CADRA's Response - What We are Doing

We developed this page to provide sources of help and advice at the start of the lockdown, when  things were changing frequently. Now, as many restrictions have been lifted, we are removing and editing sections that no longer seem relevant.  We will continue to post new information and help on our Facebook page, for which you don't need a Facebook account for. 

Our local Reading Voluntary Action  organisation also has a wide range of useful information for individuals and groups, and nationally we like the information provided by the Eden Communities Project.

Why Not Join CADRA Today

Local Dashboard and Guides to Health & Care Services

Public Health Berkshire, covering Reading and neighbouring Local Authorities, have set up a  Dashboard of useful Covid-19 information.

Healthwatch Reading have provided this helpful Local Guide to Health & Care Services during the pandemic.

How You Can help

For those who are able these groups may be of interest

• Locally, Reading Voluntary Action have a list of groups seeking volunteers, for all kinds of things.
• NHS Volunteer Responders have paused the recruitment drive, for a few weeks, whilst they process the many applications they have had.

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/
• Or you may prefer to make a donation to one of these Organisations. 

Donating

If you would like to make a donation, then you might consider these organisations:

Local

• Royal Berks Charity Are raising money to support the hard working staff of the RBH.
• RBH Acute Medical Unit  https://gf.me/u/xst6jf
• Readifood  https://readifood.org.uk/
• Launchpad https://www.launchpadreading.org.uk
• Engage befriending https://engagebefriending.org/
• Sue Ryder https://www.sueryder.org/donate
• Berkshire Womens Aid http://www.berkshirewomensaid.org.uk/

National

• NHS charities together https://www.nhscharitiestogether.co.uk/
• Salvation Army
• Age UK
• National Emergencies Trust 

International

• The International Rescue Committee https://help.rescue-uk.org/
• Medecins sans Frontieres https://www.msf.org/donate

 

Council Services

The Council's response and details of how their services are affected can be found at: https://www.reading.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/

• The Central Library is open, but by appointment only: https://www.facebook.com/ReadingLibraries/
• Recycling Centres (re3) are  open, but all visits must be booked online. Book Online
• The green bin collections have resumed. Any renewal payments that have been received before 26^th April 2020 will mean that the new subscription period will begin on 27th April 2020.  The subscription period will no longer run from 1 April to 31 March each year. The subscription period will run for 12 months from the date payment is made. https://www.reading.gov.uk/garden-waste

• Council  Committee meetings are currently being held online and the public are able to observe them, in line with the recent government regulations.

  https://democracy.reading.gov.uk/uuCoverPage.aspx?bcr=1

• The Council's main News Page with links and searches to all their latest news items.

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

The British Psychological Society - https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/schools-really-out

Having Fun

Gruffalo illustrator, Axel Scheffler has produced a book about Covid-19 Coronavirus just for children - available as a FREE download a​t:
https://nosycrowcoronavirus.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/Coronavirus-ABookForChildren.pdf

Donations requested in lieu of payment, to ​www.nhscharitiestogether.co.uk/

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

Shopping

Much has changed since the lockdown was eased, but the Which Magazine have maintained a table of Supermarket Opening Times, these includes times specifically allocated for vulnerable people or for key workers.

At the start we developed a list of the many local suppliers who offered a range of goods and some also delivered. Whilst they may no longer provide the same services, here was the last list we published, which may be useful: Local Food Deliveries and Collections

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/

The Facebook community group Champions To End Loneliness - North Reading  posts and comments help bring people together.

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/
• 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

Keeping Fit

Sport in Mind is a Reading based independent multi-award winning mental health charity, whose mission is "To improve the lives of people experiencing mental health problems through sport and physical activity".

General advice from Sports England How to stay active while at home.Reading Sport + Leisure have listed useful links which offer exercise ideas for all ages and abilities.

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.

Read about WEA courses on the RVA website. The Workers's Education Association is the UK’s largest voluntary sector provider of adult education in England and Scotland. It's first volunteer-led branch was opened in Reading in 1904.

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