 1 June 2020’

This follows public drop-in events that were held in January.

The online consuiltation is here: https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/leith-walk-halmyre-street-site-brief

Readers might be interested in Leith Central CC’s draft response: https://leithcentralcc.co.uk/2020/05/11/our-response-to-the-leith-walk-halmyre-street-consultation

 

 

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Port of Leith Housing Association funding for responses to COVID-19

Port of Leith Housing Association has a new fund for local community and voluntary sector organisations. It has made £50,000 available for local organisations to support their responses to COVID-19.

Please click to download the guidance and a short application form.

The association aims to make decision on applications once per week and payment should follow quickly.

The association has tried to keep any restrictions and administration to a minimum. If any organisation wants to apply for funds that they think sit outside this funding, they can call Anita Aggarwal to discuss it on 07825 971 742.

Kind regards,
Anita Aggarwal (she/her)
Community Support Co-ordinator
Port of Leith Housing Association
108 Constitution Street
Leith
Edinburgh, EH6 6AZ
0131 202 4403
07825 971 742

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Lockdown on Leith … and the lost right hand glove

A message from Douglas Tharby, LHNCC’s chair.

‘Sunshine on Leith’ the song from our two famous local twin brothers was in my mind the other day. Indeed over the past six weeks the sun has shone most days although not today. That has made it all the hard for both resident Leithers and local businesses to cope with what is being referred to by some media sources as ‘the new normal’ that our lives will have to adapt to over the months ahead.

Permitted ‘exercise’ has become a matter of ‘social distancing’ from others as we walk, cycle and run when we have that strict ‘hour’ rule we are expected to abide by, that is unless we are going out for food or other essentials like pharmacy medicines etc.

As I have been walking, my elective choice (my bike) as yet has flat tyres and is still covered in the dust of winter storage, I have noted that Leithers are social distancing by the recommended 2 metres (surprised that nobody has questioned the fact that this is metric not imperial) and indeed a new politeness and courtesy now is evident which includes crossing the street to avoid one another or taking another route altogether to make this happen. Some have chosen to wear a mask in the street, others use this only when in a shop along with gloves to handle items of food and household supplies.

Curiously there are a number of gloves lying around on the ground, in hedgerows and on the grass and most of them right handed as well. Were they not missed by their owners at the time they were lost?

Windows have a rainbow or sometimes two, a symbol of hope and various messages, along with the thoughts and feelings of young children.

The ‘comedians’ have been busy as well – we may have lost some freedom but certainly not our sense of humour.

On each Thursday evening at 8.00 p.m. we have remembered our ‘key workers’ in the NHS , and not to forget at the same time our ‘postie’ and ‘bin man’ for their continued services, we have been clapping our hands and cheering on balconies and in gardens, ships in the harbour have sounded their horns.

Some news today that we will have a relaxation in all of this in the near future. A time to think of families and friends that we might be able to meet with again as opposed to waving through the security of a glass window or on Zoom.

On behalf of Leith Harbour and Newhaven Community Council: Stay Safe, Stay Well and at least for now Stay Home.

Douglas Tharby
Chair
May 2020

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An update from Ben Macpherson MSP

The following was originally circulated by Ben Macpherson MSP on 20 April 2020.

As your local MSP, I’m writing to ask whether there’s anything I can help with or that you’d like to raise with me? I also want to update you on a few things, mostly to do with the coronavirus outbreak. As always, the best way to keep up-to-date with what I’m doing is to follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Working together with our Councillors, Deidre Brock MP, Tommy Sheppard MP and local organisations, my team and I have been very busy this month responding to a large number of enquiries about the lockdown and its consequences. Please do let me know if you or any of your neighbours need assistance.

In line with the emergency regulations and guidance, I have had to close my constituency office and cancel my advice surgeries because of the outbreak. However, constituents can of course contact me as normal at ben.macpherson.msp@parliament.scot or by telephone on 0131 600 0134.

This section of my website has various useful links too and recently the Scottish Government also launched a national helpline(0800 111 4000) to provide essential assistance to those who don’t have a network of support but who are at high risk of contracting COVID-19. Furthermore, please visit http://www.nhsinform.scot to access medical information and advice.

Holyrood update

As some of you will be aware, in February I was appointed as Minister for Public Finance and Migration in the Scottish Government. I support the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Kate Forbes MSP. In recent weeks we have of course been fully focused on the government response to the pandemic and supporting both public services and businesses through this crisis.

Edinburgh Northern and Leith Constituency update

Again, as you would expect, I have mostly been working to support constituents in need, local businesses and local organisations in this crisis.

Keep in touch

As your local MSP, and as a Minister in the Scottish Government, I’m constantly working with colleagues to help as much as I can in this challenging time. It’s always great to hear from local members, so please do get in touch if there’s anything you want to raise or suggest – or even if you just want to say hello. And as mentioned previously, I regularly post updates on social media if you’d like to follow me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Let’s all keep doing what we can to stay safe and support others through this crisis.

Keep in touch, take care and best wishes,

Ben

Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith