Search for local COVID-19 support services
This page is for people living or registered with a GP in Southampton City Council area to find practical and emotional support during the Covid-19 situation. It will be regularly updated as the situation changes and as more systems for support are developed in a coordinated approach.
We’ll be gathering local, national and online resources here so that you can keep informed and link to the support you need, as well as finding out how and where your help could be best used.
SO:Linked is funded by the city council and health services and is delivered by Southampton Voluntary Services, the charity that supports all other local charities in Southampton and helps people into volunteering, together with our partners – Solent Mind, Spectrum, Alzheimer’s Society, SEL (Social Enterprise Link), and TWICS (Training for Work In Communities).
Council Services – you can find an update on Council services, advice and guidance here
Local Practical Support / Food & Medicine deliveries
If you are self isolating and are in need of practical help, here are some organisations that are offering that help locally. Where possible it’s best to get help from people known to you; family members, friends, neighbours, people from a group you belong to, your local shop.
Please note this is not a list of recommendations and we advise individuals to make their own judgement about the services they use. Please also see the advice for giving and receiving neighbourly help at the bottom of this page.
Emotional Support
If you are struggling with the emotional impact of Covid-19 or feeling impacted by self-isolation, you are not alone. There is help out there. Below is a list of organisations online who can help. If you would benefit from someone to phone for a chat then please get in touch with our navigators who will do their best to put you in touch with local organisations / volunteers who can offer this.
Want to help? Local volunteering opportunities
There are lots of ways to help at this time
Lots of people want to help as the Corona Virus causes more people to stay at home – this is great, but people aren’t always sure where to start and some are worried about safety or fraud. We want to encourage neighbourliness in these uncertain times, and are supporting these neighbourly networks.
Here are our top tips:
- Keep it local and manageable – we suggest your own street or about 20-30 houses at most, please don’t try and cover a larger area!
- Don’t try to cover more than you realistically can sustain – this might last for months
- Stick to a patch you know well
- Keep to where people will recognise you and trust your offer is genuine
- Use our template and adapt it to suit your offer Hello template.docx, but;
- Don’t get into personal care or going into people’s houses – be assured that other agencies are looking at this
- Keep it to essentials so we are talking pence not pounds and don’t expect or ask people to pay for support, if they insist, suggest they pay you back later ‘in kind’ when they are well
- Keep an eye out for fraudsters, and if confident to do so, politely (and safely) challenge any cold callers in your area
- Follow the advice, and don’t pass on germs
(adapted from guidance from Support Staffordshire)
As well as local people helping each other, local organisations and groups in Southampton are gearing up to offer support too: Watch this space for ways you can get involved, either long term or short term.
