Northumberland Communities Together

The council is launching 'Northumberland Communities Together' - a dedicated team which will help harness the power of local community volunteers while making sure the county's most vulnerable residents are protected.

If you want to volunteer to help your community

There are lots of ways that you can help if you’d like to assist:

• please complete this form and we'll be in touch.

Keep in touch

Further information will be added to this page in the coming days to help support communities over the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, you can keep up to date via social media channels.
Social media is a great way to keep up to date and stay connected. However, it can also be a place where rumours and misinformation can spread easily. Always check that information is coming from a reputable source. Here are some twitter profiles that you can trust to pass on accurate information:

• Public Health England – @PHE_UK
• Department of Health and Social Care – @DHSCgovuk
• NHS England – @NHSEngland
• Northumberland County Council - @N_landCouncil
• Northumbria Police – @northumbriapol
• Northumberland Fire & Rescue Service - @NlandFRS

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Health Advice

• Stay at home if you have a high temperature, or a new continuous cough. More information can be found here – www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/selfisolation-advice
• Wash your hands with soap and warm water often – do this for at least 20 seconds.
• Always wash your hands when you get home or into work.
• Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
• When you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve. Do not sneeze into your hands if at all possible. 
• Put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards.
• If you are an agile worker, wipe down your desk or equipment when you have finished with them. 
• Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell.

Wellbeing Advice 

• Don’t give yourself information overload. If you are finding yourself overwhelmed or anxious, take a break from watching the news or checking social media. 
• Keep active as much as is feasible. It is still okay to go for a walk as long as you are outside and not attending any large group events. Northumberland has some breathtaking scenery, this could be a great excuse to explore your local area. Or you can stay inside and watch a work out video, there are a variety of free online resources for doing this, including youtube.
• Stay social! Call friends and family members for a chat over the phone or by video message. Why not try writing a letter to someone? 
• You can find more advice to take care of your mental wellbeing here - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/looking-after-your-mental-health-during-coronavirus-outbreak or for more general wellbeing tips - www.nhs.uk/oneyou/everymind-matters 

Here are some short tips for staying safe:

• Do not hand money or your credit/debit card to someone you don’t know or trust. 
• Never write your PIN number down or give it to anyone else unless they are a trusted family member or friend. 
• If someone is offering to help with shopping please make sure they’re introduced by someone you know and trust, or are part of the group of volunteers that are working with the Community Links Network.

Useful Web Links 

• Follow the latest stay at home advice at www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-advice 
• Overview of COVID-19 and up-to-date advice www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19  
• Useful poster showing current government information
• https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/873773/COVID19_Guidance_Education.pdf
• Frequently Asked Questions are available from www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/common-questions/
• NHS 111 – 111.nhs.uk/
• Northumberland County Council’s COVID-19 information page https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/coronavirus.aspx
• NHS Every Mind Matters website has useful tips and advice to support good mental health during stressful periods – www.nhs.uk/oneyou/everymind-matters