Support from other organisations
Whilst we're updating our website with how our services are being affected, other organisations and companies are also updating their websites with useful information.
Partner organisations
Kent County Council
Kent County Council are updating their website with up-to-date information on how their services have been affected by Coronavirus.
Visit the Kent County Council website for more information.
The Police
You can report non-urgent crime on the Police website.
In an emergency call 999.
If you're concerned that a business or person is breaching the coronavirus rules you can report it to The Police.
Kent Fire and Rescue
Kent Fire and Rescue deliver their services to more than 1.8 million people across Kent and Medway. Visit Kent Fire and Rescue website for more information.
In a fire emergency call 999.
The NHS
The NHS website has the latest information on Coronavirus. Some of their advice includes:
- how to stop the spread
- being pregnant
- who is at high risk
- symptoms
- self-isolating
Utility companies
Southern Water
Southern Water's website has all their latest information.
Helping customers
They're offering a range of tariffs and payment schemes.
They're identifying ways of providing further support for customers impacted by the pandemic as well helping vulnerable customers. You can tell Southern Water that you're vulnerable and need help by visiting their website.
Supporting communities
They're launching community grants schemes to support charities. They'll publish more information on their website shortly.
All their reservoir car parks are now closed.
Emergency repairs
As an essential public service, maintaining our services to customers is vital.
Their teams will continue to operate sites, repair assets and continue with planned investments.
British Gas
The British Gas website has FAQ's on how their service is effected by Coronavirus. You can also find out what to do if you're a prepayment customer and how to book emergency engineer appointments.
You can find out more by calling 0333 202 9802 or visit their website.
EDF
EDF have a detail FAQ section about their service and how it effects their customers.
Charities
Age UK
Age UK offers lots of services for older people living in Maidstone.
Some of their services include:
- foot care
- computer classes
- seated exercise
- day centers
- befriending
Involve
Involve's vision is 'Healthy, connected people and communities'.
Some of their services include
- developing resilient communities
- empower and support carers
- empower and connect people to improve health
- encourage, facilitate and support people with health problems to take part in enjoyable physical activity
- connect for independence
- mainstream social prescribing
Money Advice Service
The Money Advice Service is a free and impartial money advice service that is set up by government.
Some of their services include:
- advice and guidelines to improve your finances
- tools and calculators
- support over the phone and online.
Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice have diverse range of services to help you.
Some of their services can help you with:
- benefits
- work
- debt and money
- housing
- law
- immigration
The Maidstone branch has stopped their face-to-face service. However you can find out more information on their website.
One You
One You is supported by Kent County Council.
Some of their services include how to help with:
- drinking less
- quit smoking
- getting moving
Samaritans
Samaritans have a wide range of services to give you advice and support.
You can also call their Maidstone branch on their free phone number 116 123.
Other organisations
Department of Transport
Vehicle owners have been granted a temporary exemption on their MOT from 30 March 2020.
You can find out more through the Department of Transport website.
Department of Education
School closures
You can find out more on their website.
Community Groups
Sport England
Community Emergency Fund
£20 million fund to support community sport and physical activity organisations.
Who can apply | Grant range | How can this money be used? | How to apply? |
---|---|---|---|
| £300 - £10,000 | The fund is to help organisations meet their obligations, in particular fixed costs, which are no longer supported with revenue. This includes:
| Sport England website |
Arts Council England
Emergency Funding Package
£160 million emergency funding package to support organisations and individuals in the arts and creative industries, divided into 3 funds.
- £50 million for organisations in the cultural sector
- £20 million for individuals including artists, creative practitioners and freelancers
- £90 million for National Portfolio Organisations
Fund | Who can apply | Grant range | How can this money be used? | How to apply |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Organisations with a track record in publicly funded culture. This fund is to support them to get back on their feet, or to continue making work in the future that will mean they can contribute to delivering ACE’s new strategy, Let’s Create. Organisations who benefit from this fund will be expected to show how they will do all they can to support the freelance creative practitioners on whom they rely. | Up to a maximum of £35,000 | This fund can be used to support business resilience as well as enable cultural organisations to develop new public facing activity during the Covid-19 emergency, for example, organisations who have new ideas to harness the power of digital in sharing creativity at the moment. It can be used to cover ‘urgent operational costs’ (which will be different for each organisation) but could include:
| The Arts Council website |
2 | Creative practitioners whose main work is focused on these artforms and disciplines:
This work includes: choreographers, writers, translators, producers, editors, freelance educators in the disciplines and artforms ACE support, composers, directors, designers, artists, craft makers and curators. You must have experience of delivering work that was funded (directly or indirectly) by bodies such as Arts Council England, National Lottery Heritage Fund, National Lottery Community Fund, local authorities, universities, public sector bodies, trusts and foundations, etc. | Up to £2,500 | The Arts Council website | |
3 | - | - | - | National Portfolio Organisations will be contacted directly with further details |
Key dates:
For the first 2 funds, there will be two rounds of this fund. You can apply to only one of these.
Round | Open | Deadline |
---|---|---|
One | 9 April 2020 | 16 April 2020 |
Two | 16 April 2020 | 30 April 2020 |
Kent Community Foundation
Coronavirus Emergency Fund
Who can apply | Grant range | How can this money be used? | How to apply |
---|---|---|---|
Priority will be given to constituted community groups e.g. charities/CICs, with an average annual income of less than £200,000 and who are supporting the most vulnerable people at this time. Organisations should be working to:
They will also support direct intervention responses e.g.
| Up to a maximum of £10,000 |
|
Heritage Fund
Heritage Emergency Fund
£50 million fund to support the UK heritage sector as an immediate response to the coronavirus crisis.
This will provide short-term funding for organisations delivering heritage projects or running previously funded projects, and safeguarding heritage sites that NLHF have previously invested in to ensure they are not lost to the public.
Who can apply | Grant range | How can this money be used? | How to apply |
---|---|---|---|
Awards will be made on the basis of a set of criteria to identify those with the greatest need. They will also need to meet the following three requirements:
| £3,000 - £50,000 | The fund is available for organisations to stabilise operations and manage unforeseen risks. NLHF is also accelerating the provision of its £1.2m Digital Skills for Heritage initiative to help the sector through the crisis and beyond. This will include support for organisations to run activities and events, reach audiences, engage volunteers, share content and fundraise online. |
Maidstone Safe Haven
They provide telephone support between 6pm and 11pm, 365 days per year.
If you are feeling distressed, overwhelmed, or that things are too much and you don’t know where to turn to get support in the evening, then your Safe Haven is here. We offer a welcoming, safe, comfortable, non-judgmental and non-clinical environment. The emphasis is on reducing immediate distress, and supporting visitors to access services and opportunities available to them in the wider community, here you can access one-to-one emotional support from trained mental health professionals.
There are four MHM Safe Havens across Kent and Medway. These sites will open for visitors as soon as it is safe to do so.
For further details check out the Maidstone Safe Haven website.
Home food deliveries
Visit Maidstone is working with local businesses to compile a directory of businesses offering home deliveries or a take away service for food and essential items in Maidstone.
Social Media
Social media is a valuable tool at a time like this, but it can also contain mis-information and rumour, which isn’t helpful.
Here are the organisations social media that will give you factual advice: