Information
See the information below. There is also a useful PDF information file that you can download from here
flood resilience
Update 25 November: This is the latest version of the Flood Alert phone-tree. If you have any queries or changes to request, please email acsg@alyth.online or phone 07840 755 339 or contact us through the Facebook page.
Update 5 October: Perth & Kinross Council have made available a recording of the online community meeting held to discuss the flooding of 12 August. There’s lots of useful background and some really valuable information in the Q&A section starting around 30 minutes into the video.
Update 2 September: Perth & Kinross Council has published guidance on flooding issues in Alyth and across the county. Click on the images below to download the pdf documents to your computer.
Update 18 August: These are the main points raised in the community meeting organised by ACSG on 17 August 2020. These have been shared with Perth & Kinross Council officials and councillors and are now being discussed and actioned with them and a variety of other bodies. You can download a pdf of this chart here.
There are many things you can do to make your home more resilient to flooding: here’s a handy visual guide to some of the actions you should consider. Also have a look at the SFF website for more information. New UK property flood resilience guidance will be available later in the year and an initial framework is already available to help you or your builder think about your options.
Health
Update 15 July: There’s a new National Well Being online resource hub for people working in health and social care. The Hub is aimed primarily at health and social care folk (statutory, 3rd sector and unpaid) to make it easy for people to find the information and advice they need. There are lots of useful resources on there, with wee films of folk sharing tips and talking about their needs and solutions. https://www.promis.scot/
Common Covid-19 symptoms
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are a new continuous cough and/or a fever/high temperature (37.8C or greater). A new continuous cough is where you:
- have a new cough that’s lasted for an hour
- have had 3 or more episodes of coughing in 24 hours
- are coughing more than usual
General advice
Health advice is here: www.nhsinform.scot and here: www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus. For general advice call the free NHS helpline: 0800 028 2816.
If you are fit and well but still want to help others, get the latest information and maybe sign up to volunteer at www.readyscotland.org.
If you have received a letter from the NHS saying you are at higher risk of severe illness, please follow that advice. There’s a dedicated helpline for Perth & Kinross residents at 0345 301 1100 (08.45 to 17.00 Monday to Friday) and more details here: https://www.pkc.gov.uk/coronavirus/communitysupport
There’s also the National Assistance Helpline for the over-70s or those who receive the flu vaccine for medical reasons: 0800 111 4000 (Open office hours Monday to Friday).
Help for the elderly
Help and advice for the elderly is available from the Age Scotland free helpline on 0800 12 44 222 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm), or visit www.agescotland.org.uk
Carers of people with dementia
Helpline: 0808 808 3000
Advice for pregnant women
Go to www.nhsinform.scot/ready-steady-baby or contact your midwife if concerned.
Autism Advice Line
Call: 01259 222022
Alyth Health Centre
CORONAVIRUS – COVID-19: If you are experiencing any of the Covid-19 symptoms – DO NOT COME INTO THE SURGERY, CALL NHS24 ON 111.
In order to reduce footfall into the premises as we are open as usual we have introduced a locked red post box for repeat prescription orders situated on the wall in the main vestibule entrance.
Alyth Pharmacy (Davidson's)
Operating normal opening hours as far as possible, but check on Facebook first: www.facebook.com/DavidsonsChemists/ Phone: 01828 632302
Eye care services
- Only emergency and essential eye-care are being offered.
- No routine tests
- Contact your normal optician for an emergency examination at a designated emergency centre
- Evenings and weekends emergencies, call NHS24 on 111
Hearing aids
Mental health
National information and help: www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus-mental-wellbeing
Advice from NHS Tayside: www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19/your-mental-wellbeing/coronavirus-covid-19-your-mental-wellbeing
See also advice from Perth & Kinross Council: www.pkc.gov.uk/coronavirus/
NHS 24: call 111
Breathing Space: www.breathingspace.scot or phone 0800 83 85 87
Scottish Association for Mental Health: email info@samh.org.uk or call 0344 800 0550
Easy-read coronavirus guidance
Go to www.scld.org.uk/information-on-coronavirus or call the helpline on 0141 248 3733
General Advice
- Stay at home
- Only go outside for essential food, health and work reasons
- Stay 2 metres (6 feet) away from other people
- Wash your hands regularly
- Wash your hands as soon as you get home
Going out
- Stay local – don’t drive in your car to take exercise; use the paths, open spaces and quiet roads in your own local area
- Keep your distance – stay at least two metres away from other people and try to avoid busy times in popular places
- Respect the health and safety of farmers and other land workers, and avoid farmyards, fields with pregnant or young livestock, and other busy working areas
- Keep your dog under control, on a lead or close at heel and don’t let them approach other people or livestock
- Avoid touching surfaces and if possible plan a route where you don’t need to open gates
Full advice: www.gov.uk/coronavirus
National Assistance Helpline for the vulnerable
There’s a national helpline – 0800 111 4000 – for people who are at high COVID-19 risk and do not have family or community support to provide food and medication, links to social work, emotional support or contact with local volunteers. It is aimed at people who are over 70, disabled, require the support of mental health services, are pregnant or receive a flu jab for health reasons, and is in addition to support provided for people who are ‘shielding’ because they have specific very high risk health conditions.
