Support during COVID-19

If you wish to support those affected by Corona Virus please register via the central register  on this webpage. If you have ideas on how to improve things please email: covid19@towerhamlets.gov.uk

General council webpage links and advice on http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/coronavirus

Help for Victims of abuse against women and girls can rely on getting help. If you are in an emergency call 999, if you cannot speak on the phone press 55, which refers your call to a specialist helper who will assist you.

Local support:

• Tower Hamlets Victim Support IDVA 020 7364 7957/2448 (Monday to Friday 9-5)
• Victim Support 0808 1689 111 (24 hours)
• Tower Hamlets Crisis Intervention Service 020 3222 4027 (Monday to Friday 9-5; and weekends 10am-6pm)
• Legal advice regarding domestic abuse and family law, such as non-molestation orders, child arrangements or divorce – Bowling & Co. Solicitors family@bowlinglaw.co.uk 020 8221 8000 in emergency 07464 925 083
• Tower Hamlets VAWG Team 0800 279 5434 (Monday to Friday 9-5) or email domestic.violence@towerhamlets.gov.uk
• Tower Hamlets Housing Options Service Team (HOST) will no longer have a drop-in service. For those at risk of homelessness contact HOST on 020 7364 7474 Monday to Friday 9-5 or after 5pm the emergency number 020 7364 4079
• Adult Safeguarding team 020 7364 5005
• Children Safeguarding team 020 7364 3444

National Support

• National Domestic Violence Helpline 0808 2000 247; 7 days a week 24 hours
• LGBT specialist advice on 0800 999 5428 (Monday to Friday 10am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 4pm or email help@galop.org.uk
• Specific Men’s Advice line 0808 801 0327 Monday – Friday
  • 9am – 8pm Monday & Wednesday
  • 9am – 5pm Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
  • email info@mensadviceline.org.uk
• Women’s Aid online support service https://chat.womensaid.org.uk/
  • Monday – Friday 10am – 12 pm
• Hestia provides a free-to-download mobile app, Bright Sky, which hides as a weather app but provides support and information to anyone who may be in an abusive relationship or those concerned about someone they know.

Other VAWG support

• Girls aged 14+ or woman and have been a victim of sexual assault you can contact
  • Rape Crisis 0808 802 9999; 12pm – 2.30pm and 7pm-9.30pm each day.
  • for victims age 16+ use the Live online Chat helpline Monday – Friday.
• Beyond the Streets, support for women who are involved in prostitution 0800 133 7870 or email support@beyondthestreets.org.uk
• Female Genital Mutilation FGM Engagement Service 020 7377 8725 (Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm.
• Forced Marriage Unit 020 7008 0151 or email fmuoutreach@fco.gov.uk
• Stalking and Harrassment 0808 802 0300 Monday – Friday 9.30am – 4pm except for Wednesday when it is open 1pm – 4pm.
• Trafficking for purposes of sexual exploitation 08000 121 7000

Perpetrators of abuse who want help

If you are worried how you are treating your partner or family member and want to stop your behaviour, you can contact Respect on 0808 802 4040 or email info@respectphoneline.org.uk

Beware of Corona Virus scams

People are receiving text messages on their phones to follow a link to claim a Corona Virus support payment. Such messages are always scam.

Scammers simply start websites and ask people to come onto them and provide personal and banking details.

Please do not follow such links whether you receive such messages per text, email, phone or personal callers. Do not provide financial or personal details to fraudsters. Generally do not click links inviting you to take part in research for Disease Control.

Free school meals scam. The only official guidance on free school meals during schools closures is available on the official website page

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance

If in doubt contact your school or councillors.

passing time

Whilst staying indoors its good to find something to do. Of course most of us have TV channels to keep entertained.

For some pro-active ideas there are games available online free of charge.

There is Scrabble Go or Words with Friends 2 or Microsoft makes games available via the Microsoft Game Room like the Microsoft Solitaire Collection.

Anybody registered with Facebook can make use of many games via the platform online. You can play most games with mobile phones, tablets, Apps or home computers and laptops.

Whilst our libarries are closed there is the option of reading virtual books using Apps like Kindle. If you are a member of Amazon you can get many free books to download.  Amazon as well asArgos still do home deliveries for items, you no longer can purchase in the shops.

Unfortunately, at the time of posting, there are no food delivery slots available anywhere. But we have the local shops, which are in walking distance.

If you want help with computer related issues on how to get onto games, I am willing to give phone advice. Please contact me via the contact page.

You can go for walks in the park but should keep 2 meters away from the nearest other person.

plant potatoes

Low maintenance and giving a yield. We usually have a few potatoes laying around the house, which are starting to sprout and would go into our bins. But, we can make some use of it and put them into our window boxes.

It’s just the right time of year.

Put a whole potatoe into the earth and watch it grow into a green leafy plant. Later in the year this will develop white flowers and some small round fruits.

You can let the leaves hang over the balcony or window box. Just make sure you water regularly, especially when it gets hot in the summer.

It is very inexpensive and exciting for children, and adults alike, to watch the growing cycle and being able to eat the produce.

It also makes our window boxes green and pleasant.

vulnerable residents – volunteers

I urge all elderly and vulnerable residents not to open the doors to callers, unless they got an appointment.

Fraudsters are urging the elderly to let them help with shopping and ask them for bank details. Do not give your bank details to anybody.

About 1.5 Million vulnerable residents are about to get letters from the government urging them to stay at home for about 12 weeks.

Local councillors are setting up groups to help local, vulnerable residents. You will be contacted or can contact your councillor Eve McQuillan for Bethnal Green.

Email:  Eve.McQuillan@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Mobile:  07594 828420

Other local councillors will be available in each ward.

I understand that the government will guarantee food deliveries for vulnerable residents during the isolation period.

Anybody who can volunteer to help please sign up at the Tower Hamlets volunteer bank.

I want to urge all to stop stock-piling. Accumulating lots of paper or cooking oil can increase your fire risks and dry foods can get infected with pests. Also clearing shelves and buying as much as possible doesn’t help those who need to find things in our shops, please only buy what you need.