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Wythenshawe MP visits The Hope Project
Mike Kane the MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East visited The Hope Project Food Bank based at St Aidan’s Centre, Wythenshawe.
Along with the senior caseworker Emma Taylor, they dropped off donations for the Food Bank and praised the impact the project was having on local people across Wythenshawe.
Mike said ‘it is great what is happening here and how the community has pulled together at difficult time.’ Last week the Food Bank supplied 273 days of food to 91 people, 47 adults and 44 children.
Local Families Support Each Other
Local families supporting each other during these difficult times by attaching brightly coloured ribbons to their houses.
VE Day’s 75th anniversary – Friday 8th May 2020
VE Day will have its 75th anniversary on Friday 8th May 2020 (Bank Holiday). The ‘Stay at Home Street Party’ is encouraging people to decorate their houses in red, white and blue and have a picnic in their front garden to celebrate. Please remember to follow social distancing guidelines at all times.
This event is being supported by our a member of our local team in Wirral, Lynette Skipsey.
Caritas Working Arragements Statement
In line with current guidance, we are working virtually and trying our best to continue offering support to our service users. We are happy to connect via Zoom, WhatsApp, phone conversation and text message, with adaptable times available, as we appreciate it is difficult to access our service during the daytime when you are home educating children.
Please, remember, stay home, stay safe and follow guidance given
We are here if you need us and remember, we are in this together. This too will pass.
Contact us on 0151 652 1881 or email info@caritasshrewsbury.org.uk.
Key Worker Testing Facility/Swabbing update
A pilot key worker testing facility at Bidston has been made available for access for eligible key workers on Thursday 30th April through to Saturday 2nd May. It is part of trial that is being implemented by a partnership with Wirral Council and CCG, and is being operated by the Ministry of Defence. The criteria for testing is ;
a. A key worker who is self-isolating because they are showing Covid19 symptoms (within 5 days of starting symptoms)
b. household members who are showing symptoms, resulting in a key worker self-isolating
The mobile testing unit will be at Bidston Park and Ride, Bidston Station Approach, CH43 7RF. This is a self-testing centre staffed by the military and is a drive through and walk through facility. Key workers with access to transport will need to drive in their own vehicle or via a vehicle driven by a someone in their household. Please share this information with any of your teams who meet the above criteria.
They will need to take some form of ID and ID of employer e.g. work pass with photo.
They will need to book the test themselves and for eligible individuals in their household at the following link https://self-referral.test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk/ Please note this link to the Bidston site is not yet live, we envisage the link to be made available later today.
IMPORTANT: At section 6 of the online form “Preferred Test Location” please select “Bidston” as the testing site– if they are struggling to obtain a booking it may be that all available places have gone. Haydock or Manchester may be available as another option.
Once people arrive on site in their cars they will be asked to administer the test themselves and will be given a barcode to that sample. They will then register their personal details against this code via a secure portal which is how the results get back to them. The results will only sent to them. Upon receipt of their results they can then contact your organisation to discuss and agree next steps.
You can contact covid19testing@wirral.gov.uk for queries in relation to covid19 testing processes and facilities.
Coronavirus
St Joseph’s Parish Centre, Seacombe
Over the last few weeks a group of local people have been meeting to discuss how to secure investment for the Parish Centre.
The aim is to keep the facilities that people are keen on now but also introduce new space and facilities for community groups and services.
This is a very simple survey to get your views – there are just two questions!
We would be very grateful if you would take a minute to complete it… please just click here to be directed to the survey.
Many thanks!
Caritas at Christmas 2019
We all had a wonderful Christmastime here at Caritas… and here’s to 2020!
Community Sponsorship Announcement – Correspondence from the Home Office
As you may have already seen, the Home Secretary has confirmed the UK’s plans for resettlement set to commence in 2020.
The announcement marks the UK’s continued commitment to resettling refugees in need of protection, and our commitment to enable community sponsors to continue welcoming and supporting refugees. A significant development of the announcement is that refugees resettled through Community Sponsorship will be in addition to the Government’s resettlement commitment.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-global-resettlement-scheme-for-the-most-vulnerable-refugees-announced
From 2020, the new resettlement scheme will consolidate the Vulnerable Persons’ Resettlement Scheme, the Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement Scheme and the Gateway Protection Programme into one global scheme.
The new programme will be simpler to operate and provide greater consistency in the way that the UK Government resettles refugees. It will broaden the geographical focus beyond the Middle East and North Africa, allowing for greater flexibility in how the UK responds to humanitarian crises.
Following the announcement, the Home Office will be reaching out to sponsor groups and stakeholders on how the new developments within Community Sponsorship will be implemented and delivered.
We recognise the positive difference community sponsorship has made to the lives of refugees resettled in the UK, and to the communities that have welcomed them. On 17th June, the Home Secretary met with faith leaders on resettlement, asylum, and faith-based persecution, and the Immigration Minister also met with resettled refugees in Lambeth and those who support their integration into communities. We take pride in the positive and collaborative relationship that we have with community sponsors and appreciate the valuable input that your groups have had in supporting its development. It is only made possible by the dedication, hard work and compassion of community sponsor groups across the UK and we thank you for this.
