16th January 2022     Epiphany 2 Community News  Northfield Community Partnership is open Monday - Friday 9am-5pm for any advice or support: 0121 411 2157 or email info@northfieldcommunity.org Most support will be offered virtually or by phone in order to comply with Covid safety measures. Unfortunately the Umbrella Sexual Health Clinic is closed until further notice. Donations to the food bank continue to be very gratefully received. If you or someone you know would like to be referred to the foodbank, or need help tackling the issues causing financial hardship, do get in touch and the team will be happy to help. The countdown to the Commonwealth Games has started! Ahead of the opening ceremony, the Queen’s Baton Relay is making an epic journey across all 72 nations and territories of the Commonwealth - it’s currently in India heading for Papua New Guinea! If you would like to nominate yourself or someone else to be a Batonbearer as it travels through Birmingham on 27th and 28th July, head over to the Birmingham2022 website and say how your nominee is making a difference in their community and why they deserve to take on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: https://www.birmingham2022.com/ Mens Shed Repair Café is a recently started project at Allens Cross Community Garden, 24 Tinkers Farm Road, B31 1RH. It’s open on Thursdays, 1.30-4.30pm, for all ages and genders to learn share skills, learn to repair and form new friendships. For more information call 07527 904420or visit the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AllensCrossRepairCafe/ Would you or someone you know benefit from an occupational therapy assessment? Northfield Community Partnership is hosting face to face assessments, starting from 26th January 9am-3pm at St Nicholas Place, 81 The Green, Kings Norton. For information and booking, call 0121 675 6906 Do you remember a company called W. W. Turner, who specialised in upholstery for cinema seats? They were originally based in Kings Heath, but moved to Station Road, Northfield, in the 1930’s, and closed in the mid-1970’s. If you’d like your memories to be included in a project looking at cinema history in Birmingham, please contact Dave Harte, email info@flatpackfestival.org.uk or tel 0121 771 1509. More information on the project at: https://flatpackfestival.org.uk/projects/wonderland. Eco Tip: Many of us have a good clear-out in January...but what to do with all that 'stuff' we no longer want? How do we avoid adding it to the 10 million household items that are sent to landfill every year? Freecycle can be a great way of offering pre-loved items to the local community for free: https://www.freecycle.org and charity shops are sometimes happy to take things you may not expect - for example fabric items that are no longer fit for purpose (such as clothes, curtains, tea towels) may be recycled as rags (please do ring the shop and check before dropping them off). Any items you’re not sure what to do with, just look them up on https://www.recyclenow.com - you might be surprised just how much can be reused or recycled! Covid Birmingham’s Public Health Team warns that although there are some media reports of case rates plateauing, they continue to climb in many parts of the country - including Birmingham, which has seen a 49.7% increase in cases compared with the previous week. Frankley Great Park, Longbridge & West Heath, Northfield and Bartley Green are all in the top 7 of hardest hit areas, with around 2000 cases per 100,000 population in the past week. Increases have been seen in all ethnic groups and age groups, particularly in people over 60. These increases are expected to continue over the next few weeks, so we are all urged to think very carefully about what face-to-face meetings and events we choose to attend, and limit these as we feel appropriate. Keep air flowing, wear masks and sanitise/wash hands regularly. We are all still encouraged to do regular lateral flow tests, at least twice a week, and within 24 hours before attending events, visiting others, etc (including coming to church). The Public Health Team (and, thanks to Canon Janet, Gary Sambrook MP for Northfield) are aware that getting tests can be difficult, but they say do keep trying as stocks are being replenished regularly. The best way to obtain tests is: 1. Obtain a code at https://test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk/collect-lateral-flow-kits and take this to one of the pharmacies listed on that website (there are over 100 in Birmingham) 2. Order online for a pack to be delivered to your home https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests 3. Visit a pop-up collection site – there are quite a few around Northfield including the Clock Pharmacy, Lloyds Pharmacy in Sainsburys and Superdrug in the Shopping Centre – search by postcode here: https://maps.test-and-trace.nhs.uk/ Availability of tests is best early morning and early afternoon. There is also currently a pop up site at New Street Station (Mon-Fri 8.15am-6.30pm; Sat 8.15am-5.30pm; Sun 9am-5pm). As of 11th January, if you have a positive lateral flow test, even if you don’t have symptoms, you must self-isolate immediately. (If you take another lateral flow test which is negative, it’s the positive one that counts!) You do not need a confirmatory PCR. However, contrary to previous advice, you do need to take a PCR if you wish to claim an NHS financial payment when self-isolating. More details about when you must self-isolate and how to look after yourself when you are self-isolating are provided here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/ If you’re having trouble getting to a vaccination centre, use a JabCab! Birmingham City Council has partnered with TOA Taxis to provide a FREE taxi service to and from your nearest NHS vaccination walk-in site. 1. Call TOA Taxis Birmingham on 0121 427 8888 2. Give the reference BirminghamJabCab 3. Give the 4-digit Pin Number 3995 To find your nearest walk-in site, see https://www.birminghamandsolihullcovidvaccine.nhs.uk/ Not all sites are offering vaccines for young people aged under 16, so do check the details on the website carefully. You can also pre-book your appointment at the above link, or ring 119. Let’s all do our bit to keep each other safe