The current coronavirus pandemic has placed our communities in unique and uncertain situations, leaving many people in the dark about what they can do, and what they should do. We want to ensure carers across the city know what support is available to them given the changes to regular services.
This bulletin will be shared weekly - aiming to provide the most up to date information and guidance relating to carers in Manchester.
This page on the government website provides advice specifically for unwaged carers. It covers guidance on mitigating infection, how to find alternative care and advice on interactions with paid carers.
If you are providing services to carers and would like information to be shared in this bulletin, please get in touch: hello@manchestercarersnetwork.org.uk
To access info from previous bulletins please follow these links;
Due to the guidance to work from home where possible and to adhere to social distancing, all face to face support across the network has been suspended. However, a number of organisations are now providing telephone support services - contacting carers with advice and guidance, taking calls from those who need support and even singing songs to raise spirits.
Due to the rapidly changing situation, we recommend monitoring the social media accounts of network organisations detailed below, for running updates to services between these newsletters. Below is a breakdown of the Network Member's current offers, as well as details on how to reach them.
To view a breakdown of all the network services and how they are supporting carers at this time please click the link below
Manchester City Council Emergency Fund opens for Manchester’s unwaged carers
A fund of £200,000 has been made available for unwaged carers to apply for. It will be open for carers to ensure the ongoing health and wellbeing of both the carer and the person who needs care. This includes those households where a child of young person is the carer.
It can be used for a range of purposes including transport costs (including taxis) or fuel, furniture, emergency delivery of food and one-off practical costs to help with the caring role at this time.
Carers can receive advice about accessing this financial support from Manchester Carers Centre or their Young carers Coordinator. Advice is also available on the Council's website under benefits and support. The emergency fund for carers is administered through the Council's Welfare Provision Scheme.
Manchester City Council's Community Response - Hotline
(available to Carers, Care Leavers and Young Carers)
Manchester City Council have set up a hub to support Manchester's most vulnerable people, and help them cope with the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak.
They can help if you are:
over the age of 70, are self isolating and have no support network,
if you have received a letter from the NHS advising you are high risk, or
you are medically vulnerable according to the government criteria.
or, if you are a carer, care leaver or young carer.
and can support with things like:
Delivery of food
Delivery of medication
Combating loneliness
Managing fuel top-up payments
Call - 0800 234 6123 - to access this support
Further info on council support can be found via the links below.
Activities that have been organised by mutual aid groups in Manchester include calling isolated individuals to check in on them, and picking up and delivering shopping for local NHS workers.
To find out more about these groups, and contact one close to you, please visit this page.
The Shopping Slot
The Shopping Slot is a new site which allows you to view delivery and collection time slots for multiple different supermarket retailers. This will allow for a much smoother and flexible shopping experience for those new and unfamiliar with online shopping.
We hope a service like this can make these challenging times more that bit less stressful.
For more info please click here. Supermarket Volunteer Shopping Cards
In many cases people with shielding responsibilities are taking up the support of volunteers to collect food shopping for them. However this does bring complications with managing money exchange, particularly the handling of cash.
Supermarkets have now set up dedicated payment schemes, vouchers and top up cards to help manage this process. For information on all of the different supermarket schemes please - Click here
Bread & Butter Project
A new discounted grocery service at The Work Shop in Moss Side which runs on Tuesdays, run by The Bread and Butter Thing.
The food comes from supermarkets, factories and farms who donate it to the project rather than wasting it or sending it to landfill. The food is then used to make up food bags for the members.
Because you don’t get to choose what foods you get The Bread and Butter Thing can afford to provide things really cheaply. Because this is a new service, they are now letting you sign up and try it out for free.
Follow these steps to join up:
Text 07860 063 256 with your full name, your postcode and the name of your hub (The Work Shop).
Select the size of order you want to receive. A typical family order would be £7.50, an individual would be £4. An extra large family would be £15.
