If you're looking for support or are able to help others during the coronavirus situation in Tooting, then we've rounded up a list of local support services & community groups that are available. We’ll be updating this page regularly with news of local groups, organisations and initiatives that are providing advice and assistance.

Updated Sunday 1st November
 

GENERAL

The latest updates from Wandsworth Council can be found at wandsworth.gov.uk/coronavirus

HEALTH / TESTING

St George’s Hospital have a dedicated information page for patients and visitors. If you’re planning to visit the hospital, please check before doing so: stgeorges.nhs.uk/newsitem/coronavirus
 

Covid-19 Testing: Full info on how to get a test (whether in-person or at home) is on the Wandsworth Council website: wandsworth.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/public-health/coronavirus/covid-19-testing
 

NHS 111 have up-to-date details at nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19
 

Tooting Blood Donor Centre urgently needs blood plasma donations (especially from men) from people who’ve had coronavirus or the symptoms. The plasma contains neutralising antibodies which could stop the virus spreading and save lives. You can offer to donate plasma at nhsbt.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.
 

Talk Wandsworth is offering talking therapies for people with common mental health problems. Their Wellbeing Team offers workshops for the local Wandsworth community, discussing how we can maintain and improve our wellbeing. These workshops range from topics such as: Coping with Stress, Self care and Relaxation and Maintaining your Wellbeing as a Parent. In light of the current situation, they are offering 1-2-1 telephone-based sessions and a special workshop on Managing your Wellbeing during COVID-19. 

talkwandsworth.nhs.uk/index.php/wellbeing/wellbeing-team
 

Mental Health Charity MIND has an Infoline providing an information and signposting service. Open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except for bank holidays).

• Call: 0300 123 3393
• Email: info@mind.org.uk
• Text: 86463
• Post: Mind Infoline, PO Box 75225, London, E15 9FS

Ask them about:

• mental health problems
• where to get help near you
• treatment options
• advocacy services.

The Samaritans are open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org (email response time: 24 hours). See here for more details.

London Homeless Info provides information for homeless & ex-homeless in London and publishes updates on homeless day centres and soup kitchens still open for food and showers during coronavirus, with self-help advice on how to get rehoused.

LOCAL SUPPORT

MP for Tooting, Dr Rosena Allin-Khan set up a support and volunteer hub called Tooting Together to help anyone in Tooting, Balham and Earlsfield access support as well as volunteer during the coronavirus outbreak. tooting.org

Tooting Covid Call is a volunteer-run phone service enabling local residents to call and access help. Full details of how to access it and also to sign up as a volunteer are here: covidcall.org/gb/tooting

A number of local Covid-19 Mutual Aid Facebook & Whatsapp Groups have been set up by local residents in order to help others in the community who need help with shopping, prescriptions or just need someone to talk to during this period of uncertainty and self-isolation. You can see the full list here: covidmutualaid.org/local-groups

These local Covid-19 groups include:
 

- Tooting Mutual Aid Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/TootingMutualAid 

- Wandsworth Covid 19 Mutual Aid Facebook group (covering Balham, Tooting Bec and Clapham South):  facebook.com/groups/2712863618831932

- Covid 19 Community Support South West London group: facebook.com/groups/2544017185812695

- Earlsfield Covid-19 Mutual Aid Group: facebook.com/groups/677627239653890 

- Colliers Wood Covid-19 Mutual Aid Group: 
facebook.com/groups/ColliersWood

Wandsworth Council and Richmond Council have a Community Hub - a first response to all residents especially elderly and/or vulnerable without support networks, who need support to access medical / care services and food supplies. This is to help those most in need stay safe and well while they self-isolate at home. For support, call 0208 871 6555 or email covid19support@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk

A food parcel drop-off point continues to operate at the back of Balham Sainsbury's, manned by the Dons Local Action Group. Set up by supporters of AFC Wimbledon, the group are collecting essential items to drop off to elderly & vulnerable residents all over Wandsworth, Merton and Kingston.⁣ The fans are working with multiple organisations to identify those needing support and are also offering to run errands, pick up prescriptions, do the shopping, walk dogs, give people lifts and more. Potential volunteers can call 020 3301 4511 or email dla@afcwimbledonfoundation.org.uk

Balham Mosque and Tooting Islamic Centre have a helpline offering support and help to anyone in the community who needs it, regardless of faith and background. This may be particularly valuable to those without internet access. Simply call 0300 30 30 694 – the team are there to help with support, assistance, reassurance or a general chat.

Taj Daar E Medina Mosque have set up a service to help the elderly and vulnerable. See tdmtooting.com or call 07852915712 for details.

Age UK Wandsworth have information about how you can support your elderly neighbours and volunteer locally during the crisis: ageuk.org.uk/wandsworth/about-us/news/articles/2020/covid-19

They’ve also set up "Independent Shopper", a service to support older people who are not able to get to the shops due to the pandemic. The charity can do your online grocery shop for you via the phone, and provide tutorials to help you do it yourself. Email independentshopper@agukwandsworth.org.uk or call 020 8877 8940 for more details.

Wandsworth Community Transport are working with Age UK Wandsworth to deliver food parcels to the isolated elderly. They’re relying on food donations of non perishable goods like tins of meat, fish, soups, vegetables, long life milk, disinfectant products and toilet rolls but are desperate for more supplies. You can drop stuff off to their main base at 1b Yukon Road, Balham, SW12 9PZ, weekdays 8.30 to 2.30, or to their Shopmobility at Sainsbury's in Wandsworth Town Centre (opposite Southside - rear entrance from the car park). Call 020 8675 7460 if you need to talk to them. They also need small cardboard boxes to use for the deliveries.

Viral Kindness cards are a great and simple way for people to offer help in their community. Just print the cards, listing your services, and pop them through the letterbox of someone who you think needs help. You can download the cards via bit.ly/balnewsie128 and read the full story via the Guardian: bit.ly/balnewsie129

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FUNDRAISERS

St George’s Hospital Charity are raising funds to support their staff with everything they need during this time. You can also leave messages of support. More info / donate: stgeorgeshospitalcharity.org.uk/donate/intro

There’s a local fundraiser to support the critical care staff working at St Georges Hospital. Money donated to the PayPal pool is being used to fund regular lunchtime and evening deliveries to St Georges to feed the critical care nurses and in turn, support our local shops and restaurants. More info / donate: paypal.com/pools/c/8nvYv7w5NH
 

BUSINESS SUPPORT
 

Support & advice for local businesses can be found on a page set up by Wandsworth Council, which links to lots of information and resources: wandsworth.gov.uk/business-and-licensing/business-support/covid-19-support-for-businesses-and-workers

Wandsworth Enterprise Hub (launched by Wandsworth Council’s Economic Development Office) offers free monthly advice surgeries as well as many other webinars, advice and resources (including for Covid-19) for small businesses in Wandsworth: wandsworthenterprisehub.com
 

Are you a Tooting business, group or organisation? We've started a simple, free directory – tootingdirectory.co.uk – where you can add your details, let the community know how you're adapting during Covid-19 and what services you're currently offering.⁣ Submit your details and if your preferred category is not there, then please email us at info@localnewsie.co.uk

If you’re a local group, organisation or initiative that are doing something to help out in the current situation or if you think there’s some information that needs to be included on this page, please email details to info@tootingnewsie.co.uk