Community hubs are open across East Sussex to bring extra help for people who need support in coping with the effects of coronavirus. Since they opened just three weeks ago, community hubs have already responded to 2,500 requests for urgent help or advice.
Many of us already have the support we need from family, friends, carers or neighbours and will not need community hubs. But it’s vital that no one is left on their own if they feel isolated, unwell or anxious.
The community hubs will focus their help on people who do not have an extreme medical condition but may be vulnerable because they are isolated from help, too unwell to buy food or have other pressing difficulties because of coronavirus.
Getting hold of food and help with shopping continues to be the main reason why people are getting in touch with their local hub.
It’s busier than ever in the cafe at County Hall in Lewes as deliveries are being made for food box preparation.
How do the community hubs work?
The community hubs provide phone and online support for anyone who is isolated, anxious or unwell at home and do not have family or friends they can call on. Volunteers and staff from local councils and the health service will try to get the right assistance to the people who need it most, including helping to arrange food deliveries, medical supplies or mental health support.
Read more on how the community hubs work.
How do I request help from one of the community hubs?
You can get in touch using the contact details of your nearest hub below. You will need to provide your name, address including postcode, phone number and details of the support required.
Medicines cannot be provided through this service
Help with getting medicine continues to be a common request and some hubs are seeing an increase in people needing urgent help.
NHS advice is for patients to ask a trusted family member or friend to pick up their prescription for them. Pharmacy services differ, but they should all be trying to find a solution with the patient directly. In some cases, they may need the support of community hubs to arrange a volunteer.
Contact details for the community hubs are:
Eastbourne
online: https://www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/community/covid-19/
phone: 01323 679722
Hastings
online: https://www.hastings.gov.uk/my-council/covid19/help/
phone: 01424 451019
Lewes
online: https://www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/community/covid-19/
phone: 01273 099956
Rother
online: https://www.rother.gov.uk/news/coronavirus-covid-19-community-support/
phone: 01424 787000 (option 4)
Wealden
online: https://www.wealden.gov.uk/news-and-events/coronavirus-covid-19-latest/community-support/
phone: 01323 443322
Food boxes are being prepared for delivery to people across East Sussex who need some extra help.
Community hubs are in addition to direct help which has already been arranged for people with urgent medical conditions who are being asked to shield themselves at home for 12 weeks. If you fall in to this category you will be contacted directly by your GP and can have food parcels delivered directly to your door through the Sussex Resilience Forum which brings together emergency services, health services, local authorities and other partners across East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove.
If you think you are extremely vulnerable and have not been contacted by your GP you can register online.
Organisations and services are adapting quickly and changing their offer to ensure that they can still support people in the most critical ways. In some cases, this means that other services aren’t available or are operating very differently.
Find out about changes to East Sussex County Council services.
