It has been a difficult time for many people during the Coronavirus pandemic. Things are thankfully starting to get back to some sort of normality, but there is still help available should people need it.
On 20th September, the Government announced a new national Test and Trace Support scheme which commenced on 28th September 2020.
New package to support and enforce self-isolation (GOV.UK website) 
In some circumstances, if you are required by law to self-isolate from the 28th September, you may be entitled to receive a "support payment" of £500 from Fareham Borough Council.
From 28th September, to get the Test and Trace Support Payment, you must:
If you have not received a notification from NHS Test and Trace telling you to self-isolate, you will not be eligible for the support payment.
If you have been furloughed with reduced income, you are not eligible unless you have been issued with a Test and Trace number.
People who come back to the UK and are quarantining are not eligible for the payment unless they have also been told to isolate and have been issued with a Test and Trace number.
At the end of their isolation period, claimants will have up to 14 days to apply for the payment.
If you are eligible, you will receive a single Support Payment of £500. This payment will be subject to income tax but will not be subject to National Insurance contributions.
For the Council to be able to process an application for a support payment, we will need you to supply the following information:
We will be asking for this information to be provided electronically wherever possible, e.g. with downloaded or scanned documents, screenshots, etc.
This is a national scheme which Government has asked local councils to administer, following strict eligibility criteria. However, councils will have some limited discretion for individuals who do not meet the strict criteria for the Test and Trace Support Payment but still need financial support to self-isolate. This will be funded from a cash limited fund and therefore will be kept under review. Please contact us direct on 01329 824646 if you meet the following criteria:
The scheme will run until 31st January 2021.
These changes came into effect on 28th September 2020, alongside the legal duty to self-isolate. You will be able to make a claim if you are told to self-isolate on or after the 28 September 2020. You will have up to 14 days to make a claim from the end date of your isolation period.
If you apply, we will need to process your personal data to assess whether you are eligible to receive financial support, and if so, to provide a payment to you. This Privacy Notice sets out what personal data we will use, how we will use it, and why we need to, when an applicant applies for this support. Before deciding to apply please read the Privacy Notice in full here 
(283 KB).
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has commissioned NHS Test and Trace on behalf of the government and is the data controller for the purposes of providing Test and Trace data to Fareham Borough Council.
Fareham Borough Council are the data controller for the purposes of assessing eligibility, administering and making payments under the Test and Trace Support scheme.
From 28th September, if you believe you are eligible for a Test and Trace Support Payment, and are able to produce the evidence to support your application, you can contact the Council by completing and submitting the Test and Trace Self-Isolation Payment Request Form.
Complete the Test and Trace Self-Isolation Payment Request Form here.
Alternatively, please contact us by emailing benefits@fareham.gov.uk, or phone 01329 824646.
You will need to provide your name, address and contact email/telephone number, and a member of the team will be in touch to discuss your application.
Fareham Borough Council would like to reassure residents that, if they don't have enough income to buy food, help to bridge the gap is available.
Local charitable organisations such as The Fareham and Gosport Basics Bank, Acts of Kindness and Waypoint Church are working hard to help any families that come to them for help.
If you need help with food and toiletries please contact Citizens Advice in the first instance who will be able to refer you to The Fareham and Gosport Basics Bank. Citizens Advice can be contacted by calling 01329 223 117 or online through their website.
There are a number of other organisations that can help with other issues which can be found below:
for the latest updates
Helping the local community in the Western Wards areas including Park Gate, Locks Heath, Priory Park, Warsash and Sarisbury:
- Shopping for essentials
- Prescriptions
- Activity packs
- Posting letters
- A friendly phone call
- Bespoke shopping for essential items
- Collection and delivery of prescriptions
- Dog walking
- Visiting the post office/parcel collection
- Companion phone support
- Selling affordable masks and exception lanyards
- Medical appointment transport
- Shopping for essentials
- Prescriptions
If Coronavirus has had an impact on you or any aspect of your life, including anyone who is self-isolating, and you are unsure who to talk to, please call the Hampshire Coronavirus Support and helpline for advice and support on 0333 370 4000.
The helpline is open 9am to 5pm every weekday except Friday, which is open 9am to 4:30pm.
For more information please visit Hampshire's website.
The Covid-19 Special Grant programme aims to help address some of the financial pressures that smaller charitable, voluntary and community organisations may have faced during the pandemic.
Smaller organisations have not yet been able to access financial support and have seen a loss in finances due to being closed throughout the pandemic, as well as an increase in costs for PPE and cleaning materials when they have re-opened.
Organisations can apply for a one off grant to help cover these costs.
Since 1st August, clinically vulnerable people no longer need to shield, and the advice is that you can now visit shops, but you should continue maintaining social distancing.
Government provided food parcels have now stopped.
If you still need help, and do not have any friends or family to help, there are a couple of things you can do:
.If you're worried about your health or have Coronavirus symptoms, call NHS 111 or check the NHS website .
The Back to the Future project aims to provide support for vulnerable people who are struggling to re-engage with their communities following periods of isolation. It could be helping with someone's first visit to the supermarket since lockdown measures have eased or getting on the bus, to attending a hospital or GP appointment or maybe just having a chat or cup of tea with someone.
For more information please contact Hayley Malcolm on 023 8090 2416 or email hmalcolm@1community.org.uk.
Organisations still need help with donations as they continue to provide support to those that need it the most.
If you would like to donate, please visit this webpage to find out how.
For some, there is real uncertainty around current and future finances, and concerns about being able to afford to feed the family. Don't leave it until it's too late. Citizens Advice are available to help now offering free, impartial advice over the phone for a wide range of issues you may be facing, including money worries, housing issues, debt, employment advice, consumer problems or family and relationship issues.
Please contact Citizens Advice (40 KB) if you need help now, or think you may need help in the future.
Hampshire Food Revolution offers bags of fruit and veg that would have otherwise ended in landfill. The recommended donation for a bag is £4-5.
They are based outside Fareham North West Community Centre, Henry Cort Drive, Fareham, PO15 6TL.
Parcel collection dates are released on the Hampshire Food Revolution Facebook page and must be reserved in advance before you visit.
For more information please contact hampshirefoodrevolution@gmail.com.
If you have any other questions or queries about help in the community please contact leisure@fareham.gov.uk
If you would like more information about council services during this time please visit our coronavirus page.
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