Coronavirus: Funeral changes in Peterborough as emergency hampers delivered to youngsters in care

Staff at both Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council delivered the 12 hampers filled with food, toiletries, cleaning products, books and clothing.

They went to young people in care and care leavers.

The council said: “Thank you everyone who donated these items. If you or someone you know owns a restaurant, café or pub which is currently closed, we’re urging you not to throw out food or supplies. Instead, you can donate it to us so we can deliver more hampers to those in need. Get in touch with joe.gilbert@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.”

Further developments

Families have been praised for following the advice set out by government to keep children at home where safe to do so, with the number of children in attendance in schools much lower than originally predicted.

Online learning resources can be found at: https://www.cambslearntogether.co.uk/home-learning.

Jonathan Lewis, service director for education in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: “I want to say thank you to those parents who are following the advice of government and keeping their children at home.

“You are playing a big part in helping relieve the pressures on the system and allowing us to prioritise our resources where they are needed most. We are seeing children from critical worker families attending, but I want to reiterate that we will also provide for children who are supported by social care and who have safeguarding and welfare needs.

“We continue to work closely with the Department of Health, our teachers, practitioners and childminders and have put measures in place to ensure the safety of those children and staff who are in attendance. We are in this together.”

Funerals, cremations, grounds, cemeteries in Peterborough

There will be some changes to these services to take into account government advice around reducing the spread of Covid-19 and the importance of protecting key workers. These are:

. Attending funerals – The councils said they will be limiting funeral gatherings in chapels to the immediate family only – including spouse/partner, parents/carers, brothers/sisters, children (and partners of children).

Crematorium grounds/cemeteries - These are still open but visitors should remember to keep two metres away from each other.

Bereavement Services Office - This is closed, although it will take appointments from families to collect cremated remains. Residents are asked to avoid this if they possibly can.

Waiting room - This has now closed. Attendees are asked to stay in their cars until the cortege arrives at the crematorium.

Book of Remembrance - This has now closed, however, the inscription can be viewed from the outside of the building and there will be vases available for any tributes left.

Scattering/internment of cremated remains - There will not be any further bookings. If you have a scattering/internment booked, a member of the bereavement team will contact you.

Volunteers

Following the councils’ campaign to increase the number of people available to provide care to vulnerable people in their own homes – and keeping them out of hospital - that was launched last week, the authorities said they have had “an amazing amount of support with more than 75 new volunteers with suitable skills and backgrounds identified and 12 recruited already”.

The new volunteers had their first day of training on Tuesday to help them support vulnerable people in the community. They will be providing personal or health care to vulnerable people in their own homes or in a care setting. This will include showering, giving medication and helping someone use the toilet.

Adrian Chapman, service director for communities and safety for Peterborough City Council and Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “We would like to thank the volunteers that have come forward so far to help us provide vital services. Their contribution has already been inspiring.”

Road signs in Cambridgeshire

Following a request from the Department for Transport, consistent and widespread messaging about the need for people to stay at home during the Covid-19 crisis will be displayed on road signs.

Bulky waste collections in Peterborough

The service will be happening as normal but there will be no more face-to-face quoted jobs or estimations.

Child care

With children now being asked to stay at home where safe to do so, more and more parents will be turning to childminders and alternative childcare to help out.

The councils said: “The Government guidance is clear – children should not be cared for by any friends or family who should be stringently social distancing – such as the elderly or those with underlying health problems.

“Parents should also be fully confident they are using childminders who are fully registered.”

Registered childminders can be found on both councils’ websites.

They added: “If you are offered any unregistered provision, or you feel someone may be acting illegally, let Ofsted know immediately by contacting enquiries@Ofsted.gov.uk using the subject heading ‘Early Years setting – possibly unregistered’. Help us keep our children safe and well.”

Play areas, outdoor gyms and skate parks in Peterborough

All will be closed to stop people using equipment on which they could potentially pass on the virus with a message put up clearly at the entrances asking residents to continue using the rest of the open space, while adhering to safe social distancing of at least two metres/six feet apart from others.

Toilets in Central Park

These are now closed, according to the Government guidance on shutting park buildings.

The latest updates can be found at: https://www.peterborough.gov.uk/healthcare/public-health/coronavirus/disruption-to-council-services and https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/coronavirus/disruption-to-council-services.

Coronavirus: what you need to do

· Stay at home

· Only go outside for food, health reasons or work (where this absolutely cannot be done from home)

· Stay two metres (six feet) away from other people

· Wash your hands as soon as you get home.