CORSHAM AND CORONAVIRUS - LATEST INFORMATION

For the most up-to-date Town Council and community information, please visit our Facebook page.

Mental Health Support

The pandemic has been hard on everyone, whatever our age and however we have found our way through the crisis. If you, or someone you know, needs some care and attention when it comes to mental health, we have put a list together of support organisations, both local and national, that might be able to help. You can download a copy of the list or contact us for a printed version.

Support Corsham

A new website, Support Corsham, has been set up by Corsham Print/Corsham Stationery, with support from the Town Council, to help the town's local businesses during lockdown, with an ever-growing directory of shops and other traders featuring opening hours, services available, etc. There's also a Support Corsham Facebook page.

Town Centre Recovery Plan

The Town Council has put together a Recovery Plan and Action Plan for the town centre, to guide its work through the coronavirus crisis and beyond, using the lessons learned and information gathered over the past few months. You can download a copy of the Recovery Plan and the Action Plan that goes alongside it, or contact us and we'll send you a copy.

Do You Need Help?

Wiltshire Council has set up a dedicated hub to support the most vulnerable residents during the ongoing COVID-19 situation.The Wiltshire Wellbeing Hub is available to anyone who is struggling during this difficult time, such as people who are shielding or self-isolating and don't have a support network around them or know where to get help. Wiltshire Council's team can help provide support but also signpost you to where additional help is available in your local area (ie the Town Council) with hundreds of community groups set-up across the county providing invaluable assistance.

You can get in touch with the hub via email at wellbeinghub@wiltshire.gov.uk or by calling 0300 003 4576. It's available from 9am-5pm Monday-Friday.

If Wiltshire Council is unable to help, you can still call us on 01249 702130 and we will try and put you in touch with a local volunteer.

Corsham Foodbank

Corsham Foodbank is still open for business. They have changed their operation a little to try and distance clients from volunteers by making use of extra rooms at St Aldhelm’s.

Donations can be left at St Aldhelm’s Church (Pickwick Road, Corsham) from 10am- 11.30am on Tuesdays or 10am-12noon on Saturdays, or in the donation box at the Co-op.

If you have any questions please phone 07788 115095.

The Foodbank is also happy to accept monetary donations which can be made by BACS: Account name: Corsham Churches Food Bank; Sort Code 40-17-17; Account no. 01547607. Thank you.

Support for Businesses and the Self-Employed

Wiltshire Council has produced a round-up of the support available (updated 26 January 2021) for businesses and the self-employed. For the most up-to-date information, visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support or Swindon and Wiltshire Growth Hub.

Advice for Volunteers

Whether you've volunteered to look after your street, are taking care of a vulnerable neighbour or are just helping out friends and relations during this time, here's the latest government advice on how to help safely to protect them and you.

Wiltshire Council has also produced a Volunteer Pack, which you can download from their website.

Two Hours FREE Parking

The free parking all day, every day in all Corsham's car parks and the lifting of parking restrictions put in place by Wiltshire Council has now ended. (NHS staff and key care workers can still park for free but need proof - either a copy of their badge (with personal info deleted) or a letter from their employer left on the dashboard.) The Town Council has now launched a TWO HOURS FREE parking scheme, which will run until March 2021, to help our local businesses. You do still need to get a ticket.

Wiltshire Council - Latest Coronavirus News, Help and Advice

For Wiltshire Council's response to the crisis, and the changes they've made to services, etc, visit the coronavirus section on their website. You can also sign up for updates here too.

Statement from the Town Council - November 2020

While England’s second experience of national restrictions is different to the first, as we move into the second week the Town Council hopes that there is no one in our community who is vulnerable and does not have support. If you, or someone you know, is in that position, please get in touch by calling 01249 702130 and we will do what we can to help.

It’s likely that, this time, we will refer most people to the NHS Volunteer Responders scheme as they now have the people and systems in place to be able to help quickly and safely. You can request support yourself, or for someone you know, by calling 0808 196 3646 (8am-8pm, 7 days a week), but if you would prefer us to get in touch on your behalf, we can do that too. If you would like to register as a volunteer, then visit https://nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk/i-want-to-vo....

If you are in any doubt, though, about what help might be available for you, or where best to go for assistance, then please call us as we are aware of other groups and organisations who could really make a difference to your time in lockdown, even if that’s just a regular, friendly phone call.

Wiltshire Council’s Wellbeing Hub is also available, on 0300 003 4576, email: . And Carer Support Wiltshire is offering help and advice for anyone caring for a loved one, 0800 181 4118.

There is a dedicated Covid-19 section on our website, www.corsham.gov.uk, and Wiltshire Council, too, has a lot of good advice at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/public-health-coronavirus. From 16 November, members of Wiltshire Council staff will also be working across the county as ‘Wiltshire Together Champions’, offering help and information to residents and businesses about how to follow the government guidance. We’ll share more details about this scheme and how it will work in Corsham as soon as we can.

