Connect Lambeth (a partnership of charities in Lambeth including Age UK Lambeth, Carers Hub, dasl and RAD)
Connect Lambeth can support with emergency shopping and medication pick up service, and access to food vouchers. They can help residents of Lambeth who are unable to leave the
To access this support email mycommunity@ageuklambeth.org or call 020 7346 6800 (choose option 6).
Age UK Lambeth
MYcommunity Gateway Service, with support from other staff and volunteers, continues to make sure our phones continue to be answered. We can provide advice, support and point you in the right direction for any additional support you may need.
MYadvice will continue to answer their advice line and deal with emails, with queries about housing, employment, benefits and money issues.
MYneighbour’s 120+ volunteer befrienders are continuing to link up with their clients using the phone.
The HandyFix Service is prioritising shopping and medication pick up for people who are housebound and have no one else who can help them. They will still be going out to priority jobs that keep older people safe in their homes such as key safes, hospital discharges, light bulb changes and grab rails.
MYsocial may not have any events coming up but the team are busy contacting members, encouraging them to link up with each other and even doing the occasional virtual coffee morning.
Their #Together campaign promotes three things:
- Look after yourself. Be informed. Be sensible. Follow the advice from trusted sources only (www.nhs.uk). Switch off the noise of social media and 24-hour news.
- Look out for each other. We love the way communities are coming together to help each other out. That’s amazing stuff. Stay safe. Be practical. Stay connected in as many ways you can.
- Call us if you think you or someone else needs more support. Not health stuff. Use 111 for that. However, if you are really worried about someone else or even worried about how you might cope yourself, then get in touch
For more information and details on how to contact MYCommunity, visit their website.
Disability Advice Service Lambeth
Dasl have released a statement outlining how they will continue to provide support (including support with benefits, money, housing and debt) and advocacy services to disabled people in Lambeth. Wherever possible, this will be done via phone and email. Find out more.
Feeling lonely and want someone to talk to?
Dasl offer regular phone calls to disabled people who would like someone to talk to. Please contact our Enquiry Line on 020 7738 5656 between 9am and 5pm or email us at enquiry.line@disabilitylambeth.org.uk with your name and number; someone will get back to you as soon as possible.
Advocacy
Dasl's Advocacy service is providing support in a number of ways including over the phone and video to ensure advocacy provision can be provided to maximise your rights at this time. We are continuing to support Lambeth Council fulfil its Care Act advocacy duties. Contact the Advocacy team on 020 7501 8966 or email your name, number and brief details to advocacy@disabilitylambeth.org.uk.
Managing Your Direct Payment
Dasl's Direct Payments support service will provide information and advice to Direct Payments users and people who employ Personal Assistants / carers. We are mainly communicating by phone and email, but can explore other options such as video calls. Contact the Direct Payments team on 020 7501 8960 or by email at: direct.payments@disabilitylambeth.org.uk
If you need Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Personal Assistants / carers, these are the options:
- If your DP funds are held by a payroll company, you can buy PPE yourself and send receipts to the payroll company to be reimbursed.
- If your DP funds are in a bank account, you can use the money to buy PPE, but should keep receipts for monitoring purposes.
- If you can’t find PPE yourself, you can request a delivery by contacting Lambeth Council on 020 7926 5555.
Royal Association for Deaf People Advice Service
RAD's services are continuing via webcam. Please contact RAD staff to make an appointment:
-email RAD advice@royaldeaf.org.uk, or
-SMS RAD on 07912 630786
Gaia Centre
The Gaia Centre which supports Lambeth residents who are survivors of gender based violence, including domestic and sexual violence, are open and accepting referrals. They are providing 1:1 support via telephone and email during a time where survivors may feel additionally isolated and at risk due to coronavirus.
To make a referral or for a survivor to self-refer call: 020 7733 8724 or email lambethvawg@refuge.org.uk
For more information please see the Gaia Centre website.
In an emergency call police on 999.
People living with dementia
During the coronavirus pandemic the Alzheimer's Society have advice and practical tips for people living with dementia and those supporting them – either in the same household or from a distance.
Anyone affected by dementia can call their support line on 0333 150 3456.
You can also see the full range of free publications or use the online tool to find dementia information and support.
Their website will be updated regularly, including details about how Alzheimer’s Society can help. This will provide support to help you get through this difficult time.
Lambeth Council have also compiled details on some of the support services that are available, to help people and their families who are impacted by dementia during this crisis. This can be found on their website.
Food banks and deliveries
The Lambeth Food Bank Fund has launched to support our community and the organisations that can have the most impact on those that are most vulnerable. Anyone who would like to donate can do so via the link above.
To find your local foodbank to donate to please visit the Trussell Trust website.
Lambeth Mutual Aid Groups are also supporting Lambeth residents. Join the Facebook group to find your local Whatsapp group and post requests for support such as food drop-offs if you're self-isolating. Note these are volunteer-led groups so please be very careful about sharing your personal details and do not give people you don’t know access to your bank cards.
If you are a local community organiser, the most important thing you can do is ensure your group considers safeguarding practices. Adopting simple precautions like keeping records of money spent and providing shopping receipts supports you in helping your neighbourhoods whilst protecting vulnerable residents.
Welfare advice and financial help
Lambeth Council may be able to help if you are claiming benefits of experiencing financial hardship, via their emergency support scheme, discretionary housing payments, and council tax support. For full details visit their website.
Lambeth Council's Every Pound Counts service provides additional support to Lambeth residents who have a serious long term health condition or disability, who may have difficulty accessing mainstream services. They can provide advice about benefit entitlements and how to access them, as well as advice and support if benefits have stopped and you need to appeal.
To access this support call 020 7926 5555 (available Tuesday and Thursday, 1 to 4pm) or email: EveryPoundCounts@lambeth.gov.uk
Support for mental health
SLAM crisis line
How they can help: Urgent mental health support over the phone
Who they can help: All Croydon, Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham residents
How to get support: Call the helpline 0800 731 2864
The Samaritans
How they can help: The Samaritans provide urgent mental health support over the telephone
Who they can help: All Lambeth residents (national helpline)
How to get support: Call: 116 123 or email: jo@samaritans.org
Lambeth and Southwark Mind
Mind have information and support on coronavirus. This includes plan for staying at home or indoors and taking care of your mental health and wellbeing.
Mindfulness for older people
Home Instead Senior Care deliver care care to the residents of Wandsworth, Lambeth and Dulwich. They have a guest blog from Russell Treasure, Mindfulness Coach from Manchester, offering tips and guidance on mindfulness for older people.
Safeguarding Children
The Lambeth Safer Children Partnership has gathered useful resources to help professionals, parents and young people.
Webcast funerals
To minimised the spread of COVID-19 not everyone will be able to attend a funeral of a family or friend. Like most services, funeral directorates are also adapting to how they carry out funeral services, from the 5th May 2020, some will be able to provide a webcast of a funeral, more information can be found here.