Covid-19 information | Stonesfield Parish Council

Covid-19 update: Help and Support for West Oxfordshire residents

Everyday life still feels very different at the moment for some people and as the Autumn rolls in and the clocks change help and support is still needed. The Coronavirus is still with us and keeping fit and active in whatever way we can has been shown to help patients fight the disease. The NHS is encouraging people to seek help in the way you always would if worried about symptoms. They are open for business and can help.

West Oxfordshire Community Support Helpline 01993 861077

For other available help see information sheet and newsletter

Local help

Stonesfield Voluntary Transport Scheme is operating again with volunteer drivers to take you to local medical appointments and to the hospitals in Oxford and Banbury. Full COVID safety precautions are still in place. There is no charge but we welcome a donation towards expenses. Please call Viv Kendall on 01993 891803 to book transport.

Stonesfield Mutual Aid is a group residents working alongside Stonesfield Parish Council who are willing to help. We can offer emergency food provision and small emergency grants in some circumstances. If you need help please contact any councillor in confidence, Kate Harris on 01993 898781, Deanna Asplundh on 07956 905610, Sharon Acum on 07766 424088, Dave Baldwin on 07957 497513 or d.baldwin@stonesfieldpc.uk, Kate Maroney 01993 898235 or the Clerk to the Parish Council clerk@stonesfieldpc.uk

Here’s the fund raising page if you wish to donate: Stonesfield Mutual Aid Justgiving page

Another local source of help is Stonesfield Parish Church who has people who can help with

Picking up shopping
A friendly phone call
Urgent supplies
Posting mail

Email them on stonesfield@stonesfieldparishchurch.org

Parish and local Council

Parish Council officers are still working remotely so please email the clerk if need at clerk@stonesfieldpc.uk

If you do need help then see the list of useful contacts below

West Oxfordshire District Council: 01993 861000

Oxfordshire County Council: 01865 792422

Please follow latest government directives.

Plus YourOxfordshire which gives a range of information.

Local Food Banks

There are a number of Food Banks locally who may be able to offer help

Oxford Food Bank Unit 12, Curtis Industrial Estate, North Hinksey Lane, Botley, Oxford OX2 0LX 07865 610368
North Oxfordshire Community Foodbank, Kidlington Baptist Church, Kidlington, OX5 2DS 07929 721172
SOFEA Community Larder 1E Trident Business Park, Didcot, OX11 7HJ. 07531 344952
Witney & West Oxfordshire Foodbank, Cottsway House, Heynes Place, Avenue Two, Witney OX28 4YG 01993 890000

Can you help?

Also remember Food Banks need donations of food to keep going. Either contact them directly or donate via your chosen supermarket. If you feel you can offer some time as a volunteer your help will be welcomed.

Information can be found at

UK government response

NHS England information

NHS Scotland Information

World Health Organization

Some other places to look for help are

NHS Direct 111

Police (non-emergency): 101

Talking Space. 01865 901222

Samaritans (free call) 116 123(24 hours)

Oxford CBT offering virtual CBT therapy supporting mental health during Covid 19) – 01865 920077 or info@oxfordcbt.co.uk

Community First Oxfordshire

Mind UK 01865 247788

University of Reading: Helping Young People Manage Low Mood and Depression

The Help Hub is supported by Blenheim Palace, and a free, online service offering emotional and practical help for both medically at risk and older people who have either chosen, or been instructed to self-isolate.

Citizens Advice or call their Adviceline on 0300 330 9049

DayBreak (Dementia) jitka.fort@daybreak-oxford.org.uk or 01865 776744

24/7 Mental Health Helpline

A 24/7 mental health helpline has been launched to take pressure off 111 for mental health advice in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

The round-the-clock helpline will make it quicker and easier for people in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire to get the right advice they need for their mental health. It will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and temporarily takes pressure off 111 for people who need mental health care when their situation it is not life threatening.

For adults, the number is 01865 904 997
For children and young people, the number is 01865 904 998

Age UK Oxfordshire

For those who are registered on Facebook.

Facebook Stonesfield

Stonesfield meditation

Some other local services are listed on this download

Also for people able to help and wanting to get involved there are these websites

NHS Volunteers

Oxfordshire All In

Covid-19 Mutual Aid

Need help for your business

Here are some official websites which give details of resources available to business, which you might find useful:

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

West Oxfordshire Council Coronavirus advice

West Oxfordshire Council help for business

Need a ‘sick note’

If you cannot work because of coronavirus, you’re unlikely to be able to get tested at this stage and GPs will not want to see you. However, you can now access a digital sick note without going to the doctor, which will be provided as evidence that a person has to self-isolate. People are being told to self-isolate either if they have symptoms themselves or live with someone who has them. The notes can be accessed here.

Stuck at home?

If you’ve been asked to stay at home, avoid other people, or remotely work it might feel more difficult than usual to take care of your mental wellbeing.

Here are some free resources, which you might find useful:

The Open University have a variety of free online courses
The Oxford University Department of Continuing Education has a variety of resources
BBC have online training and learning modules around a whole host of topics!
The Ashmolean Museum website has a host of free case study and project videos which are free to download and listen to
Online books, which are free to view and can be printed out as PDFs if you prefer to read a physical book
NHS has 10 minutes home workouts, which can be completed from the comfort of a chair
Download and listen to the world’s best storytelling

Or you can ‘visit’ museums, art galleries and parks

Here are some free ‘tours’, which you might find interesting:

British Museum has a great historical tour
The Natural History Museum allows you to explore the wildlife archives, collections and digital collections in London and Oxford
Explore inspiring culture heritage from a selection of European museums, galleries, libraries and archives

Or ‘travel’ abroad, directly to: