Coronavirus Community Hub

Supporting vulnerable people in your community

We want to make sure that during this difficult time vulnerable people can get the support they need, either from friends or family, volunteers in the community or if they are on their own from the Council.

If you are worried about yourself or someone else who is alone and in isolation, the Community Hub set up by the Council aims to help people and coordinate volunteers.

A form below is available for people who want to refer themselves, a family member or someone in the community who needs assistance.

Also available is a form for those who would like to volunteer to help members of the community who need help with their shopping. The latest lockdown means some residents are staying indoors and need support for their day-to-day items. More information is available by filling in the form below.

Please always refer to the latest official government information on social distancing.

This service will prioritise those people who have no one else to help and who are the most vulnerable, for example over the age of 70, have an underlying health condition, families struggling to cope and those people who have received a letter from NHS England stating they are in a priority group.

Please note that our support does not include prescription collection. This should be covered by your local pharmacy as part of the national lockdown requirements for Clinically Extremely Vulnerable people. Please contact your pharmacy for more information.

If you cannot use the online forms please call us on 0116 275 0555 for help and support requests.

Opening hours

Monday to Thursday 9 am – 5 pm, Friday 9 am – 4.30 pm.

Please note, the Community Hub will be unavailable over the Christmas and New Year period from 3 pm December 24 to 9 am January 4.

Telephone Befriending

We are currently offering a free telephone friendship befriending service, which offers an opportunity for people to enjoy talking to someone over the phone. Befrienders are available to make regular, scheduled calls for a friendly conversation and offer the opportunity to chat about interests, hobbies or even the weather.

Anyone interested needs to have a landline or mobile phone as well as be able to hear and be understood over the phone.

You can self refer or make a referral on someone's behalf (with their permission.)  Please contact vcshub@blaby.gov.uk for further information or a referral form.

Summary of advice for the clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) for each local Tier

You must follow the rules and restrictions that relate to the Tier your local area is in – they apply to everyone.

Blaby District is currently in Tier 3 – VERY HIGH

This table summarises the additional things you are advised to do to keep yourself safe at each local Tier.

• At all local Tiers, we urge you to continue to access the care and support you need
• You should continue to access NHS services, and you should contact the NHS if you have an urgent or emergency care need
• If you are in Tier Three: Very High alert area and need extra support at home, please contact your local council

This is a summary of the guidance only. It is effective from 02 December 2020. For more information please visit

www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19                                                                                                     

Guidance For The Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) For The Festive Period

We recognise that many people may want to be with their friends and family over the festive period, particularly after a very difficult year. As a result, the Government will be changing some restrictions on social contact, allowing you to form a ‘Christmas bubble’ in which you can spend time indoors and outdoors, including in your home, with people from up to three households including your own.

This will only apply for a very limited period of time, from 23 December to 27 December. 

You can choose to be part of a Christmas bubble if you are clinically extremely vulnerable, but it does involve greater risks for you as you will be increasing the number of people you have contact with. You will continue to minimise your risk of infection if you limit social contact with people that you do not live with, even at Christmas. It is important that you and the other people in your Christmas bubble consider these risks carefully before agreeing to form a bubble. Forming a Christmas bubble is a personal choice and should be balanced against the increased risk of infection.

If you do decide to form a Christmas bubble, it is advised that you maintain social distance from those you don’t normally live with at all times, avoiding physical contact. Everyone should wash their hands more often and touchpoints, such as door handles and surfaces, should be kept clean. It is also important to allow fresh air into space where you spend time with those you don’t normally live with. You may want to think about who you sit next to, including during meals, and also consider wearing a face-covering indoors where social distancing may be difficult.

If you don’t feel comfortable spending time with other people indoors, think of other ways that you can safely spend time together, for example on walks outdoors or supported by technology, and how you can make that time feel different and special. Going outdoors carefully for exercise is also encouraged. It is important that you do not feel pressured to celebrate Christmas in an environment that makes you anxious.

There may be a lot of expectation and pressure around celebrating Christmas together, but you should feel comfortable to do what is right for you over this period. To do that, it is important that the other people in your Christmas bubble understand your needs and increased risk. They can help by being extra vigilant in the days before you get together, reducing any unnecessary contact with people, especially as some people with the virus have no symptoms.

Once the Christmas bubble period ends on 27 December, you should follow the guidance that was in place before Christmas, in line with the restrictions for your local area.

COVID-19 Community Pack

We have produced an information pack to support households and the local community during the coronavirus outbreak. The pack contains key contacts, websites and resources you will use. We recommend sharing this pack within the community where you can to ensure that as many people as possible have the support and knowledge they need at this challenging time.