Community support

Since the outbreak of Coronavirus, City of York Council have created a volunteering scheme to target support at those who need it most and have set up a Covid-19 helpline for those vulnerable residents who do not have any support the number is 01904 551550 or email covid19help@york.gov.uk. This helpline is operating 7 days a week, from 9-5, including over the bank holiday.  Customer Services are on hand to support vulnerable residents including looking up information on the internet or walking them through form filling if required.  

They have worked with York Mix https://www.yorkmix.com/promopost/food-drink/?promotag=delivery  and Minster FM https://www.minsterfm.com/news/local/3067778/coronavirus---north-yorkshire-supermarket-opening-times-and-restrictions/  to make sure information is published which shares details of shops or restaurants who are able to deliver food and provides updated information about supermarkets. 

The Community Hubs are now delivering food to anyone who needs immediate help – this ranges from those who usually access foodbank support, to residents that are medically shielded but have special dietary needs which are not met by Government food delivery system.  These flexible hubs are expected to deliver other sorts of help and all follow safe working guidelines, as far as is practical. Elvington is covered by the Dunnington Hub. Contact 01904 551550 for more information on the hubs.

Full information on how to access support, including financial support for residents, as well as updates on Council services are available at https://www.york.gov.uk/information-covid1-9 

Libraries

New services and ideas to keep you inspired and informed have been launched @ExploreLibrary:

• A new Virtual Book Group
• 5,000 Ebooks and audio books free for adults and children
• new York Images site of photographs, illustrations, maps and archival documents
• Start your family tree using Ancestry and Find My Past - the library editions are free
• Find reliable information at our Online Reference pages.
• Everything is free to access: all you need is a library card.

Explore are making it easy for people to find information and advice as well as inspiration as we all deal with the coronavirus crisis. Explore website has all sorts of useful links to help people cope during the coming weeks: some sites have always been part of our online offer, and some are brand new

They are also working with the council and many partners in York so that our communities can join together and we continue to support their initiatives, just as we will when the buildings open again.

More information is available at https://www.exploreyork.org.uk/coronavirus/