Advice for parents
Go to www.parentclub.scot/coronavirus or call Parentline Scotland on 0800 028 2233 or the Money Talk Team on 0800 085 7145.
Information for young people
Go to: www.young.scot/coronavirus
Domestic Abuse Helpline
Go to www.safer.scot or call the helpline on 0800 027 1234
Rape Crisis Scotland Helpline
Got to www.rapecrisisscotland.org.ukor call the helpline on 08088 01 03 02
Services
Bins and recycling – www.pkc.gov.uk/coronavirus/waste
Volunteering – www.pkc.gov.uk/coronavirus/communitysupport
Schools – www.pkc.gov.uk/coronavirus/schools
Council tenants – www.pkc.gov.uk/coronavirus/tenants
Parking and blue badges – www.pkc.gov.uk/article/21636/Coronavirus-Parking-blue-badge-scheme-and-penalty-charge-notices
Carers – www.pkc.gov.uk/coronavirus/carers
Temporary local bus timetables – www.pkc.gov.uk/bustimetables
Cremations and burials – www.pkc.gov.uk/article/21651/Coronavirus-Cremations-and-burials or – www.dignityfunerals.co.uk/crematoria-and-cemeteries/crematoria/find-a-crematorium/dundee-crematorium/
Parks, open spaces and allotments – www.pkc.gov.uk/article/21648/
Child-care for key workers – Apply online here: bit.ly/pkc-covid-support
ACSG book-share scheme – 07840 755339 – we have a selection of novels looking for a new home. If you can’t get out but are looking for something new to read, call us – and we can arrange for a book to be dropped through your letterbox. Donations of books can be handed in to the Coop on the Market Square.
Money / Finance
Update 4 August: Help for those in difficulty because paying for your energy by direct debit disqualifies you from getting the help that’s available to people on pre-pay meters: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/grants-and-benefits-to-help-you-pay-your-energy-bills-s/
Update 18 June: The Co-op has a fund available for local communities. Deadline for bids for the next round is 28 June. More details here: https://causes.coop.co.uk
Scottish Welfare Fund – phone 01738 476900 or visit www/pkc.gov.uk/scottishwelfarefund
Benefits – www.pkc.gov.uk/bensandcovid19
Citizens Advice Scotland –www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/ or call 0800 028 1456
Struggling with energy bills: Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282
Consumer issues: Advice Direct Scotland at www.coronavirusadvice.scot or call 0808 800 9060
Employment rights advice: www.acas.org.uk or call 0300 123 1100. Relay UK: 18001 0300 123 1100
Support for businesses
Update 28 June: GrowBiz Scotland has launched a new grant fund for rural micro-enterprises – to help them and their communities to re-open and recover. https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/reds
Update 19 June: The new Scottish Government Bed and Breakfast hardship fund is now open for applications. It will provide hardship relief to B&B and other small serviced accommodation businesses impacted by COVID19. For details on criteria and how to apply visit: https://findbusinesssupport.gov.scot/service/coronavirus/bed-and-breakfast-hardship-fund
Update 16 June: The Royal Bank of Scotland’s Social and Community Capital charity is launching a new Coronavirus Response fund to help bridge the income gap that social enterprises, trading charities and community businesses have suffered a loss of income because of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. Find out more here: https://www.business.rbs.co.uk/business/loans-and-finance/social-community-capital.html
Update 5 June: On Friday evening, UK Government Chancellor Rishi Sunak issued an important update on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – often referred to as the ‘furlough scheme’. Please see key dates below.
- 10th June 2020 – is the final date that you can put new people on furlough
- 12th June 2020 – the new scheme will launch
The revised scheme will be live from the 1st of July and will operate until the end of October. There are number of changes that employers need to be aware of.
One of these changes is that employees will be able to be furloughed part time and work part time for the organisation.
The Treasury announcement is here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-extends-self-employment-support-scheme-and-confirms-furlough-next-steps
Update 3 June: Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme – NOW LIVE. If you’re an employer with fewer than 250 employees, you can now claim for coronavirus-related Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). If you have a tax agent, they can also make claims on your behalf. To make a claim, please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-back-statutory-sick-pay-paid-to-employees-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19
Update 31 May: Chancellor extends self-employment support scheme: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-extends-self-employment-support-scheme-and-confirms-furlough-next-steps
Update 21 May: New fund from Perth & Kinross Council offering incentive to get young people into rural employment: https://www.pkc.gov.uk/article/21191/Rural-Employment-Incentive
New fund to help self-employed here: https://www.pkc.gov.uk/selfemployedhardshipfund
There’s a Scottish Government business support helpline (0300 303 0660) for all business support enquiries in Scotland. Businesses needing guidance contact them in the first instance on this number.
Additional advice is available on their website: https://findbusinesssupport.gov.scot/coronavirus-advice/ or call 0300 303 0660.
Update 6 May: you can now apply for a coronavirus Bounce Back Loan from the UK Government.
Update 6 May: check if you can claim for your employees’ wages through the UK Government Job Retention Scheme (see also the HMRC videos on this)
Perth & Kinross Council has also announced various business support measures, including:
- Business rates relief
- New market development grants
- Recruitment and training incentives
- An e-newsletter keeping you up to date with the latest measures
Check their website for full details: www.pkc.gov.uk/coronavirus/business.
Another source of useful info for rural businesses is here: https://plunkett.co.uk