Essex County Council pledges to keep supporting those who are shielding with new wellbeing service
As the national shielding programme comes to an end this month, Essex County Council has pledged to continue to support vulnerable members of the community with its new wellbeing service.
Around 2.2 million people classed as “clinically extremely vulnerable” will no longer have to shield from 31st of July with government-provided food boxes and medicine deliveries also ending. However, the newly formed Essex Wellbeing Service, which connects residents with the right support at the right time, has promised to make that transition smoother.
The wellbeing service has evolved from the Essex Welfare Service launched during the pandemic to provide support to local communities. It saw almost 9,000 vulnerable people who were shielding across Essex receive support from specialist providers, local community hubs and from over 3,000 volunteers.
As the UK slowly emerges from lockdown, the anxieties around safety, financial worries, redundancies, and family pressures continue to increase for many.
It has prompted the development of the Essex Wellbeing Service, to give all Essex residents, including parents and families, a single point of access to the practical, emotional and specialist support they need, irrespective of their circumstances.
Practical support can range from volunteers collecting food and medicine, to dementia care from local organisations. There is also a range of advice on offer surrounding topics like debt, parenting, and mental health.
Requesting support or making a referral for someone else can be done with an online form or a phone call.
The helpline for Essex Wellbeing Service is already live and residents can access services immediately by calling 0300 303 9988 or by visiting the website.
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