Here are some informational videos to help you out during the COVID-19 Quarantine. We have videos here in language order: English, Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, Arabic and Sylheti.
English:
Sylheti:
~The HAWA Team
Hub Enquiries
HAWA and Tiffin Club Hub, face to face Hubs are closed until further notice.
However, email and telephone support are available.
For Hub online enquiries please fill in the contact enquiry form click here.
Email enquiries will be responded to from Monday to Friday.
We are also available to give you phone advice on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10AM till 1PM.
Mondays – Zia 07950490029
Wednesdays – Farhat 07775460963
Fridays – Rubeca – 07401079970
We also have bilingual staff available to help in the following languages:
Urdu, Bengali, Hindi, Punjabi, Pahari and Moroccan.
In the meantime, please continue to follow the government advice on keeping yourself safe @ https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
INFORMATION FOR THE SELF EMPLOYED DURING COVID-19
We understand this is a very stressful time for our community. Plenty of information is available, however it is not always clear, or can be difficult to understand what applies to you.
The government has put all that they are offering on their website, please see the link below.
Here is a summary of information and help from the website that we feel is most essential for those who are self-employed:
· Deferred VAT payments – this means you can now ask to have an extra 3 months, to pay your VAT bill if needed. However, it is advised that you should pay on time if you are able to. Please see the link on the website on how to defer your VAT payment.
· Self assessment payments can be pushed back to January 2021.
· There is a “Time to pay scheme” available for self-employed people in financial distress and unable to pay their tax liabilities. The HMRC helpline to call is 0800 024 1222. They will assess your situation and see if an arrangement can be made.
· Self-employment Income Support Scheme – you can receive a taxable grant (you do not need to pay this back) worth 80% of the average profit you would normally have. If is important to note, HMRC will contact each individual who is eligible and inform you of this, you do not have to contact them. Please read the information about this grant following this link:
· Many self-employed people will be able to apply for Universal Credit or Employment Support Allowance, especially if they have now closed their business down. You may also be eligible for Housing benefits to help you pay rent. This site is very informative with links regarding this matter:
Coronavirus and claiming benefits – Understanding Universal Credit
The government has not made it clear if you should apply for Universal Credit while you wait to see if HMRC contact you for the Income Support Scheme. However, if you are not working you should be eligible to Universal Credit; therefore it makes sense to apply. Later if you receive 80% of your income from HMRC, you would have to update Universal Credit on the amount you are receiving. They will then recalculate your benefit eligibility, and inform you if you will still receive a sum from them or not.
We at HAWA hope this information and the links provided aid in our self-employed community to reach the financial assistance they require at this present time. Please be noted that government advice and procedures are ever changing. This information that we have provided was correct as of 3rd April 2020.
Government Support for the Vulnerable
Covid-19: Support for vulnerable people in the UK
If you are a vulnerable person, you can sign up for support online. You can register yourself, or on behalf of someone else. This will help you to get food, shopping deliveries and additional care that you might need.
If you have received a letter from the Government or have one of the following conditions:
- Have had a solid organ transplant.
- Have any cancer and are getting chemotherapy.
- Have lung cancer and are getting radical radiotherapy.
- Have cancer of the blood or bone marrow, at any stage of treatment – for example, leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma.
- Have any cancer for which you’re getting immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments.
- Have any cancer for which you’re getting a targeted treatment which can affect the immune system – for example, protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors.
- Have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months or are still taking immunosuppression drugs.
- Have a severe respiratory condition – including cystic fibrosis, severe asthma or severe COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
- Have a rare disease or inborn error of metabolism that significantly increases your risk of infection – for example SCID or homozygous sickle cell.
- Are getting an immunosuppression therapy that’s sufficient to significantly increase your risk of infection.
- Are pregnant and have a significant congenital or acquired heart disease.
You should register online for support. But if you are not sure, speak to your local GP practice for advice.
Register for Government Support for Vulnerable people.
How to register:
Before you register it will be useful if you know your NHS Number, but you can still register without it.
- Click on the link: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable or search for coronavirus support on the gov.uk website.
- Read the website to check that you are eligible to get support from the UK Government then press start now to sign up.
- Answer the online questions; they will ask you if you have a letter from the government telling you that you are a vulnerable person. (look above to check the following conditions)
- Enter your name and your date of birth.
- Enter your address and contact details.
- You will get an email or letter explaining what to do next/what support is available for you.
~ The HAWA Team
HUB Partners, St.Albans Healthy Club Newsletter
Our HUB Partner has provided a great informational newsletter to help you during the COVID-19 Quarantine.
Please click the link below to view the newsletter:
St Albans Healthy Hub Newsletter
~ The HAWA Team
Tiffin Club Closed until Further Notice
Due to the coronavirus outbreak we have had to close the Tiffin Club until further notice. Please keep checking the website and our Facebook page for updates.
HAWA and Tiffin Club Hub, face to face Hubs are closed until further notice.
However, email and telephone support are available.
For Hub online enquiries please fill in the contact enquiry form click here.
Email enquiries will be responded to from Monday to Friday.
We are also available to give you phone advice on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10AM till 1PM.
Mondays – Zia 07950490029
Wednesdays – Farhat 07775460963
Fridays – Rubeca – 07401079970
We also have bilingual staff available to help in the following languages:
Urdu, Bengali, Hindi, Punjabi, Pahari and Moroccan.
In the meantime, please continue to follow the government advice on keeping yourself safe @ https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Newspaper Articles
Please click on the attached links to see what we have been up to recently.
https://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/st-albans-tiffin-club-helps-elderly-and-vulnerable-1-6401206
https://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/coronavirus-crisis-forces-cancellation-of-sustfest20-1-6589300
https://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/tributes-paid-to-matriarch-of-st-albans-asian-community-1-4117123
Who will win a Mayor’s Pride Award for 2020?
~The HAWA Team
High Sheriff of Hertfordshire and Small Acts of Kindness
In October, the High Sheriff of Hertfordshire Sarah Beazley joined forces with the Tiffin Club ladies, Rev. Canon Mark Slater from St Luke’s church, HAWA members and Small Acts of Kindness to fill 600 hot drink packs for the Small Acts of Kindness Winter gift bags, which were distributed to the elderly and vulnerable in Herefordshire over the winter.
Annual Fund Raising Dinner
Photo of Annual Fund Raising Dinner held on 28th April 2019.
Next Annual Fund Raising Dinner in 2020 will be advised once the COVID-19 Quarantine is over.
~The HAWA Team
Sweet, Sweet Teddy
On the 8th November the ladies took part in making teddy bear cake toppers, it was sticky fingers and fun all round. We had lots of giggles and some very talented ladies.
Visit From The Mayor
On the 29th November the Mayor of St Albans Rosemary Farmar visited the Tiffin Club. She spoke about her life and different roles she has done over the years. It was very inspirational and the ladies enjoyed her bubbly personality. The Mayor then joined the ladies for lunch before she had to dash off to her next appointment.
