Benenden Action

Please be aware of fraudsters sending out emails and texts offering vaccines.

The following is an example of such a message that was received by a resident recently: “NHS: We have identified that you are eligible to apply for your vaccine. For more information and to apply, follow here:( link)”

The link takes you to a page with an official looking NHS heading on a blue background & headed “We need to prove ownership of address. Please get a debit / credit card ready, you will need: Sort Code, Account Number, Long card number. We use this to verify billing address with the bank. No payments are made during verification [There is a ‘ continue ‘ box].

If you receive this or anything similar, it is a scam. The NHS will never ask you for account details. PIN numbers etc. If you receive any messages like this, then please report to Action Fraud eitheronline at www.actionfraud.police.uk/reporting-fraud-and-cyber-crime. Or call 0300 123 2040.

Additionally, if you think you may have fallen victim to this scam, then please contact your bank immediately.

Release the pressure – don’t suffer in silence: If you are in distress, you can get immediate support from trained staff 24-hours a day. Call 0800 107 0160 or text the word Kent to 85258 www.releasethepressure.uk

Safe havens: If you need to see someone face to face, there are Safe Havens across Kent and Medway which offer friendly support to anyone over the age of 16 living in Kent and Medway. Available between 6pm-11pm, 365 days a year www.kmpt.nhs.uk/safehavenskentmedway

Dementia helpline: For a confidential service offering support and guidance for people with dementia and their carers call 0800 500 3014 or visit www.dementiafriendlykent.org.uk

Live well: Is your mental health impacting your life, work, money, housing or relationships? Live Well can help through a range of groups, programmes and services. Find out more at www.livewellkent.org.uk If you are known to KMPT or need urgent mental health support, advice and guidance, call the 24-hour helpline 0300 222 0123

Talking Therapies: Sometimes it takes more than one conversation to make a difference. You can access a range of NHS therapies from this website www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-psychological-therapies-service

Visit Kent Business has launched a range of workshops designed to help businesses design new visitor experiences from non-tourism backgrounds and reach new markets and income streams.

They will give business owners the chance to gather their thoughts, re-focus, pivot their strategies and discuss ideas with potential collaborators across the county. The workshops, funded by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, are on from 4-19 November .

For further information visit https://www.visitkentbusiness.co.uk/get-involved/experience-taking-your-ideas-to-market/experience-development-workshops/

Until 2 December everyone must stay at home and may leave only for a limited set of reasons. These include:

• For education

• For work if you cannot work from home

• For exercise and recreation outdoors, with your household, support bubble or on your own with one person from another household

• For all medical reasons, appointments and to escape injury or harm

• To shop for food and essentials

• To visit members of your support bubble, for single people / parents.

• And to provide care for vulnerable people, or as a volunteer.

Continue reading “Current lockdown rules”

Kent Count Council looks after schools/education and school meals. The Leader of KCC has said help for anyone struggling to provide for their children is available. If your child is eligible for free school meals and you are in need of financial assistance this half term you can get in touch by visiting kent.gov.uk/kenttogether You can also call the helpline on 03000 41 92 92. If you think this information may be helpful to someone you know please pass it on.

It’s no surprise that many of us are currently facing very tough times in terms of employment issues and unforeseen changes of circumstances which can have a huge impact on household income. To help ease the pressure a little for individuals and families, we have been looking into setting up a foodbank in the village. As a result, we discovered that we are extremely fortunate to be able to benefit from the Nourish Community Foodbank home delivery service. Nourish is a registered charity, based in Tunbridge Wells that provides short-term emergency provisions, support and advice.

As well as food, the Nourish team also help advise on how to get longer term support and help people acquire skills including cooking, budgeting and dietary skills as wells as employment and training advice.

To qualify for help, you must be referred to Nourish by a professional care organisation such as your GP, care provider, local church, school, social services, housing association or Citizen’s Advice Bureau. They will then refer you – confidentially – to Nourish and they will be in touch. Please look at www.nourishcommunityfoodbank.org.uk or call 01892 548892 for details on how to apply.

The second stage of SEISS is open for applications. Those eligible will receive a government grant worth up to £6,570.

Over 2.7 million benefited from the first stage of the SEISS – with the government handing out £7.8 billion of grants to help them through the crisis.

Those eligible will now be able to receive a second and final grant worth 70% of their average monthly trading profits, with the money set to land in their bank accounts within six working days of making a claim.

Anyone whose self-employed business has been adversely affected by coronavirus since 14 July is eligible for the scheme.

Continue reading “Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS)”

Over 100,000 people have volunteered to take part in COVID-19 vaccine trials, helping to speed up efforts to discover a safe and effective vaccine.

The government is encouraging more people to join the thousands of volunteers and sign up to the NHS COVID-19 Vaccine Research Registry https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/research/coronavirus-vaccine-research/ to help the NHS in the fight against coronavirus and ensure potential candidates work for everyone.

To enable large-scale vaccine studies to take place across the UK, the aim is to get as many people as possible signed up to the Registry by October. Researchers particularly welcome people from all parts of society.

Clinical studies with a diverse pool of volunteers will help scientists and researchers better understand the effectiveness of each vaccine candidate and will considerably speed up efforts to discover a safe and workable vaccine.

Under new regulations, the public need to wear face coverings that covers the nose and mouth in additional enclosed public spaces, as well as frequent hand washing and careful social distancing. It will be compulsory to wear a face covering when buying food and drink to take away from cafes and shops. Plus, face coverings must be worn in banks, building societies and post offices.

Face coverings will not be mandatory for:

• anyone under the age of 11
• those with disabilities or certain health conditions, such as respiratory or cognitive impairments that make it difficult for them to wear a face covering

Wearing a face covering will not be made mandatory in other venues that have measures in place to protect staff and the public from COVID-19. These include:

• eat-in restaurants and pubs
• hairdressers and other treatment salons
• gyms and leisure centres
• cinemas, concert halls and theatres

Plus, wearing a face covering will not be made mandatory in venues such as:

• hairdressers and close-contact services
• eat-in restaurants, cafes and pubs. Face coverings will be required in cafes or take-away restaurants that do not provide table service, other than in designated seating areas
• entertainment venues, including cinemas, concert halls and theatres
• visitor attractions (such as heritage sites or museums)
• gyms and leisure centres
• dentists or opticians. But NHS guidance states that face coverings should be worn in hospitals

Click here to read the guidelines in full