CADRA's Response - What We are Doing

We are developing this page to provide sources of help and advice during the coronavirus pandemic. We will try to keep the information up to date but, as you can appreciate, things are changing frequently. Please check for new posts on https://www.facebook.com/cavershamresidents. You do not need to be on Facebook for this. These are organisations and items we are highlighting:

Reading Voluntary Action is maintaining a page with a wide range of information for individuals and groups. http://rva.org.uk/coronavirus-community-action/

Community Action Response - Covid 19 have listed five things you can do to make a positive difference in your community.

Facebook Groups and Pages

The CADRA Facebook page, for which you don’t have to be on Facebook, will have information posted as it becomes available https://www.facebook.com/cavershamresidents/

Caversham Mutual Aid Covid Coronavirus Help Support is a forum to seek or offer help https://www.facebook.com/groups/196803968271709/

Emmer Green mutual aid covid-19 support https://www.facebook.com/groups/224018755635420/. If you live in Emmer Green and need assistance please start your post with HELP NEEDED. Help with: groceries, medication, dog walking etc. Never list your address/phone/email, a private message in reply will be sent.

Reading & Local Areas: Delivery & Takeaway Suppliers https://www.facebook.com/groups/2528901730759928/

Class of Covid-19 is for parents and teachers to share resources for home teaching and a place to ask questions from teachers offering support https://www.facebook.com/groups/502042943810868/

How You Can help

There are many ways to help - For those who are able these groups may be of interest

• How can I help in my neighbourhood? See http://rva.org.uk/coronavirus-community-action/ 
• Register to volunteer http://rva.org.uk/volop/team-reading-coronavirus-response-volunteers/
• NHS Volunteer Responders  https://www.goodsamapp.org/nhsvolunteerresponders

Alternatively, if you would like to make a donation, then consider these organisations

• Royal Berks Charity Are raising money to support the hard working staff of the RBH.
• RBH Acute Medical Unit  https://gf.me/u/xst6jf
• National Emergencies Trust https://nationalemergenciestrust.org.uk/coronavirus/?extid=em_sfds_200321_f_CH4&ep_mid=8536542&ep_rid=730541835200321.8536542
• The International Rescue Committee https://help.rescue-uk.org/

Other ways to help

• If you are well, give blood https://www.blood.co.uk/
• Support research by recording your symptoms daily, whether you are well or ill https://covid.joinzoe.com/
• The BigGive are a matched funds platform that doubles what you donate, whilst funds are available.

Council Services

The Council's response and details of how their services are affected can be found at: https://www.reading.gov.uk/coronavirus

• Recycling centres are now closed.
• The green bin collections have been suspended to allow the reduced crew to concentrate on collecting grey and red bins. The April payment will be deferred. https://www.reading.gov.uk/garden-waste
• All Council Committees have been suspended and decisions are being taken by the chief executive and leader of the council. The council will publish urgent decisions via the ‘decision book’ process, which is normally used for non-controversial decisions. The Coronavirus Legislation now permits Councils to hold virtual meetings.

Children

Home Education Links

Here's what various celebrities and others are offering you and your kids for free daily to help with their education while schools are closed: Home Education

Having Fun

Reading Chronicle https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/18333718.readings-snow-princess-parties-deliver-free-entertainment-children-facebook-live/

Shopping

Supermarkets are allocating priority times specifically for vulnerable people or for key workers.

Please note the following updates to the chart below are:

• Sainsbury's are allowing NHS staff and care workers to shop from 7:30 - 8:00

Booking delivery slots with major supermarkets is proving difficult, but is evolving rapidly. An alternative may be to use smaller local suppliers who offer a range of goods and some also deliver. Here is the latest list: Local Food Deliveries and Collections

With restaurants, cafes and pubs closed, many are offering take away for delivery or collection.

The Government has advice on which businesses can stay open https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close

Ways of Keeping in Touch Online

RVA have put together information about how to keep in touch: http://rva.org.uk/keeping-in-touch-online/

Local Food Deliveries and Collections

There is a growing list of small mainly local suppliers offering delivery services. The list is subject to change, as organisations may no longer be able to provide the service or are simply overwhelmed by requests (pdf version):

• Home Pantry - Delivering to homes & organisations in London & The Thames Valley.
• Caversham Butcher is supplying large numbers of people and home deliveries.
• Dudmans wholesaler 59a Grove Road, Emmer Green, sells fruit and vegetable boxes. Pre-order your box on info@dudmans.co.uk or 0118 947 1471. Store is open for collection 9.30 -12.30, with phones manned from early morning. Dudmans Facebook
• Nyama Catering - Ipsden are delivering fresh produce.
• True Food Coop  - Grove Road, Emmer Green.
• C A Belcher & Sons - Wholesaler doing fruit and veg, bread, milk and eggs.
• UCS Fresh - Fresh fruit and veg deliveries.
• RG Bread - Located above the Geo Cafe on 10 Prospect Streets delivering twice weekly - veg boxes, bread, eggs and honey.
• Space/Store - On-line only. Based in Didcot, will deliver to Caversham, a small range of staple items to: Key Workers, the Elderly, Self-isolating and the vulnerable.
• Crums Food Co. - Portman Road. A catering company has this Kitchen Essentials range it delivers, which includes fresh groceries and milk.
• The Flowing Spring Pub - Henley Road is doing hot meals, drinks and some fresh ingredients. Order ahead for collection. Some delivery may be possible.
• Vegivores - St Martins Precinct. Order online. Min. £20, with delivery within 5 miles, Thursday to Sunday. Orders in by 8pm the day before delivery.
• Warings Bakery Caversham are taking online orders and the shop closes at 2pm. Or, tel. 0118 9464749.
• VeggieBox - Veg and fruit boxes for next day delivery.
• Loddon Brewery are taking online orders only for delivery.
• Pielicious Facebook in Washington Road, Caversham, will deliver locally, if you can’t get out or you can collect. Message them on Facebook.

Dealing with Anxiety

This is a stressful time for many of us, so we hope these websites will be helpful.

• NHS - https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips/
• Launchpad - Telephone support: https://www.launchpadreading.org.uk/update-on-coronavirus-covid-19-and-changes-to-launchpads-services/
• The RVA has information on managing anxiety and well-being: http://rva.org.uk/coronavirus-community-action/
• Leathes Phsycology have provided these links to resources for adults struggling to cope with the effects of the crisis and also for those supporting children and young people.

Help for Vulnerable People with No Support

If you know or are a vulnerable person who has no support, then the One Reading Community Hub action line can connect people in need of help with: volunteers, organisations and services that can support them during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Please only contact the hub for urgent welfare needs, when no family member or trusted friend can help. Their telephone no. 0808 189 4325 is open 9am-5pm, five days a week.

Keeping Mind and Body Active

The Arts Community is working hard to bring culture and entertainment into your home

• Reading Place of Culture have a list of virtual art and cultural activities that people can view or get involved in.
• Virtual visits to London exhibitions https://londonist.com/london/art-and-photography/how-to-see-london-s-major-exhibitions-from-your-sofa
• Opera and Ballet https://www.classicfm.com/music-news/coronavirus/royal-opera-house-launches-online-ballet-opera/

Learn something new

https://www.futurelearn.com  has a huge range of fascinating and free on-line short courses, from Universities all over the world. Typically, they take 4 or 5 hours a week.

Keeping Fit

General advice from Sports England https://www.sportengland.org/news/how-stay-active-while-youre-home

There are many different videos and online classes available for all levels, which we will list here, as hear we about them.