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Health Guidance

Volunteering Opportunities

Local Council Support and Support Services

Online Safety and Safeguarding Young People

Reporting a crime/contacting West Yorkshire Police

Contacting the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner

Coronavirus Legislation and FAQs

Information for providers funded by the PCC

OPCC Coronavirus Update Bulletin

Community Funding Opportunities

Other key links and further guidance

Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), said: Officers and staff at West Yorkshire Police, and my office are all committed to doing everything we can to support our communities during these unprecedented times.

I am regularly in contact with the Chief Constable on how West Yorkshire Police are adapting and responding to these ongoing issues and I am assured the situation is being managed effectively in such challenging circumstances through the West Yorkshire resilience structures.

I would urge everyone to take sensible precautions to avoid the spread of this virus, we all have a duty to look after one another. That includes following the public health advice issued with regard to hand washing, social distancing and encouraging anyone who feels unwell to self-isolate immediately for their own and protection of others.

I would ask you to look after one another and ensure we are all doing all we can to support our most vulnerable members of society, and our key workers, during this time of uncertainty.

Be safe.

Health Guidance

For the latest health updates and guidance from the Government visit: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

NHS guidance can be found here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

For information on how to wear and make a cloth face covering visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering

For guidance on access to green spaces visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-guidance-on-access-to-green-spaces

Volunteering Opportunities

There are a variety of volunteering opportunities to help in the fight against COVID-19, please see the list below:

NHS - https://www.england.nhs.uk/participation/get-involved/volunteering/nhs-volunteer-responders/
West Yorkshire Police - Retired Police Officers and Staff - https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/jobs-volunteer/coronavirus-retired-officers
Bradford – https://www.bradford.gov.uk/emergencies/council-service-disruptions/coronavirus-covid-19-volunteering-and-community-support/
Calderdale – https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/v2/residents/jobs-and-volunteering/volunteering/coronavirus-volunteering
Kirklees – https://volunteeringkirklees.org.uk/
Leeds – https://doinggoodleeds.org.uk/news/2020/03/17/become-a-community-care-volunteer-to-help-with-covid-19/
Wakefield - https://volunteerwakefield.org/

Local Council Support

Your local Council has webpages with useful updates and support:

•   Bradford - https://www.bradford.gov.uk/health/health-advice-and-support/coronavirus-covid-19-advice/
•   Calderdale – https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/v2/residents/health-and-social-care/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-and-updates
•   Kirklees – https://kirkleestogether.co.uk/2020/03/19/coronavirus-latest-kirklees0news/
•   Leeds – https://www.leeds.gov.uk/coronavirus
•   Wakefield – http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/about-the-council/coronavirus-information

Support Services

Victim Support West Yorkshire
Victim Support West Yorkshire have moved to full remote working and can be contacted by phone on 0300 303 1971 or by live chat at https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/help-and-support/get-help/support-near-you/yorkshire-and-humber/west-yorkshire

Sexual Assault Referral Centre
The Hazlehurst Centre SARC (Sexual Assault Referral Centre) offers free support and practical help to anyone in West Yorkshire who has experienced sexual violence and/or sexual abuse. They can be contact on 0330 223 0099 or visit https://www.hazlehurstcentre.org/

Local Support Organisations/Help for those isolating
Support groups have been created across West Yorkshire. If you are self-isolating and need some support check out the full list here https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bWIuq_jYKOeSYSu-FswUVzRsxrEtS4PsQ1ESeSjuzMs/htmlview?usp=sharing&sle=true

Mental Health and wellbeing
Mind have created a page full of useful tips to stay positive which can be found here https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/

The Hub of Hope helps you to find local support organisations. Enter your postcode to find the nearest support options for any mental health issue from depression, anxiety to PTSD, suicidal thoughts, as well as a ‘talk now’ button connecting to the Samaritans, visit https://hubofhope.co.uk

The NHS created an Every Mind Matters page which contains information on mental health specifically relating to coronavirus and staying home visit https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/

The Government have released mental health support and advice, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-advice-to-support-mental-health-during-coronavirus-outbreak?utm_source=6030a355-bc47-42d5-acc5-8499a6f38573&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

Domestic Abuse

People who feel they need help can access support through Victim Support without reporting to the police via telephone or more discreet methods such as email and online web chat.

