11th June  Ludlow COVID-19 PCR testing site to be replaced with mobile testing unit

The COVID-19 PCR testing site in Ludlow is due to close on Saturday 12 June 2021, to allow the car park to return to its former use.  

Following consultation with local Shropshire Councillors and Ludlow Town Council, it was agreed that the facility would be removed from Smithfield car park as it is now needed for car parking purposes.  

It will be replaced by a mobile testing unit (MTU) located at Ludlow Eco Park from Thursday 17 June 2021.   

In the meantime, anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 or has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive is asked to book a PCR test via the Government’s website or by calling 119, and you will be directed to the nearest site with availability.   

More information here:  https://newsroom.shropshire.gov.uk/2021/06/ludlow-covid-19-pcr-testing-site-closing/

 

April 9th: New pick-up points set up for free Covid lateral flow test kits in Shropshire

Click here for more information.

 

 CORONAVIRUS

HTL continues to operate as it has done since the end of the last lockdown. The Helpline and all our volunteer services ARE STILL THERE FOR YOU. The Pulling Together Ludlow Facebook group and NextDoor.com for Ludlow are also means for the community to keep in touch and help each other.

 

Hands Together LUDLOW  is now supporting the Ludlow Helpline on:

01584  817 250 

The Helpline is manned from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Saturday.  Messages are recorded at all other times and are checked regularly.

 

COVID RESTRICTIONS 

The government has published the ‘COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021’ setting out the roadmap out of the current lockdown for England. This explains how the restrictions included in this guidance will be lifted over time.

 

Guidance changes from 21 June 2021

•  Removal of  all legal limits on social contact, publishing accompanying guidance on how best to reduce the risk of transmission and protect ourselves and loved ones;
• Reopening  the remaining closed settings, including nightclubs and enable large events, including theatre performances, above the Step 3 capacity restrictions, subject to the outcome of the scientific Events Research Programme  and
• Removal of all limits on weddings and other life events, subject to the outcome of the scientific Events Research Programme.

Guidance changes from 17 May 2021

• Indoor entertainment and attractions.
• 30 person limit outdoors. Rule of 6 or two households (subject to review).
• Domestic overnight stays.
• Organised indoor adult sport.
• Most significant life events (30).
• Remaining outdoor entertainment (including performances).
• Remaining accommodation.
• Some large events (expect for pilots) - capacity limits apply.
  • Indoor events: 1,000 or 50%.
  • Outdoor other events: 4,000 or 50%.
  • Outdoor seated events: 10,000 or 25%.
• International travel - subject to review.

 

Guidance changes from 12th April 2021

• Indoor leisure (including gyms) open for use individually or within household groups.
• Rule of 6 or two households outdoors. No household mixing indoors.
• Outdoor attractions such as zoos, theme parks and drive-in cinemas.
• Libraries and community centres.
• Personal care premises.
• All retail.
• Outdoor hospitality.
• All children’s activities, indoor parent & child groups (up to 15 parents).
• Domestic overnight stays (household only).
• Self-contained accommodation (household only).
• Funerals (30), wakes, weddings and receptions (15).
• Minimise travel. No international holidays.
• Event pilots begin.

Guidance changes from 8th March 2021

From 8 March, some of the rules on what you can and cannot do will be changing:

• you will be allowed to spend time in outdoor public spaces for recreation on your own, with one other person, or with your household or support bubble. This means you can sit down for a drink or picnic. You must continue to maintain social distance from those outside your household. This is in addition to outdoor exercise, which is already permitted
• pupils and students in all schools and Further Education settings will be able to return to face-to-face education
• wraparound childcare can reopen and other children’s activities can restart for all children where it is needed to enable parents to work, attend education, seek medical care or attend a support group. Vulnerable children can attend childcare and other children’s activities in all circumstances
• students on practical Higher Education courses at English universities who have not already returned and would be unable to complete their courses if they did not return to take part in practical teaching, access specialist facilities or complete assessments will be able to return
• there will continue to be restrictions on international travel. Holidays will not be a permitted reason to travel
• those seeking to leave the UK must complete an outbound declaration of travel form ahead of departure
• the rules on visiting care homes will change to allow regular indoor visits for a single named visitor

No further significant changes will be made on 8 March and restrictions requiring you to stay at home will remain in place. Later changes, including from 29 March, are set out in the roadmap.

The Clinically Extremely Vulnerable are advised not to attend work, school or education until 31 March.

 

 

What have we achieved this year?  Click below to see a picture of what we have ALL done for Ludlow.

Measures of Success 2020 Cumulative  (1st January – 31st December)

 

   We are very grateful for the donations made to the Ludlow Rotary Tree of   Light this Christmas.   The Book of Remembrance from this appeal can be   downloaded here.

 

 

 

  

Find out more about our Social Inclusion and dementia support here.

 

     

 

 

For the 'Pulling Together Ludlow'  website, please click here.

 

---

THIS IS WHAT WE ARE

The primary aim of Hands Together LUDLOW is to provide aid for the vulnerable in and around the town of Ludlow in Shropshire, recognising that existing charities and statutory agencies are increasingly under pressure themselves due to financial restraints.
 
We work through three parallel streams of activity:
1. Networking with existing providers,
2. Coordinating volunteers to provide short-term assistance,
3. Establishing projects to meet longer term needs.
Partnership working is foundational to the collaborative thinking behind all we do.

The following Charitable Purposes statement summarise the work of Hands Together LUDLOW:
• The relief of people in need by reason of youth, old age, ill health, loneliness, dysfunctional relationships, disability or financial hardship, living in Ludlow and the surrounding villages.

A secondary purpose, or method of achieving the primary purpose, could be defined as follows:
• The advancement of community development and the promotion of effective and efficient use of existing charitable resources by building a network of volunteers linking to caring agencies and local businesses in order to fill gaps of provision where they occur.

 

 

 

 

Most of our clients are referred to us by our partner agencies, charities and local organisations. We then aim to find the most appropriate organisation to help, or we use one of our team of volunteers to provide short-term assistance.
If you need help please contact us.

 

 

 

There are many opportunities for volunteering with Hands Together LUDLOW. We need assistance with running some of our projects and establishing new ones, as well as volunteering to help those in need of short-term care. This can include occasional transport, befriending, shopping, IT support, cooking, de-cluttering, gardening, etc.

Click here to learn more about our volunteering opportunities