More than 7,500 vulnerable people in Bath and North East Somerset who are shielding during this second phase of lockdown should have been contacted to make sure they are aware of the support available to them.

B&NES Council has contacted all residents who have been identified as clinically extremely vulnerable to outline the help available from the B&NES Community Wellbeing Hub and encourage them to register on the Government’s new online registration service.

By registering for the online service, residents will be able to request access to a priority supermarket delivery slot if they don’t already have one, notify the Council that they need support and make sure their contact details are up-to-date.

Residents who are shielding, or a family member or carer on their behalf, can register at: www.gov.uk/coronavirus-shielding-support

Where residents have requested additional support, the Council will work with its support centre, the Community Wellbeing Hub to get in touch and offer appropriate services from the Hub. These could include mental health support; returning home from hospital; income, housing and benefits advice; food and medication collections and lifestyle services such as stopping smoking or losing weight.

The Hub is a collaboration between Bath & North East Somerset Council; Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire CCG; Virgin Care; 3SG and other partner organisations.