You'll receive a text every Sunday to see if you want an order. All you have to do is reply “YES” to the text by 10am Monday and they'll deliver your order to The Work Shop on Tuesday at 2pm.
Collect your goods from The Work Shop, 130 Alexandra Road, Moss Side, M16 7WD.
A typical order is three shopping bags, one of fridge goods, one of cupboard goods and one full of fruit and veg, this costs £7.50. The goods can change slightly depending on what is available on the day.
Our welfare & benefits advice service remains open - if you're a carer and would like some 1.1 telephone support please contact us on 0161 834 6069 or email at learning@manchestercarersnetwork.org.uk
The Government has announced that the Family Fund will receive funding of £37.3m in 2020-21. This includes £10m for grants to help low income families in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Families with children that have complex needs and disabilities can apply for grants for vital equipment - such as computers, specialist equipment and educational toys - to make their lives easier while maintaining social distancing measures. It can also help with the cost of goods or services, like washing machines and refrigerators.
The grants are typically worth £400 to £500 per family but vary depending on need. See the Family Fund website for how to apply.
Crosland Fund
(Individuals will have to apply through an organisation)
The object of the Dean of Manchester Crosland Fund is to assist people living in Greater Manchester who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress by making grants of money or providing or paying for items, services or facilities calculated to reduce the need, hardship or distress of such persons. Unfortunately, grants cannot be made towards meeting the costs of rates, taxes or other public funds. Grants cannot be repeated or renewed on any occasion in any case.
Applications must be must via an organisation; we are unable to accept applications directly from individuals. Paper applications are no longer accepted.
Funds are allocated on a quarterly basis in March, June, September and December and applications should be submitted by the end of the previous month.
Applications for the June 2020 panel meeting are now being invited. Applications will close at midday on Sunday 31 May 2020.
Gas & electric credit for self-isolating
We have been made aware that certain gas and electricity companies are providing customers with additional credit on their meters if they are self-isolating. All customers need to do is call up their provider on the below numbers and tell them they are self-isolating. They will then be sent 2 weeks’ worth of gas / electricity or if they have a smart meter they will top you up.
The numbers to call are:
BRITISH GAS - 0333 202 9802
EDF - 03332005100
EON - 0345 052 000
N POWER - 0800 073 3000
SCOTTISH POWER - 08000270072
SSE - 0345 026 2658
ACAS Coronavirus (COVID-19)
With the current ambiguity around returning to work and social distancing we recommend you visit the ACAS website for detailed and up to date information and guidance.
Some people will receive a letter from the NHS to say they should take extra steps to protect (or 'shield') themselves because of an underlying health condition.
This is for people who are at higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus. Employees should talk to their employer as soon as they can if they:
have been told to start shielding
think they might get a letter telling them to start shielding
If an employee receives a letter telling them to start shielding, they should stay at home for at least 12 weeks. Employers should support staff following shielding guidelines.
This might be a distressing or difficult time, so it's important for employers to keep in touch during any absence. Any details about the employee's medical condition must be kept confidential, unless the employee says it can be shared.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority have put together a booklet aimed at supporting our mental health and wellbeing during COVID-19. Adults and children across Greater Manchester can access free digital services and online support.
If you want to talk to someone, get in touch with Gaddum or any of the services mentioned in our Covid update.
Flowhesion Foundation
During the current Pandemic the Flowhesion Foundation have a dedicated team of professional Counsellors and Experienced call handlers giving financial advice, faith based support, help translating/ interpreting, completing key forms.
This support is available Urdu and in English.
To receive or arrange support please contact their COVID19 response hub coordinator:
Completely free for all children and families, this extraordinary new collection of short stories, poems, essays and pictures has contributions from more than 110 children’s writers and illustrators.The Book of Hopes aims to comfort, inspire and encourage children during lockdown through delight, new ideas, ridiculous jokes and heroic tales.
The collection, published by Bloomsbury, is dedicated to the doctors, nurses, carers, porters, cleaners and everyone currently working in hospitals.
NESTAC Manchester - Ear for you helpline A new step for African community
The Ear for you helpline is a service targeted at providing emotional support for the BAME population of Greater Manchester, covering those who are;
• Recovering from COVID-19 or are self-isolating
• Relatives and friends of clients suffering from COVID-19
• Bereaved relatives and friends of a deceased COVID-19 person
• BAME women and young girls victims of abuse and violence
They are;
• A charity specialised in the provision of cross-culture emotional support
• Registered Mental health Practitioners and Psychotherapists
• Bilingual trained Peer Mentors skilled in basic cultural counselling
• Community support volunteer workers What is available?
• Advice, guidance and signpost relating to COVID-19 matters
• Cross-culture emotional support related to pre- and post Covid-19 issues
• Tailored psycho-social therapy for women and young girls victims of violence and abuse during COVID-19: Individual and Group therapy available.
• Online training available
• Advice, guidance and support provided in varied languages including Somali, Kurdish, Swahili, Urdu, Arabic, French and more
07862 279289 / 07894 126157
You can also text the word ‘HELP’ and someone will get back to you.
Manchester’s obviously quieter than usual at the moment, and our buzzing arts, culture, fitness, youth and music scenes are on hold. Our sports centres, art galleries, theatres, libraries and events are in temporary hibernation – but you don’t have to be. Behind the scenes, the staff who keep these things going have been busy finding ways to bring recreation to you at home.
To make it easier for you, they've launched a brand new e-bulletin that will deliver ideas and inspiration straight to your inbox so you don't have to go searching for it. Every week, we’ll be rounding up some of the best activities that parents, children, young adults and families can take part in without even leaving the house. There’s Allsorts To Do At Home!
To sign up for these newsletters please - click here
Manchester Young Carers Project
Photography is a great tool for art and reflection that is available to most of us through the mobile phone. It can help us take notice, re affirm our place, communicate who we are and what we see as important, tell stories and make great art. We want to collect images from young carers from all over Manchester. The images can be about your role as a carer or about you or both.
Keeping well at home - Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Greater Manchester Combined Authority have created a detailed illustrated guide on how to cope with prolonged periods of time at home.
It covers topics like home excise, nutrition and keeping good mental health. It also includes details for support in your area via the local authority community hubs.
Manchester’s Self Help Mental Health charity (part of Big Life Group) is still open and accepting referrals. Self Help are very much aware that in these times our community may need mental health services more than ever. They aim to provide a high standard of service for their clients and would encourage referrals to come through their online portal (for self and professional referrals) rather than sending paper referrals/emailing or asking clients to phone the service. As there may be a delay through these methods.
They are still processing referrals and offering clients initial appointments within 2 weeks of referral. The service has been adapted to deliver telephone Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Counselling over the telephone, as well as computerised CBT. face to face digital offer (like Skype/Zoom) and online Psycho-educational workshops will be available soon.
Confidential, free helpline for older people across the UK. Open 24/7.
- offer information, friendship and advice.
- link callers to local groups and services.
- offer regular friendship calls.
- protect and support older people who are suffering abuse and neglect.
One Education - Putting Children First
(0161 276 0118)
Supporting parents of children with SEND
Educational Psychology Helpline (Monday – Friday 1.00pm – 3.00pm)
A helpline for parents/carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and for Early Help professionals within Manchester LA.
Buzz - Manchester Health & Wellbeing Service Information Collections - These documents provide useful information and signpost to key resources and helplines around a wide variety of mental health topics. https://buzzmanchester.co.uk/information/covid-19
BAME communities: Information, sources of support and resources for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. There is also information about self-isolation and social distancing which has been translated into other languages on this link: https://www.gmcvo.org.uk/Coronavirus/BAMESupport
Please follow the below links to explore our network and find out more. If you would like a Network booklet with all our information in one place, please let us know via hello@manchestercarersnetwork.org.uk
