Covid-19 update from Bridgend County Borough

As the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic continues, Bridgend County Borough Council is continuing to focus its resources on providing essential services and protecting vulnerable residents. The following information provides a summary of latest developments, with the most recent additions at the top:

Emergency childcare for keyworkers
Children from families where at least one of the parents are key workers will continue to receive emergency childcare in Bridgend county borough. The council is currently providing emergency childcare throughout the week and over the Easter break between Saturday 4 and Sunday 19 April (inclusive). All eligible key worker parents must apply (even if they have previously applied) for this latest round of provision. The council continues to advise parents to keep their children at home unless absolutely necessary.

Personal Protective Equipment
Robust arrangements are in place for the management of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The local authority has received supplies from Welsh Government and has also placed its own orders for PPE which is vital for social care workers and other staff during the outbreak of coronavirus. It is liaising with private care providers to ensure they receive enough stock. The council is asking local firms who may have stopped production during the pandemic to donate unwanted masks, nitrile blue gloves and plastic aprons by emailing Covid19@bridgend.gov.uk

Garden waste collections
The garden waste collection service has been forced to close for 2020 as the contractor used to convert it into high-quality compost has ceased to trade because of the impact of the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak on their business. All customers of the scheme will receive a full refund automatically. Households are being urged to compost their garden waste, using the green sacks from the collection service if necessary, and to avoid burning it as this can prove to be a nuisance to neighbours as well as affecting air quality.

Rights of Way
Rights of Way paths are still open to the public across the county borough during the pandemic. The only one which is closed to the public is the board walk at Rest Bay. Residents using rights of way are asked to consider other people using the paths, and keep to social distancing guidelines.

Free school meals
Around 7,200 packed lunches are being provided to children eligible for free school meals on a weekly basis during the coronavirus outbreak. As part of the local authority’s emergency mobilisation plan during the pandemic, 270 catering staff are working to provide the packed lunches, including for pupils with specific dietary requirements. Each day, around 1,400 pupils receive a sandwich, fruit, cake and bottled water. Pupils and / or their parents are collecting the packed lunches from 23 local schools, with deliveries available for people who are unable to collect for specific reasons such as medical issues.

Food poverty
Bridgend County Borough Council has approved more than £44,000 funding towards a food poverty grant scheme administrated by the Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations. The scheme will enable food banks and other charities throughout the area to distribute food during the coronavirus outbreak, purchase equipment such as fridges, freezers and cookers, provide specialist training and food handling qualifications for volunteers, and more. Details of which Bridgend Foodbanks are open and how to access them are available on the Bridgend Foodbank website with updates posted on social media.

Support for the homeless
Support for homeless people during the coronavirus outbreak is in place, and the council’s Jigsaw facility is continuing to assess people’s needs to either prevent them from becoming homeless or help provide emergency accommodation. Advice regarding homelessness, the housing register and housing benefit is available online, and people can also contact the council via talktous@bridgend.gov.uk or 01656 643643. Domestic violence support is also being offered by the Calan DVS Assia Suite – call them direct on 01656 766139.

If you are in immediate danger please contact the Police on 999.

Volunteers wanted
People who are interested in volunteering to help during the Covid-19 outbreak can do so by contacting the Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations (BAVO) where they will be matched to a role according to their skills, interests and experience. Free training will be provided along with DBS checks where necessary – visit the BAVO website for more information