Victim Support provide a service that is local, independent and they are aware of the different options available to victims in West Yorkshire.

If you’ve been affected by crime, call your local victim care team in West Yorkshire on 0300 303 1971.

Lines are open 8am-8pm Monday to Friday and 9am-5pm Saturday. If you need support outside of their open hours, call the Victim Support Supportline for free on 08 08 16 89 111 or request support via their website https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/help-and-support/get-help/request-support.

Fraud/Scams

If you or someone you know has been a targeted by a scam you should report it to Action Fraud online at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. For advice and information on how to check if something might be a scam, visit the Citizens Advice website: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/scams/check-if-something-might-be-a-scam

West Yorkshire Trading Standards have launched a new weekly Coronavirus Scam Alert newsletter, you can sign up to receive it by emailing [email protected]

Victim Support also provide support to victims of fraud and scams you can download the leaflet below or get in touch with them here.

Click here to download Victim Support's Advice to Community Groups Leaflet (PDF 1.93MB)

Click here to download Victim Support's Advice to Individuals Leaflet (PDF 2.45MB)

Hate Crime
Options for reporting hate crime to the police can be found here https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/hatecrime

If you want to report a hate crime but you'd rather not speak to the police Stop Hate can help, visit https://www.stophateuk.org/resources/west-yorkshire-hate-crime-reporting-app/

Government information for victims and witnesses
Government Information on accessing victim and witness support services can be found here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-victim-and-witness-services

Bereavement advice and support
Call the NHS bereavement helpline on 0800 2600 400 (8am to 8pm) or visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/bereavement-advice-and-support for more information

Council for Mosques bereavement helpline - Bradford
The Council for Mosques have launched a bereavement helpline to assist Muslims in Bradford dealing with a Coronavirus death in their family. The helpline number is 01274 732479.

Reporting a crime/contacting West Yorkshire Police

West Yorkshire Police have a dedicated Covid-19 webpage with useful information, visit https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/coronavirus

The public can help West Yorkshire Police manage demand by taking advantage of online reporting options where possible, visit: https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/contact-us

Always call 999 in an emergency.

Contacting the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner

Due to the Coronavirus advice the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Mark Burns-Williamson and his office are now working remotely. This means that face to face meetings at the office and elsewhere will not be taking place and we are not able to deal with correspondence posted through our letter box, either in person or by Royal Mail.

The PCC and his office are still contactable by email [email protected] and telephone 01924 294000 in the usual manner.

Coronavirus Legistlation and FAQs

The Government enacted new legislation to deal with the current situation around the Coronavirus.
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020
• Coronavirus Act 2020

They provide that we all should stay home to prevent the spread of the virus, but there are exceptions. The police and public health officials have new powers to enforce the law if the rules are not followed. See further information below:

A summary of the police powers can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/news/police-given-new-powers-and-support-to-respond-to-coronavirus
Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) around the new Regulations on Ask the Police https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/@284.htm
Click here to download an easy read document on what we must do and the new policing powers (PDF 628KB)
Further information on the legal provisions can be found on PNLD's website, visit https://www.pnld.co.uk/covid-19

The below BSL video explains the new policing powers. Further BSL videos on the policing response are available here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2Suh-jarACdAsTbfQa-Kiw

Information for providers funded by the PCC amid the COVID19 outbreak

During these exceptional and challenging times we want to share our reassurance with providers commissioned by the PCC and how we can support funded providers during this time.

Click here to read Our pledge for West Yorkshire OPCC funded services (PDF 286KB)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information