Southern Water - Extra support for Customers During Covid-19

Extra support for customers during Covid-19

We’ve expanded the support available for customers during the current pandemic. These measures are in addition to the support we already offer. Information about all the support we offer can be found here

We’re continually reviewing the support we offer and urge any customer struggling to pay to get in touch, let us know and find out how we can support them.

Additional support we’re offering 

We know the current crisis will have a financial impact on many of our customers so we’ve increased the support we offer to people in vulnerable circumstances.

◼︎ Three-month payment breaks for any customer impacted by the virus

◼︎ Automatic renewal of support tariffs so customers don’t need to worry about reapplying

◼︎ Accepting referrals to our priority services register from trusted third-parties, such as councils, emergency services and Citizens Advice, and family members

Registering for support

Given the unusually large volumes of calls we are experiencing, the best way to contact us is:

◼︎ Via email to payless@southernwater.co.uk

◼︎ Through our website at southernwater.co.uk/account/help-paying-your-bill or southernwater.co.uk/account/extra-help-and-support

Existing financial assistance programmes

◼︎ Essentials provides a discount for customers on low incomes or pension credit

◼︎ WaterSure caps bills when a customer on means-tested benefits has a water meter and meets certain criteria, such as having certain medical conditions or 3 children under 19

◼︎ Water Direct allows Jobcentre Plus to pay Southern Water directly from a customer’s benefits

◼︎ NewStart helps reduce debt for customers who owe money or haven’t made a payment for a while

Customers may be eligible for multiple financial support schemes, depending on their circumstances. More information about all of these, including the criteria for them, is on our website at southernwater.co.uk/account/help-paying-your-bill

We’re providing regular updates through our Twitter and Facebook pages, so please check those regularly for the latest updates.

Sarah Feasey

Stakeholder Engagement Manager Southern Water Space

Medway Libraries

The latest publications are just a click away...

Medway Libraries are closed but you can still get access to a wide range of resources and downloadable apps.

Medway library members have free 24/7 access to 1000's of new and classic titles as eAudio books, eBooks, along with the latest magazines, newspapers and comics, in addition to Oxford Reference Online, Dictionary of National Biography, OED and all 3 Britannicas Online and much more.

You will always have access to all the latest book releases, treasured classics, newspapers, magazines, comics and more from your local Medway Library.

And if you or someone you know aren't already members you can sign up online today, it's a quick and simple process giving you access to all their online materials.

Don’t worry about your library account or any materials you currently have on loan.

Medway Libraries have made the following change to their service to help during the current Coronavirus situation, these changes will be in place until further notice:

• All loans and renewals will be increased to 8 weeks

• You can renew loans up to 15 times

• All cards due to expire will automatically be renewed for another year

• Any overdue charges and fines will be waived
• The online reservation service for physical books has been suspended, however, it is still possible to reserve items from the e-Library

• Unfortunately the system for borrowing books from partner libraries has had to be suspended

Upchurch Matters

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The Gabriel - May 2020

Dave Candy
Email: upchurchgabriel@gmail.com
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Upchurch Village Carnival 1975 and 1978

Chatham Standard 12th August 1975 - Click the article to enlarge.

Gazette and Times 7th September 1978 - Click the article to enlarge.


Martin Boakes riding a Pony and Trap - Click the photo to enlarge.

Many will remember the heyday of Upchurch Carnival when thousands lined our village streets to watch the long and colourful procession of floats.

The carnival was a huge local event back then, attracting families from far and wide.

Thanks to Maxine for this look at two fascinating local newspaper articles from 1975 and 1978 which were found at the home of long time Church Farm Road resident, the late Violet West.

Were you there?

Who do you recognise?

Village historian David Wood wrote about the history of Upchurch Carnival in August 2012.

You can read it on Upchurch Matters at >> https://bit.ly/350D7nr

Upchurch Matters

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Changes to the Way GP Practices Operate

Changes in the way GP surgeries are run are now being rolled out across Kent and Medway to ensure the safety of staff and patients during the Covid-19 outbreak.

As many people as possible are being offered video and telephone appointments, to avoid unnecessary risk and travel. All appointments are now made by telephone with no walk-in services.

We know people still need to see a clinician face-to-face for some things. To minimise the risk of spreading the virus between patients GP practices are working together to provide different locations for people with Covid-19 symptoms and those without.

Patients with Covid-19 symptoms, or people living in the same household as someone with symptoms, will be sent to a primary care treatment centre, sometimes being referred to in the media as a 'hot site'. These are not walk-in services and are not offering testing for Covid-19.

Patients will ring their GP practice or NHS 111 and if they need to be seen face to face they‘ll be directed to the relevant place.

Here are 4 things you can do for the NHS to help us, help you:

1 Only order medicines you need for the next month

Don't stockpile. Don't order early. Don't over order. There will be enough medicine for everyone if we follow these rules.

2 Only request home delivery services if you really, really need to

There has been an increase in the demand for home delivery of medicines. We need to make sure that these delivery services are available for people who truly don‘t have any other means of getting their medicine. So, if you have friends, family or neighbours who could collect your medicines please ask them to do so.

3 Don’t ask your GP for items just because you haven’t been able to get them elsewhere

We've seen an increase in people ringing their GP practice to try and get new items on prescription. Your GP practice won‘t prescribe items that you don‘t normally get.

4 Order repeat prescriptions online

Registering for online services at your GP practice will enable you to order repeat prescriptions online. You can also set up for your electronic prescription to go directly to the pharmacy of your choice.

By doing these four things you'll be helping the NHS, and especially our pharmacies, to cope a little better during this time. Please spread the word and encourage family and loved ones to do the same. 

Please be reassured that urgent emergency services are still treating all kinds of illness and injuries that haven‘t gone away just because Covid-19 has appeared.

If you are seriously ill please don‘t delay asking for help either through 111 or in emergencies by using 999.

Stay home, protect the NHS, save lives

The Upchurch Surgery will be following the above plus:

Baby immunisations and baby 6 week checks

B12 immunisation 

Female smear tests when patients are notified they are due  

All of the above are by appointment only - no walk-in

The surgery is only operating for appointments made via telephone or video consultation with a GP.

No routine prescription reviews or routine blood pressure checks are being carried out.

NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)

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Upchurch Spider-Man Supports My Shining Star

Bringing a smile to the village for My Shining Star because they are a very important local charity.

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Upchurch Spider-Man has teamed up with brilliant local charity My Shining Star Children's Cancer Charity to help them raise much needed funds during the Coronavirus pandemic.

For a donation of any amount, you can request a personalised video message, a personalised card or a socially distanced visit from Spider-Man while he is allowed out for his daily run - his one exercise session each day. 

Of course, you can also donate just because you have enjoyed seeing him out and about!

Please donate at >> www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cia-merrall

My Shining Star will be sharing all your donations with the NHS.

Thank you

My Shining Star Children's Cancer Charity

Supporting families through the financial trauma of childhood cancer.

For the benefit, the relief and assistance of the public, specifically families in need of support when their children are diagnosed with cancer, in any part of the UK, who require financial aid and advice, by providing them with medical expenses/advice, housing support, travel expenses, fundraising advice/support and guidance with any other issues that arise as a direct result of their child’s diagnoses.

The long term goal of the charity will be to fund medical treatment currently unavailable in the UK, extending options for life expectancy, and funding future medical research to increase survival rates.

Read more about their brilliant work at >> www.myshiningstar.co.uk

Upchurch Matters

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