Harrow Giving Coronavirus Emergency Response Fund

Who We Are
Harrow Community Action (HCA) is a consortium working to strengthen the voluntary & community sector.

What We Do
HCA provide an opportunity for Harrow organisations to work in partnership to secure larger contracts.

… And Why
To create a stronger sense of local identity, engagement, support, collaboration and focused mission for the voluntary and community sector.

Harrow Giving Coronavirus Emergency Response Fund
A joint fund has been created from public donations being received through the Harrow Coronavirus Community Fund and Harrow Council.

This fund is focusing on the initial mobilization period and ways to support the most vulnerable.
We are looking for projects that can help people now, so will welcome applications for existing projects that could be scaled up, extended with extra money, or projects that are currently being set up.

Funding available: £2,000 – £5,000 per organisation.
To apply for the funding please read the guidance and complete the applications form:

Support to complete the application

If you need support with completing the application, please contact:

For more information visit: http://harrowgiving.org.uk/covid-19-funding/

Donate to the fund

Please share details of this fund so that we can increase the amount available to support Harrow residents during this crisis.

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charity-web/charity/displayCharityCampaignPage.action?campaignId=11532&charityId=1015747

Advice, Information and Befriending Fund – COMING SOON

Harrow Council have committed funds for Information, Advice and Befriending. This information will be available soon.

We are compiling a list of other funding available. This document will be updated on a regular basis so please keep the document link saved.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aroa5KlVQr04g-aHEoVwmv2AhoO_mOXNOG7PPAEj5as/edit?usp=sharing

Harrow Council Road Maintenence

Harrow Council Logo

How the Coronavirus is affecting Road

Maintenance and Travel

As of 24th March 2020 the Highways Service is only operating a limited service as a consequence of the Coronavirus health emergency.

To accord with Government’s requirements to maintain social distancing it has been necessary to scale back on the full range of works that we currently undertake, to ensure the safety of Council employees, those of our contractors’ employees and the general public.

We will therefore only be undertaking the most immediate and urgent carriageway and footway repairs in order to will keep our highways infrastructure safe for both motorists and pedestrians.

The network will continue to be inspected on a routine basis.

Please continue to report any hazards or defects that are of concern via the council’s website reporting forms.

These requests will be prioritised and actioned where they are considered urgent. Where no immediate action is considered necessary they will be reviewed at a later date.

For street lighting equipment issues we will only be able to attend to emergencies.  For example where a street lighting column is damaged in a road traffic collision it will be removed and made safe.

We will not be able to attend to faulty street lights that are out of illumination. Any major power outages affecting street lighting will be the responsibility of UK Power Networks.

Thank you for your patience during this period of uncertainty and we hope that we will be able to return to a normal service in the very near future.

Scam COVID-19 Text Messages

Dear Watch Member,

We have been informed that the Government has only sent one text message to the public regarding new rules about staying at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Any others claiming to be from UK Government are FALSE.

Criminals are able to use spoofing technology to send texts and emails impersonating organisations that you know and trust.

We would remind anyone who receives an unexpected text or email asking for personal or financial details not click on the links or attachments, and don’t respond to any messages that ask for your personal or financial details.

If you receive messages about fake GOV.UK/Coronavirus messages or any other Coronavirus related scams, please report it to Action Fraud – https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report-phishing.

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]

COVID-19 Local Amenities

The Pinner Association Committee have been collating information from local businesses and services and are creating a “Covid-19 Local amenities” section on the Pinner Association website which will be updated as regularly as possible to provide people with the information they need re local shops opening hours, local food delivery services, etc..

The new section is here:

https://www.pinnerassociation.co.uk/covid19/

We will be expanding this to include:

  • Banks
  • Opticians
  • Pharmacies

Please be our eyes and ears – if the hours/services listed are incorrect please provide us with the corrected information to [email protected]

Thank you

Garden Waste Service Postponed & Harrow Tip Closed

Harrow Council LogoMessage from Harrow Council

Dear customer

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency is creating unprecedented challenges for the services that we provide and is having a major impact on our staffing levels. We have therefore had to take the decision to postpone the start of your 2020/21 Garden Waste Service.

This will allow us to use our resources more effectively to ensure your food waste, general and recycling bins are collected during these challenging times. We will of course inform you if there are any disruptions to these collections, and our website is also regularly updated with service updates and closures.

We understand that you will be disappointed but hope you will understand the impact COVID-19 is having on our services across the council. Please be aware that our CA site is also closed until further notice. If you have Garden Waste that needs collecting here is what you should do:

  • Grass cuttings – It’s better to cut the lawn and not collect the grass – just leave on the garden. If you collect the grass, don’t put in your garden waste bin, as it will rot and smell.
  • Leaves and branches – It’s better to cut or shred these, and keep for later disposal. Shredded or cut waste will compost quicker.

A full list of FAQs is published on our website. Any refunds due as a result of the delay will be finalised once the start date is confirmed, and it will be paid to you automatically.

We apologise for the inconvenience this will cause but please be assured we will start the collection of garden waste as soon as it is operationally possible to do so – and you will be notified when the service starts again.

Please do not call us to discuss this issue – we are operating with a reduced number of staff and are focusing our resources on those vulnerable Harrow residents who need our help most.

Please continue to follow all government advice to protect yourself and others. Please stay safe and take all necessary precautions.

