Independent Food Aid Network have put together a leaflet with details of support available in Kingston. There is also an interactive version of the advice here.

Help through Hardship Helpline

Citizens Advice and the Trussell Trust have come together to develop a free helpline for people struggling to afford the basics. Operating in England and Wales, the helpline offers personalised advice and support to help address the underlying causes of the hardship, as well as a quick and seamless referral to a food bank for people if required.

The aim of the service is to help people or households facing hardship to maximise their income. Our advisers also help to identify the need for wider advice (such as debt, immigration or housing, for example) directing people to specialist onward support. By addressing the underlying causes of the hardship, we hope to reduce the need for food bank support. You can read more about the impact of the helpline so far in our latest summary report: The impact of our Help through Hardship helpline [ 100 kb]

Where can carers get help in the energy cost crisis?

Carers (and others) can get help if they are struggling to afford their energy bills or top up their prepayment meter. They might be able to take advantage of certain benefits, grants and help offered by the government and energy suppliers.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/grants-and-benefits-to-help-you-pay-your-energy-bills/

Where can people on benefits get help with broadband and telephone costs?

These two links may be useful - Ofcom guidance - https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/costs-and-billing/social-tariffs

iNews article - https://inews.co.uk/news/technology/social-tariffs-low-income-families-save-broadband-bills-1461404

Carers' experience

It is apparent to Kingston Mental Health Carers Forum (KMHCF) that the level of Mental Health care from local support services in Kingston sometimes falls short of the ideal, so we are conducting a survey of carers to determine their experience of Adult Secondary Community Services to both them and the person they care for.

By gauging the level of satisfaction or otherwise of this care and support we can then present our findings to SW London & St George's MH Trust at one of our regular meetings with their senior personnel.
   
In relevant sections of this document, you are welcome to express your views on any aspect of your experience, which we will hold for future use, but please note that the prime purpose of the present exercise is to examine Adult Secondary Community Services Care.

We appeal to all MH carers in Kingston to respond to this survey as by so doing we can endeavour to improve the level of care received by all. Dependent upon your answers, this will take up to about 5-10 minutes to complete.

All responses will be collated in anonymised form. You have the option of giving your details and entering a Prize Draw to win one prize of a £25 voucher. All who give their contact details will be sent a summary of the response data.

Your personal details will not be disclosed outside KMHCF without your express permission.

Complete the survey

When your child is living with a medical condition, it can be quite challenging and stressful. They may have an allergy that puts them at risk of an anaphylactic reaction, diabetes that needs to be managed and monitored, epilepsy, autism or a heart condition that teachers need to be aware of. As a parent, you want to keep your child safe, but you cannot be there, speaking for them, all the time.

Sponsored by Lions Club International, MedicAlert’s Early Start Programme offers free membership for vulnerable children every year up until their 10th birthday.

Membership provides each child with a personal electronic record that securely stores their information including comprehensive medical history, directives or precautions to ensure fast and accurate first care decisions in an emergency. This full record is only a phone call away via the 24/7 emergency phone line. 

Each child also receives their first item of MedicAlert jewellery free of charge. The disc is engraved with their most critical medical information, our emergency phone line and their unique membership number, so that paramedics and first responders can access the child’s electronic record without delay.

This is a potentially life-saving service provided by MedicAlert and sponsored by the Lions Club International throughout the UK. It offers parents and the entire family the reassurance that, in the event of an emergency situation, their child will be safe.

For more information about the Early Start Programme and to apply for free MedicAlert membership and medical ID jewellery for your child visit their website.

Did you know that you have access to a free, impartial and confidential Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information, Advice and Support Service? A service that is also offered directly to young people aged 16+?

In Kingston and Richmond, this service is provided by "KIDS", a national charity which provides a number of these services across the country.

The current contract is due to expire 31 March 2023, so we are consulting to understand what parents and carers and children and young people want the future provision to look like.

As part of this process some consultation has already taken place in Richmond. This was led by the Richmond Parent Carer Forum.

Achieving for Children are leading on further consultation in Kingston but also welcome comments from Richmond parents who would like to add their views.

Read more details and find out how to take part

This part of the consultation will close on 6 June.

Thank you for helping to shape the future of this service.

Thank you for your support.

Regards Karen

Karen Lowry
AfCinfo/SEND Local Offer Website Manager
Achieving for Children

If you need urgent health care 

• If it is a life-threatening emergency, then call 999 
• If you are told to go to hospital, then you must go. The NHS will help you get the care you need. 

If you need urgent mental health care  

• For Kingston, Richmond, Merton, Sutton or Wandsworth ring the 24/7 crisis line at South West London St George’s 0800 028 8000 – https://www.swlstg.nhs.uk/patients-carers/crisis-support/mental-health-support-line  
• For Croydon call South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust  on 0800 731 2864 (Option 1) https://www.slam.nhs.uk/patients-and-carers/crisis-support/  

If you need advice from a pharmacist that is not related to coronavirus 

• For minor medical problems, not related to coronavirus, many local pharmacies will be open and are able to help this weekend – although their opening times may be different 
• A number of pharmacies in London will be open for longer hours – search for a pharmacy at www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-pharmacy 

If you think you need urgent dental treatment 

• Call your dentist 
• If you cannot contact your dentist, or you do not have one, use the NHS 111 online service or call if you cannot get online 
• If an appointment is necessary, this will be arranged at an urgent dental care centre. 

If you or someone you live with has coronavirus symptoms 

• Stay at home and visit nhs.uk/coronavirus for health advice  
• Do not go to your GP practice, pharmacy or A&E 
• If your symptoms worsen, or you feel that you cannot manage at home, please visit the NHS111 online coronavirus service. Call 111 if you cannot get online or you’ve been told to do so. 

If you or people you live with do not have coronavirus symptoms and you think you need advice from a GP 

• GP services are available this Bank Holiday weekend 
• Contact your practice online or by phone to be assessed 
• If your practice is not open but an appointment is necessary, you will be advised of the next steps. Your appointment may be at another nearby service. 

Coronavirus vaccine 

• Vaccine clinics remain open across south west London, details available here – https://swlondonccg.nhs.uk/covid/vaccination-walk-in-clinics/ 
• Vaccines are available for 
  • 1st and 2nd doses for people aged 5 years old and over 
  • boosters for people aged 16 years old and over, plus at-risk children aged 12 to 15 years old 
  • spring boosters for people aged 75 years old and over, plus people aged 12 years old and over with a weakened immune system 
  • additional primary doses for people with a severely weakened immune system aged 12 years old and over