Updates during Corona virus closure

Information and support for those struggling with bereavement at this time

Winston’s Wish

The bereavement service has suspended all groups, drop-ins and training events and has moved all services to remote or digital delivery . Further information available at https://www.winstonswish.org/coronavirus/.

Following support still available:

National Freephone Helpline*: 08088 020 021 (open 9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday)

ASK email support: ask@winstonswish.org

Crisis Messenger: Text WW to 85258 (available 24/7)

Online chat: https://www.winstonswish.org/online-chat/ (available 12-4pm, Wednesdays and Fridays)

In order to protect staff, the Helpline is currently operating a remote service. Please leave a message on our voicemail with your first name and a contact number (with area code) and a Helpline Practitioner they call you back from a withheld number as soon as possible.

Guidance

What parents and carers need to know about schools and education during the coronavirus outbreak

Under normal circumstances, schools are not able to provide free school meals to eligible children who are not attending due to illness or if the school is closed. However, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak the Government sets out support for schools to continue to provide support to pupils usually in receipt of free school meals while the school is:

• only open for certain groups
• closed

Support with gas and electricity

Those at home self isolating both staff and/or claimants may be worried about going out and being able to top up their meters and could be using more power than normal because they are home. If people can they should ask friends and family to help, but some may not be able to.

If they contact the numbers below, the supplier will send 2 weeks of power to you or similar.

BRITISH GAS  If you’re unable to do this, and you haven’t got anyone to help you, please call 0330 100 0303 Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm and we’ll help you.

EDF  Call 0330 200 5110 We also operate a friendly, non-disconnection policy on most meters. So if you run out of credit after 6pm your electricity will not go off until 9am the next day. This operates from 6pm to 9am Monday to Friday, 6pm on Saturday and any time on a Sunday or Bank Holiday, until 9am the next day

EON If your meter falls below 50p of emergency credit for electricity, or if you’re off supply for gas, you need to contact us and we will send an engineer to your home. It’s important to remember that any credit we issue will need to be repaid in order to reinstate customers’ energy supply.  0345 052 000

• For electricity customers, where the meter is outside your property, we’ll put enough credit on the meter to ensure you remain on-supply throughout your self-isolation period.
• Where the meter is inside, we’ll leave a meter key at your doorstep, make contact with you, and check the key works before leaving the property,
• For gas customers, where the meter is outside, we’ll supply a maximum of £5 credit (this an industry restriction) and will also send a card in the post containing extra credit.
• Where the meter is inside, we'll still attend the property and supply a maximum of £5 credit and send a card in the post with additional credit

N POWER  Call 0800 073 3000  No further details on the website.

SCOTTISH POWER  Please call us on 0800 027 0072. 

SSE  call us on 0345 600 2006 (Monday to Friday: 8am-8pm; Saturday: 9am-6pm; Sunday: 9am-5pm) so we can work out how to help. Our call centre might be busier than usual, but bear with us. Once you’re through we’ll review your individual situation and talk you through the options.