Michael Butler
Director of Environmental Services

Working on Allotments as your Daily excercise

Harrow IN Leaf Logo
This is a message from Harrow in Leaf.

 

 

Dear Harrow in LEAF Member,

We have been contacted by Harrow Council’s Dave Corby, Head of Service Community Engagement in order to send you the following information on the current position with regard to allotments in Harrow:

“As we have read and seen, people continue to use facilities in the parks in contravention of the Council closure order – areas such as tennis courts will all be chained and padlocked where practical. Outdoor gym equipment seems to be especially problematic – the hazard tape is no deterrent to the foolish and the selfish.

 Several people have asked if they can still work on allotments.  Allotments as far as we know are remaining open – like everything else it could change – they are still considered good exercise. Remember though, exercise is restricted to 1 hour per day, which includes traveling to the site and also bear in mind that unnecessary journeys should be curtailed.  It is essential people keep up to date and follow government guidance. 

 Please also remember research (https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2004973?q) that suggests that the virus can remain viable on solid surfaces e.g. water taps for many hours, perhaps days, and this risk of infection, plus other risk of transmission, means we must resist the temptation to cheat.

The Ground Maintenance Teams have already been stood down, prior to being redeployed elsewhere in the organisation, so there will be no work on allotment sites, such as turning water back on after the winter.

From a personal perspective, I 100% respect and understand plot holders enthusiasm and desire to tend and nurture their plots, but at this point in time you may consider just undertaking essential maintenance. The Council maybe instructed to close allotments as the restrictions the Government are imposing on people will change as the pandemic develops. We will update you with any changes as soon as we can..

The Community engagement Team has been redeployed to supervise the food distribution centre and assess cases for the hardship fund.

Finally if you have any questions or comments for the Council (sensible ones only please), during this crisis please pass through Trevor Steeples, Chair of Harrow in LEAF[email protected].

Please remember that all recommended precautions should be taken and that social distancing applies on your sites.

Click Here ===>  for are some relevant Covid-19 information from The National Allotment Society

Please spread the word and stay safe,

Best wishes from the Harrow in LEAF Management Committee,

We make LEAF happen!

 

Coronavirus / COVID-19 Scam Awareness

Dear Watch Member,

Unscrupulous criminals are exploiting fears about COVID-19 to prey on members of the public, particularly older and vulnerable people who are isolated from family and friends.

Members of the public should ignore scam products such as supplements and anti-virus kits that falsely claim to cure or prevent COVID-19. In some cases individuals may be pressurised on their own doorsteps to buy anti-virus kits or persuaded into purchasing products that are advertised on their social media feeds. In addition, some call centres that previously targeted UK consumers with dubious health products are now offering supplements that supposedly prevent COVID-19.

Communities are also being urged to look out for signs of neighbours being targeted by doorstep criminals. While there are genuine groups of volunteers providing help during self-isolation, there have been reports of criminals preying on residents – often older people or people living with long-term health conditions – by cold-calling at their homes and offering to go to the shops for them.

The criminals often claim to represent charities to help them appear legitimate before taking the victim’s money. There are genuine charities providing support, so consumers should be vigilant and ask for ID from anyone claiming to represent a charity.

Action Fraud are also reporting an increase of 400% of Coronavirus-related frauds. The majority of these reports are associated with online shopping scams, where people are ordering protective face masks, hand sanitizer and other products, which never have arrived.

There are also reports of themed phishing emails attempting to trick people in opening malicious attachments or revealing sensitive or financial information.

Their advice is as follows:

• Watch out for scam messages

• Research first before you purchase online

• Protect your devices – always install the latest software and Apps updated.

Please see attached list of COVID 19 scams identified. Coronavirus_Scams_Awareness_and_Advice

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HELP – YOUR INPUT IS WANTED

We are putting together information about our local retailers’ hours and other useful links on their website. What information would you like to see? (COVID-19 Local Amenities)

We are looking at the following:

• Special Shopping Hours for NHS works etc- supermarkets
• Other Retailers – Butchers, Bakers, Shops
• Medical
o Pinn Medical Centre
o Chemists
o Harrow Council Coronavirus updates

• Any other idea’s – your input required

Send us an email to  [email protected] with your ideas.

Thank you

Volunteers Needed

Harrow Council Logo

Harrow Council are looking for volunteers to help during the current pandemic – Are you able to help? If so read on.

 

 

Dear Community Volunteer,

As the current situation develops I am writing to you to find out if you would be prepared to assist the council during this time.

We recognise that some of you would be prepared to assist us. We may ask for your help in a number of ways which could include –

  • Delivering information letters from the Council in your street
  • Providing your neighbours with details of where to go for help
  • Volunteering to deliver essential items to the vulnerable
  • Manning control centres

We recognise that some of you may not be able to assist due to being identified as at risk yourselves and would stress that we would not expect or ask that you undertake any activity that could indeed put yourself at risk.

If you are able to assist us with any of the above or if you have any suggestions of your own as to how you can help (sensible and realistic only please!) please let us know by registering on the volunteer signup link below –

Please pass this email on to any other people or organisations who may be interested in helping out in this moment of need.

Volunteers signup – https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CoronavirusHarrow

Please do not reply to this email if you would like to volunteer please use the link https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CoronavirusHarrow

 Kind regards

Senior Officer  – Community Engagement, Harrow Council