This note provides an update on the information posted on this blog on Friday (17.4.20).
Key messages for today
- It’s important we keep looking out for children. If you’re concerned about a child or young person, you can contact Children’s Social Care for advice.
- We’re introducing a new direct payment system for parents with children who receive free school meals. Register now.
- The Welsh Government will pay for childcare for pre-school aged children of critical workers. Find out more and apply on our website.
Ian Bancroft – Chief Executive
Mark Pritchard – Leader of the Council
Safeguarding our children
One of the positive things to come out of the current emergency is the way people are looking out for each other.
Looking out for their families, friends, neighbours…and even strangers. Trying to help where they can, and trying to keep each other safe.
It’s really important we keep looking out for each other, and thinking about the welfare of other people…and that includes children.
And as well as taking care of our own children, we need to look out for other children and young people, and if we see anything that worries us, get in touch with the appropriate people or support services.
Our lives have changed dramatically over the past few weeks, but amid all the daily challenges we’re facing, it’s important we keep looking out for children.
Children and young people who are vulnerable or struggling in some way, rely on us – as adults – to look out for them.
If you’re concerned about a child or young person, you can contact Children’s Social Care for advice.
Stay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.
Please continue to follow the Government’s instructions.
Stay at home, except for essential journeys and to exercise locally once a day, and keep two metres away from anyone you don’t live with.
By doing this, you’re helping to keep Wrexham as safe as it can be.
Free school meals
Register for our new direct payment scheme by Friday, May 1
Do your children receive free school meals?
We’ll be introducing a new system on Monday, May 4 as part of our ongoing response to Covid-19.
The system will see money paid directly into your bank account, which you can then use to buy your children food.
This will make things easier for parents, and reduce the need to travel to collection points to pick up the ‘grab-and-go’ packed lunches we’re currently providing.
We don’t want anyone to miss out, so please make sure you register via the council’s website by Friday, May 1 (you’ll need to provide your bank details).
You’ll receive a monthly payment that equates to £19.50 per week for each eligible child in your family.
Note that if your children are still attending school (because you’re a critical worker or they’re vulnerable), you’ll need to use the money to pay for their school meals, or to buy food so you can send them in with a packed lunch.
REGISTER NOWYou can still collect grab-and-go bags until Friday, May 1
For the past few weeks, we’ve been providing ‘grab-and-go’ packed lunches for children who receive free school meals who aren’t in school at the moment.
We’ve been doing this through 12 distribution centres across the county borough.
This was introduced as an interim measure to allow time to develop a new system, and you’ll still be able to collect grab-and-go packed lunches up to and including Friday, May 1.
But from Monday, May 4 you’ll need to have registered for the new direct payments system so you don’t miss out.
If you have any queries, email us at freeschoolmeals@wrexham.gov.uk
GET THE LATEST COVID-19 INFORMATION FROM PUBLIC HEALTH WALES
Reminder – free childcare for critical workers
1. Are you still going to work?
2. Are you identified by your employer as a critical worker?
3. Do you have pre-school aged children?
If you can answer ‘yes’ to all three questions, did you know that free childcare is available for your children?
The Welsh Government will pay for childcare for pre-school aged children of critical workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Find out more and apply on our website.
Please pass this message on to your work colleagues.
Reminder – bin wagons
No-one wants to be the cause of their entire street not having their bins emptied, so please…if you park your car on the road, make sure there’s enough room for our bin wagons to get past.
Read the article we posted last week.
Reminder – are you eligible for business support?
We’ve already paid out more than £14 million to 1,220 businesses in Wrexham as part of the business rates relief support announced by Welsh Government.
Although claims are still being received each day, anyone who hasn’t applied yet is encouraged to check if their business is eligible and – if so – submit an online application.
If you do apply, please check the details you provide very carefully – especially bank account numbers and sort codes – as incorrect details can lead to delays in payment.
Reminder – reliable sources of information about Covid-19
Latest information on the virus and what people should do about it is provided by:
- Daily TV statements by the Government (including by Government ministers).
- Daily official briefings from the Department of Health and Social Care at 2pm, and Public Health Wales at 3pm.
Read the most up-to-date information about Covid-19.
LATEST INFO ON COVID-19
