Coronavirus (COVID-19): check here for all the latest information  

Please follow NHS advice to protect yourself and others from viruses and germs.

 

PLEASE NOTE:

Following the updated government guidance on Coronavirus, the Croydon Neighbourhood Care office is now closed.  We are all working from home and you can  email us at info@cnca.org.uk.  If your enquiry is urgent, please contact 07926 524572 for befriending and 07759 226185 for all other matters.

 

Our Befriending Service:  In the current climate, we are unable to undertake home visits but will be telephoning our existing clients.  In partnership with Age UK and our member groups, we will provide comprehensive befriending support across the borough.  CNCA's role will be to provide a telephone befriending service for individuals who are over the age of 80, infirm, isolated and housebound, with little or no contact with other people.  If you know of anyone who may benefit from our service,  please use our referral form.  You can check our criteria here.  

 

Our DBS Service:  During the Covid-19 outbreak, in line with government guidelines, we are unable to work in the office and are therefore unable to operate our paper-based official Disclosure & Barring Counter- Signatory service.  For further details about how to apply for online DBS checks please click here.

 

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PLEASE SEE BELOW, USEFUL INFORMATION / CONTACT DETAILS ETC. DURING THIS TIME:  (These may change but are correct at time of publishing.  We will update as new information arises)

 

 

Volunteering:

If you are interested in volunteering during this time, here is the link: https://simplyconnectcommunity.uk

 

Local Community Services:

You can check services that are running in the borough on the CVA website and also groups and provisions that have changed their normal working service.  This is the link:

https://croydon.simplyconnect.uk/activities

 

Croydon Vision:

Please contact info@croydonvision.org.uk or call 020 8688 2486 for information on a range of interactive services on offer including their Talking Newspaper.  They are also providing hot lunches to their members. www.croydonvision.org.uk

 

Neighbourly:

 Neighbourly is an award winning giving platform that helps businesses make a positive impact in their communities by donating volunteer time, money and surplus products, all in one place.  Here is the link:  www.neighbourly.com

 

Covid-19 Mutual Aid UK

Covid-19 Mutual Aid UK are a group of volunteers aiming to support the network of local community groups organising to support people through the coronavirus pandemic.  There are now thousands of local groups across the country.  Find your local group here:

https://covidmutualaid.org/local-groups/

Here are a links to local facebook pages:

Croydon Covid 19 Mutual Aid

Norwood Junction Covid 19 Mutual Aid

Purley Community Covid 19 Mutual Aid

Coulsdon/Old Coulsdon Covid 19 Community Support

 

Topping Up Gas & Electricity Prepayment Meters

The government has issued guidance supporting residents using prepayment meters (gas and electricity) who cannot leave their homes due to Coronavirus.  The guidance asks residents to contact their energy suppliers to discuss options for keeping them supplied.  This could include nominating a third party for credit top ups, having a discretionary fund added to their credit, or being sent a pre-loaded top up card so that their energy supply is not interrupted.  Ofgem have also added the information to their website.  The links are here:

www.gov.uk

www.ofgem.gov.uk

 

COVID-19 Trading Standards Alert

 

CROYDON TRADING STANDARDS

COMMUNITY ALERT

COVID-19 Fraud

During the COVID-19 pandemic there has been a marked increase in online scams.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ, have launched the new Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS).

If you receive an email that you think is suspicious, you can simply forward it to the NCSC at report@phishing.gov.uk and their automated programme will immediately test the validity of the site.

Any sites found to be phishing scams will be removed immediately.

This is a very simple way to alert authorities to phishing scams. 

Please remember to report to Action Fraud 0300 123 2040 or Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline 0808 223 1133 if you have actually been the victim of a scam.

Croydon Council have also issued the notices below.

Trading_Standards_Alert_-_Coronavirus.pdf

Community_Link_-_Beware_of_Covid-19_scams.pdf

Community_Link_ Supermarket_Vouchers_Scam.pdf

Trading_Standards_Scammers_Notice.pdf - more advice and information at Citizens Advice

 

Operation Nogi

A police initiative is helping vulnerable, elderly and isolated people in our community.  More information can be found here .. http://news.met.police.uk

Emergency Support Numbers:

Please click on the link below for details of support during Covid-19:

emergency-support-numbers

 

Croydon Mencap:

Croydon Mencap have created a website page with a wealth of useful information and links to resources that may be of help to you during the current crisis:

www.croydonmencap.org.uk

 

Social Distancing - Different Languages:

Please see link below to guidance on the Coronavirus and social distancing in various (34) languages:

www.doctorsoftheworld.org.uk

 

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CNCA is an infrastructure charity who have a significant membership of Groups and Neighbourhood Cares across Croydon; all of whom provide essential support services for the over 65s.  CNCA provides capacity building, fundraising support, information forums, advice and training support.

We also run an offical Disclosure & Barring Counter-Signatory service.

We have the only complex Befriending service in Croydon, providing home visits to frail, elderly, housebound people with complex needs and often a dementia diagnosis.  Referrals predominantly come from statutory agencies, particularly social care, and we carry out a long term piece of work, supporting those very vulnerable clients to stay safe in their own homes.  Alongside this, is a volunteer run telephone-Befriending service and a 'keeping in touch' service with ongoing communication to other agencies involved and any relatives or friends - especially those living a distance away or abroad.

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PLEASE NOTE

As you may be aware the local authority is launching an eMarketplace Website which will include a Directory of Services in which we, along with the other voluntary organisations and private companies in the borough, will be a part of.

Our member groups will still be on our website until 31 March 2020 when we will review the situation.  The directory of neighbourhood care services will not be updated before that date.

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#500CroydonHampers

The map below shows where our 2019 Christmas Bags were distributed across the Borough.  They were incredibly well received and we would once again like to thank our very generous donators. 

Christmas Hamper Bags Mapping 2019

Some fabulous feedback from one of the recipients:

"I came home last night to find a bag bulging with Christmas goodies.  I just wanted to say a very sincere thank you to whoever thought of me and took the trouble to put the bags together.  I am very grateful and shall enjoy the contents over Christmas.  It is such a kind thought especially as I am feeling bereft without my husband.  You have lifted my spirits and I wish you all the blessings of Christmas and very happy 2020".

 

And from one of our groups:

CHGN Hamper feedback 2019