As a Town Council, as well as wanting to support Corsham’s residents, we are also working to support local businesses, particularly the independent shops in the town centre. Please shop local and use them if you can. While those businesses offering essential services can stay open, others have reinvented themselves yet again by offering click and collect services, takeaways, and deliveries. You can also visit a new website, www.support-corsham.co.uk, where a directory of what the town’s businesses are offering through lockdown and beyond has been created. And the two hours’ free parking in Corsham’s public car parks continues, but please remember you still need to display a ticket.

We have closed the Town Hall to the public during the national restrictions but are continuing the work of the Town Council with minimal staff on site and homeworking so please continue to get in touch about Council-related matters. You can email via or call 01249 702130 as normal.

Council meetings continue online for the foreseeable future. These are open to the public and the links to join are available either on our website or from David Martin, Chief Executive, at . You can also contact your local Councillor direct via the contact details on our website or call us if you want to check who your local representatives are.

And Christmas has not been cancelled. We may not be able to have our traditional Christmas Lights Switch On this year, but the lights are up, and the Christmas trees will be in place. There are also plans - once the restrictions lift - for some safe, socially distanced festive activities, more busking performances, the retailers’ Christmas Window competition, and a very special art installation at the Town Hall.

Finally, we would, again, like to say a huge thank you to NHS staff, carers and other health keyworkers who are back on the frontline fighting this pandemic and the workers and volunteers in both the public and private sectors who continue to keep our society going on a day-to-day basis. A thank you, too, to all of you, the residents of Corsham, for doing what you can to see our town through these latest restrictions, while keeping yourselves and others safe by following the government’s guidance.

There is reason to be hopeful in the coming months and every reason to believe that Corsham will continue to be the strong and caring community it has certainly shown itself to be this year. Take care.

Cllr Steve Abbott, Chairman Corsham Town Council

David Martin, Chief Executive

A Message from Corsham Town Council - 3 April 2020

Among all the messages going around, there are just two main points to emphasise from the Town Council’s perspective. Two weeks into the ‘stay at home’ period, we hope that there is no one out there in the community who is vulnerable for whatever reason and does not have support. If you know of anyone among your neighbours or friends who might be in that position, either ring us or suggest that they ring us, and we will do what we can.

Corsham Town Council Helpline 01249 702130

Voluntary groups and individuals have come forward to offer help with shopping or getting prescriptions and we can usually link people who need support to a volunteer. We also have contact details for support organisations such as Age UK, Citizens Advice and Wiltshire Mind.

The other important message is to say thank you to all those in our community who are going above and beyond to look after people and their needs during these difficult times, particularly NHS staff and carers, and many others – too many to mention. In fact, a mere thank you is not enough. We realise at times like this the importance of having a strong health care system staffed by hugely professional and dedicated staff at all levels. And we also depend on workers and volunteers in many other sectors, both public and private, who help to keep our society together on a day-to-day basis.

On behalf of the Town Council, thank you - all of you - for what you are doing.

Cllr Steve Abbott, Chairman, Corsham Town Council

David Martin, Chief Executive, Corsham Town Council

Coronavirus Statement from Corsham Town Council - 17 March 2020

Many people in Corsham have been asking for advice about Coronavirus and what to do if people have to self-isolate. Many others have been stepping forward to volunteer with shopping and other help and support for vulnerable people. The community spirit being shown is fantastic, but there are a number of things to be considered and Corsham Town Council would like to offer some suggestions that might avoid problems.

Council officers and Councillors have met to discuss the best steps to help support individuals affected by this emergency and will work with county and national government, local doctors, pharmacists and community groups to help with this.

Regularly updated information is available from these main sources the Government – www.gov.uk

Department of Health and Social care - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/depart...

Public Health England - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public...

NHS UK - https://www.nhs.uk

For social media users, the following Twitter accounts will be regularly posting the latest adviceDepartment of Health and Social Care - @DHSCgovuk Public Health England - @PHE_UK NHS England - @NHSEngland

Wiltshire Council has prepared a helpful Covid-19 web page with useful advice at this link: http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/public-health-coronavi....

There are already groups and individuals in Corsham who are offering to provide support to vulnerable people and people who have had to self-isolate. We encourage such measures and suggest that support is best provided, where possible, by near-neighbours known to the person being supported.

It would be helpful if any groups and individuals giving support, or planning to do so, could let the Town Council know so as to avoid unnecessary duplication and other potential difficulties that may arise. Doing so would also mean that we will be able to advise isolated or vulnerable people who contact us of the nearest support group or individual.

Corsham is a great community and it’s heartening to see so many people stepping forward. Let’s work together to get through this situation and get to know our neighbours better.

Please note that the Town Council is taking its own measures to try to avoid spreading or contracting the virus. We have closed the Town Hall to the public for the time being so if you need to contact us please email, , or telephone 01249 702130. Alternatively, you can drop a letter through the letterbox on the north (phone box) side of the Town Hall.

We have also cancelled or postponed all face-to-face meetings and hall bookings for the time being. This includes the Corsham Celebrates/Annual Town Meeting event planned for 23 April.

Above all, please make sure you practice good hygiene, avoid unnecessary proximity to each other and keep an eye on your neighbours and vulnerable people to help keep our community as safe as we can.

Councillor Steve Abbott (Chairman) and David Martin (Chief Executive)