Vital council services will continue to run over the Bank Holiday weekend and throughout the Easter period as part of the borough’s 24/7 response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Emergency out-of-hours arrangements are in place as usual and those with urgent enquiries will be able to call the council contact centre on 020 8726 6000.
Children and adult social care staff continue to care for and support Croydon’s most vulnerable residents including children, families and the elderly. In addition to the usual support provided by these teams, council officers have worked together with the voluntary sector to deliver thousands of food parcels to those in need. Those residents on the Government’s list of high-risk people to be shielded, are supported through the new Covid-19 hubs set up by the council, with a new text messaging service established to stay in contact with them.
More than 50 schools are staying open over the Easter holidays, with teachers and support staff providing care for children of critical workers, and extra support for children and families in need. Many more continue to work remotely, supporting their pupils online and over the phone.
Street cleansing teams will also be in operation and waste and recycling crews will continue their rounds, after moving to a seven-day week to minimise disruption to residents and ensure any missed collections are covered. And the council neighbourhood safety officers will be out and about in parks and public spaces, carrying out joint patrols with the police to ensure social distancing rules are being adhered to and everyone stays safe.
Help is also available for those who feel unsafe in their homes. Croydon’s support centre for victims of domestic abuse, the FJC, remains open Monday- Friday from 10-4pm for walk-ins and appointments and can be contacted on 020 8688 0100. Throughout the weekend, the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline can be reached on 0808 2000 247.
Residents who are struggling emotionally or feeling isolated during the Covid-19 lockdown are being urged to access local mental and physical health support services which are still available for help and advice. The council’s website has details of local services and actions to help to keep spirits up and feel energised during and after the stay at home period at www.croydon.gov.uk/wellbeing
These include Croydon’s Talking Therapies service, available for people to connect with someone if they need an independent person to listen to them and help. Meanwhile Age UK Croydon and Croydon Voluntary Action (CVA) have launched a new Telephone Befriending service, where people who would like someone to talk to are paired with a volunteer so they can have a regular chat and some company – contact 020 8686 0066. For more information including how to access support from the voluntary sector during Covid-19, visit www.croydon.gov.uk/cva or call CVA on 020 8253 7076, Monday –Friday.
“Our response to the Covid-19 pandemic means we are working 24/7 to continue to deliver the services that matter the most – to keep everyone safe, and care for those in need. Critical council services will be in operation out-of-hours and over the weekend as always, so if you need help, you are not alone – please get in touch.”
Councillor Tony Newman, leader of the council
More information about the council’s services is available on the Covid-19 pages of the website, which are being kept constantly updated. For the latest news and updates follow @YourCroydon on social media and subscribe to Your Croydon Weekly.
