Gill Gay Will Be Collecting For Swale Foodbank Again

Hi everyone,

I would like to thank you all for the wonderful support we have received on behalf of Swale Foodbank so far.

My husband Ron and I will be collecting again in the bus stop lay-by opposite the Church in Horsham Lane on Wednesday the 13th of January between 10:30am and 11:30am.

Please come along with your donations (in carrier bags would be helpful) and put them into our open car boot while we remain at a safe distance.

We will then deliver your donations to the Swale Foodbank Warehouse, part of the Trussell Trust.

The items they are most in need of are:

Tinned Fish - all kinds

Jar Sauces - any such as Curry, Sweet & Sour, Bolognese, Pasta Bake etc

Tinned Fruit

Tinned Rice Pudding

Squash

Coffee

Toilet Rolls

Cat Food

They have plenty of Pasta, Rice, Baked Beans, Soups, Tinned Tomatoes, Chick Peas, Lentils, Chocolates, Biscuits and Tea so please don't donate these items for now.

Thanks so much for every single donation we receive - we are deeply grateful!

Thank you

Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator

Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

Swale Borough Council - Covid-19 Vaccination Site to Open in Sittingbourne

We have today, received confirmation from Kent and Medway CCG that they plan to start Covid19 vaccinations in Sittingbourne, next week, between 11th - 15th January.

They will be using the Age Concern building in Avenue of Remembrance, the site offered to them by this Council. This is in addition to the sites already running in Faversham and Sheppey.

This will be a great relief to people in Sittingbourne. The CCG do make clear that plans can be subject to late amendment.

We are asked to direct residents to the CCG website: www.kentandmedwayccg.nhs.uk/your-health/coronavirus/covid19vaccine

Cllr Roger Truelove

Leader - Swale Borough Council

England Lockdown: Stay At Home

Click poster to enlarge.

From today, you must stay at home except for a limited set of exemptions.

For more information go to: www.gov.uk/coronavirus

#Coronavirus | #Covid_19

Upchurch Matters

New Lockdown Announced in England

Following the Prime Minister's announcement of a new lockdown in England, new guidance has been published at: www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home

We must stay at home

The single most important action we can all take is to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.

You must not leave, or be outside of your home except where necessary

You may leave the home to:

✅ Shop for basic necessities, for you or a vulnerable person.

✅ Go to work, or provide voluntary or charitable services, if you cannot reasonably do so from home.

✅ Exercise with your household (or support bubble) or one other person, this should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.

✅ Meet your support bubble or childcare bubble where necessary, but only if you are legally permitted to form one.

✅ Seek medical assistance or avoid injury, illness or risk of harm (including domestic abuse).

✅ Attend education or childcare - for those eligible.

Colleges, primary and secondary schools will remain open only for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers. All other children will learn remotely until February half term. Early Years settings remain open.

Higher education provision will remain online until mid February for all except future critical worker courses.

If you do leave home for a permitted reason, you should always stay local in the village, town, or part of the city where you live. You may leave your local area for a legally permitted reason, such as for work.

If you are clinically extremely vulnerable you should only go out for medical appointments, exercise or if it is essential. You should not attend work.

You cannot leave your home to meet socially with anyone you do not live with or are not in a support bubble with (if you are legally permitted to form one).

You may exercise on your own, with one other person, or with your household or support bubble.

You should not meet other people you do not live with, or have formed a support bubble with, unless for a permitted reason.

Stay 2 Metres apart from anyone not in your household

#Coronavirus | #Covid_19

Upchurch Matters

Revised Southeastern Timetable from 4th January 2021

Some Southeastern train times will change from Monday 4th January 2021.

For more information and to check your journey before you travel, visit >> www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/timetable

Upchurch Matters

NHS Kent and Medway CCG - Community Bulletin

Pressure mounts on the NHS as Covid rates rise

The number of people in Kent and Medway hospitals with Covid-19 is now double what it was at the peak of the first wave in the spring.

This is the hardest period we’ve seen since the start of the pandemic and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who is working very hard to manage these challenging circumstances.

The NHS is always busy at this time of year but the latest wave of Covid is putting all of our services under immense pressure.

We need everyone in Kent and Medway to do their bit and use NHS services wisely as pressure on hospitals, ambulance service and 111 mounts.

Please play your part in stopping the spread of Covid-19 by staying at home as much as possible including for New Year, social distancing, wearing masks and washing your hands. If you need urgent medical help please use the online 111 service or call 111. 

Covid-19 vaccination update

It is great news that a second Covid-19 vaccine was approved yesterday for use in the UK. This will help us vaccinate more people and beat the pandemic.

The NHS in Kent and Medway is committed to providing vaccination services across all areas and new sites are being opened as quickly as possible. We now have 23 GP led services which have started vaccinations, and 12 more are going through final planning to start in the first half of January.

We understand many people want to know when they will be offered the vaccine. Please be patient. People will be contacted directly when the vaccine is available in their area for the priority group they are in. The CCG cannot answer individual queries about when people will be offered the vaccine, but we do have a Covid-19 vaccine page on our website

New guidance issued on 30th December means the NHS will now focus on providing a first dose of the vaccine to as many people as possible and will offer the second dose at a later date, up to 12 weeks after the first dose. If you, or a relative, have already had an appointment confirmed for a second dose please assume it is going ahead unless you are directly contacted about a change.

Two Kent GP teams were among the first to start vaccinating in care homes. Find out more here

Read the full bulletin at >> http://bit.ly/38LS6DS

NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group