A helpline has been set up to assist vulnerable people who have been affected by coronavirus. If you are struggling to get the food, medicine or essential supplies you need for yourself or for your family, call the helpline for advice and support.
Hampshire Coronavirus Support and Helpline - 0333 370 4000
The helpline is available 9am to 5pm weekdays, except Fridays, which are 9am to 4.30pm.
Please note the service is for people currently residing in the county of Hampshire. If you are a resident of Southampton, Portsmouth or the Isle of Wight, and call the number above, you will be signposted to their respective local support numbers.
Jobs and training
We want to help make sure everyone has the support they need. This page shows where you can get help if you have found yourself in difficult circumstances relating to employment and finding work.
- Job Centre Plus (JCP) - local job opportunities.
- Work and health programme - help to find and keep and job if you have been out of employment for less than 24 months. For further assistance speak to your work coach or local Job Centre.
- National careers scheme - personalised advice on training and work.
- The Princes Trust - support if you want to start your own business, guidance to find a job and help to build confidence. Free work experience courses are available with top employers in the area. Available to those aged between 11 - 30.
- Job finding support service - online one-to-one job finding support. Anyone can access this support, if they have been unemployed for less than 3 months.
- Kickstart scheme - six month job placements for young people currently receiving Universal Credit. It will help you back in to work to prevent risk of long-term unemployment. The scheme covers 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours per week and employers can top this up.
- Lifetime skills guaranteed - free college courses valued by employers. Entitlement to flexible loans allows you to take courses in segments, providing you with the opportunities to retain and enhance your skills.
- National apprenticeship scheme - help you find an apprenticeship.
- East Hampshire District Council enterprise apprenticeship scheme - apprenticeship scheme for residents of the district, supporting local people into local jobs.
- Careers help Hampshire County Council - careers help, information, guidance, traineeships, apprenticeships and supported internships.
Winter economy plan
The winter economy plan is a package which will continue to protect jobs and help businesses.
The plan extends the self-employed income support scheme and creates a new job support scheme.
The job support scheme will be introduced from 1 November, and protects jobs in businesses facing lower demand over the winter.
More information on the self-employed income support scheme.
The Adult Social Care Infection Control Fund (part of Winter Economy Plan) provides support for adult social care providers.
The fund will help to reduce the rate of coronavirus transmission in and between care homes and support wider workforce resilience.
If you work in adult social care, the scheme ensures that you will:
- receive your normal wages when isolating
- work in one care home to reduce risk
- only work with one group or wing of residents
- only need to use public transport where necessary
- receive accommodation if you choose to stay separately from your family
Support is also available for existing recruiting efforts.
Benefits
Discretionary housing payment extension
Government have announced additonal support for vulnerable renters to help them with housing costs.
Discretionary housing payments are an extra award of financial help, that can be awarded for a short period to help you out of a difficult financial situation.
Test and trace support payment
Government have announced a new financial package to support and enforce self-isolation.
In some circumstances, if you are told by NHS test and trace to self-isolate from the 28 September 2020, you may be supported by a payment of £500, payable from East Hampshire District Council.