Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, there are some people who have been shielding for many months. We are aware that shielding practices and some packages of support available for those shielding will officially be coming to an end on 1st August 2020 and we appreciate that you may be feeling particularly stressed, worried or low in mood because of this. 

In Talk Wandsworth we provide support for people struggling with worry and low mood which may have been caused or exacerbated by the current pandemic, lockdown and shielding, as well as difficulties that may arise as lockdown eases. We are also able to provide support for problems with worry and low mood related to living with any Long Term Physical Health Conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the impact of shielding and social distancing. If you are struggling with worry or low mood as a result of the pandemic and the impact it is having on your life, please do get in touch with our service and your GP so that we are able to support you during this difficult transition. 

To refer yourself to Talk Wandsworth, you can fill out our referral form below, via the link. Once we have received your referral, one of our administrators will contact you. Please also find other resources below which you might find helpful in relation to COVID-19 shielding support.

Click here for Referral Form

 

COVID-19 Shielding Resources

General Shielding Support

Royal Voluntary Service

https://volunteering.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/nhs-volunteer-responders-portal/isolating

Will continue to offer support after shielding has stopped on 1st August 2020. You can ask for support by visiting the website or calling 0808 196 3646 between 8am and 8pm. They can provide help with shopping, collecting medication or other essential supplies; regular phone calls; and transport to medical appointments.


General Wellbeing Resources and Support:

NHS

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/moodzone-mental-wellbeing-audio-guides/

Offer a series of wellbeing audio guides. 

Mind

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/#TakeCareOfYourMentalHealthAndWellbeing

Coronavirus and your wellbeing. 

Anxiety UK

https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/blog/health-and-other-forms-of-anxiety-and-coronavirus

Advice and helpline. 

Mental Health Foundation

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/looking-after-your-mental-health-during-coronavirus-outbreak

Looking after your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak. 

OCD Action

https://www.ocdaction.org.uk/support-groups/online2

Provide Skype and telephone support groups. 

RCOG

https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/covid-19-virus-infection-and-pregnancy

Advice for pregnant women. 

BEAT

https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/

Support for people with eating problems including tailored advice to the current pandemic and more time at home. 

Psychology Tools

https://www.psychologytools.com/articles/free-guide-to-living-with-worry-and-anxiety-amidst-global-uncertainty/

Booklet on managing worry and anxiety during these globally uncertain times. They now have various translations of this booklet. 

Mental Health UK

https://mentalhealth-uk.org/help-and-information/covid-19-and-your-mental-health/

Useful information on managing mental health during Covid-19. 

 


Support for Older Adults

 

Independent Age

https://www.independentage.org/get-support/receive-regular-phone-calls

Provide a helpline and you can sign-up to receive regular phone calls. 

Silverline

https://www.thesilverline.org.uk/

Free confidential helpline providing information, friendship and advice to older people, open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Call on: 080 0470 8090. 



Wandsworth Specific Support

Wandsworth council

The council will help in supporting people when shielding stops. 

St. Mary’s Battersea – Coronavirus angles

Help people who are self-isolating or who need help with shopping, prescription and other services. They also provide a befriending service, or just someone to talk to. They are available 7 days a week. 

Age UK Wandsworth (over 60’s)

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/wandsworth/

Support for people in Wandsworth over the age of 60: DigiPals, active chats, telephone, befriending. 

Be Enriched

Focusing on people living in SW17 and SE11 who are elderly or vulnerable, self-isolating and unable to shop for food.

Domestic violence support

https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/community-safety/domestic-abuse/getting-help-for-domestic-violence-and-abuse/

For victims of domestic abuse and the resources that could help them. 

Foodbank Wandsworth

Providing emergency food in a safe way to people in financial crisis.

Little Village

www.littlevillagehq.org/wandsworth/make-a-referral/

For expectant mums (past 26 weeks pregnant and new born babies under 3 months old). Children aged 3 months to 5 years with no support e.g. that recently arrived in the country or recently housed in a refuge. Providing bundles for these families. 

Macmillan info at St George’s

www.stgeorges.nhs.uk/newsitem/canchat-new-support-line-for-st-georges-patients-living-with-cancer/

Cancer patients can get confidential phone support from trained volunteers. Patients who are worried about money, work, treatment or would just like to talk to someone. 

St Michael's Wandsworth Common

Collecting food and supplies and arranging drop offs for elderly people in their partnership with Regenerate-RISE. Help with shopping and prescription runs through volunteers. They run worship services on Zoom and prayers through the week. 

Balham mosque

300 30 30 694

They can assist in shopping on your behalf and providing cooking ingredients or cooked meals that can be delivered by one of their volunteers. 

Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association UK

Currently supporting those who have contacted them directly asking for help. Whether it is doing their shopping, picking up medicine, posting mail or even to just have someone to talk to. In regards to food distribution, they are more than happy to help as well. AMYA itself in the UK has regular food drives where we provide meals to the less fortunate. If you require support in distributing food, they would be happy to help. 

Alzheimer’s society dementia support service Wandsworth

Regular calls to people with dementia and their carers who need support.

Economica

https://facebook.com/listening.ear.3304

Available across London. Talk to a psychoanalyst for anxiety, isolation, stress, frontline/key workers, loss, depression, mental health, parents and special needs. 

Furzedown project

www.furzedownproject.org

Telephone support to vulnerable, isolated older adults. Signposting is available if someone is experiencing severe difficulty. 

Katherine low settlement

www.ksettlement.org.uk

Support for elderly, refugees, women and young people and families in Battersea. Support offered including telephone/support calls to elderly and vulnerable people. 

Street link

www.streetlink.london/streetlink_London_HomePage

Provide housing for rough sleepers. 

Wandsworth mutual aid

https://www.facebook.com/groups/BatterseaMutualAid/

Community Group for support. 

South West London Vineyard Church

Provide care and support to those who find themselves vulnerable and most at risk. They help with shopping, prescriptions, prayer, a friendly chat or any other help. 

Carers Support:

https://www.carerswandsworth.org.uk/covid-19-resources/

For carers support in the borough of Wandsworth. 

Wandsworth Safeguarding

https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/

Resources on adult and child safeguarding for the borough of Wandsworth.