COVID-19 Response

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The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead is an East Berkshire local authority who, had to respond to the coronavirus outbreak at speed. Recognising that the scale of the challenge was beyond the ability of regular council staffing alone, the Royal Borough co-developed its response with residents, voluntary sector groups and other local partners.

At the start of the first lockdown in March 2020 we faced a huge problem. Our team supporting the borough’s clinically vulnerable needed to relocate to homeworking, but our existing infrastructure wasn’t designed for this. Our 3,000 shielding residents desperately needed help, such as getting their prescriptions and shopping.

In just ten days we set up a new, flexible, and easy-to-use contact centre, run by both our social care team and redeployed library staff, providing support – through phone calls and/or organising face-to-face contact - to our shielded residents.

Within weeks of the outbreak, the Royal Borough was home to 76 community-based initiatives, with localised community hubs comprising of public sector partners (e.g. local authority, GPs, social prescribers), faith groups, charities, businesses, politicians and local neighbours, all working in unison to support local needs.

Supported by the new centralised call centre, virtually by a team of re-tasked librarians using the online Amazon Connect service, the Royal Borough facilitated the practical and financial elements in the running of localised hubs, with the power for decision-making largely decentralised among these groups.

We have found that pursuing this ‘grass roots’ model of localised support has not only allowed the needs of the vulnerable to be adequately supported during the pandemic, but has helped stimulate an increase in local resilience and connectivity in a way that traditional ‘command and control’ responses are unable to.

This new call centre continues to support community-based initiatives, who are best placed to know exactly what their communities need. The initial surge of public goodwill saw some 800 volunteers formally register, with hundreds more known to local community groups.

The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead is an East Berkshire local authority who, had to respond to the coronavirus outbreak at speed. Recognising that the scale of the challenge was beyond the ability of regular council staffing alone, the Royal Borough co-developed its response with residents, voluntary sector groups and other local partners.

At the start of the first lockdown in March 2020 we faced a huge problem. Our team supporting the borough’s clinically vulnerable needed to relocate to homeworking, but our existing infrastructure wasn’t designed for this. Our 3,000 shielding residents desperately needed help, such as getting their prescriptions and shopping.

In just ten days we set up a new, flexible, and easy-to-use contact centre, run by both our social care team and redeployed library staff, providing support – through phone calls and/or organising face-to-face contact - to our shielded residents.

Within weeks of the outbreak, the Royal Borough was home to 76 community-based initiatives, with localised community hubs comprising of public sector partners (e.g. local authority, GPs, social prescribers), faith groups, charities, businesses, politicians and local neighbours, all working in unison to support local needs.

Supported by the new centralised call centre, virtually by a team of re-tasked librarians using the online Amazon Connect service, the Royal Borough facilitated the practical and financial elements in the running of localised hubs, with the power for decision-making largely decentralised among these groups.

We have found that pursuing this ‘grass roots’ model of localised support has not only allowed the needs of the vulnerable to be adequately supported during the pandemic, but has helped stimulate an increase in local resilience and connectivity in a way that traditional ‘command and control’ responses are unable to.

This new call centre continues to support community-based initiatives, who are best placed to know exactly what their communities need. The initial surge of public goodwill saw some 800 volunteers formally register, with hundreds more known to local community groups.

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  • Share Magpies In the Community on Facebook Share Magpies In the Community on Twitter Share Magpies In the Community on Linkedin Email Magpies In the Community link

    Magpies In the Community

    about 3 years ago

    Magpies in the community have received nearly 200 calls through their hotline since it was launched at the end of March. The Magpies are currently receiving approx. 10-15 new calls a day where support is needed. Using approx. 90 volunteers to support residents in both Maidenhead and Windsor with befriending, shopping, dog walking and collection / delivery of medication. There are approx. 35 residents receiving ongoing support through a volunteer originally linked them with them. 16 fantastic Helpline volunteers monitor the helpline 7 days a week 9-5pm

  • Share Street Collections by Helen Price on Facebook Share Street Collections by Helen Price on Twitter Share Street Collections by Helen Price on Linkedin Email Street Collections by Helen Price link

    Street Collections by Helen Price

    about 3 years ago

    As the COVID -19 crisis began to hit, donations of food to the food banks dramatically fell away, whilst demand increased – and is still increasing.

    Cllr Helen Price, Clewer and Dedworth East (tBf) in Windsor set herself a self-imposed mission to try and find new sources of food for the Windsor FoodShare - WFS(she is part of the Management Committee) whilst liaising with the Maidenhead FoodShare - MFS who were facing similar problems (but on a larger scale). She pursued many avenues, most of which ended in dead ends. However one has proved most fruitful. It came about when... Continue reading

Page last updated: 06 Dec 2021, 03:51 PM