~The HAWA Team
HAWA Spring & Summer Magazine First Edition
View your copy here:
or download here: HAWA Spring & Summer Digital Edition 2020
Exercise with Rubina on Skype
To all HAWA and Tiffin Club members.
You can now have exercise sessions on Skype with Rubina. Skype classes will start on Thursday 2nd of April at 11:30AM till 12:30PM, this will continue on every Thursday thereafter.
All of the classes are free, please feel free to click the link below to join.
https://join.skype.com/lY7lF0abgIqL
Help and Assistance during Isolation
Useful information on where to get help and local Businesses offering home delivery while in Isolation.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: Just Talk HertsJust Talks Herts are offering support for people who are struggling with their mental health during this current COVID 19 situation. Please click on the attached link for more information. Website: https://www.justtalkherts.org/news/looking-after-your-mental-health-during-coronavirus.aspx Hertfordshire Adult ServicesHertfordshire Adult services have a range of services available for the elderly and vulnerable. Please contact them @ 0300 1234042 alternatively go to there website: https://www.hertfordshire.gov. Communities 1stCOVID-19 for IndividualsIf you’re in an ‘at risk’ group and need help or support please complete our online form here. The purpose of this form is to collect your contact details so we can help connect you to support from a volunteer in your community. We will ask some other questions to find out more about the kind of help you need. If you need any help completing this form, please contact Communities 1st @ 020 8207 5115 or email help@communities1st.org.uk Ummah Welfare TrustUmmah Welfare Trust is reaching out to families in the UK who are suffering in the Coronavirus Pandemic. Families struggling to pay bills, cover rent or meet other immediate payments can contact the charity. Phone @ 08004080011 or 01204661030 or the Families only line @ 07933001283
University of Hertfordshire Islamic SocietyUniversity of Hertfordshire Islamic society are offering help to over 60’s or those in self isolation with picking up shopping, posting mail, urgent supplies and friendly phone calls. Please contact them @ 07424691899 or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ HertshelpHertshelp are offering emergency food and grocery packs, please contact them @ 0300 1234044 to see if you are eligible. Alternatively you can go to their website: https://www.hertshelp.net/ Grove Fruits in St.AlbansGrove fruits will be offering boxes of set mixed vegetables, fruit or salads. Free delivery to the elderly, vulnerable and those self-isolating. Boxes available at set prices, details will be posted on their social media platforms. Mediterranean Boucherie (Halal meat and Groceries), Hatfield Road, St AlbansMediterranean Boucherie will be offering free home deliveries on orders over £40 in St Albans, London Colney and Park Street. Payment for goods can be made cash on delivery or bank transfer in advance of delivery.
IMPORTANT NOTICE SMART WASH LAUNDRETTE
53 HATFIELD ROAD, ST ALBANS, AL1 4JE
Following the government guidelines, we have decided that from the 6th June 2020 the launderette will now be open at our usual time from 8am – 6pm, seven days a week as per usual providing service washes and dry cleaning. However it is important that when entering the launderette you must keep a 2 meter distance from one another. Yours Sincerely, ~The Team of Smart Wash Launderette  WE WILL KEEP THIS POST UPDATED WITH ANY NEW INFORMATION AS IT IS RECEIVED. |
Housing Update due to COVID-19
HOUSING CONCERNS DURING COVID-19
FOR BOTH TENANTS AND LANDLORDS
We can understand many people in our community will be concerned about paying rent as they do not have their regular incomes, and contemplating whether they could be evicted during this current corona virus situation.
Similarly, landlords in our community may struggle if they do not receive the rent they are entitled to, and wonder what their rights are at this time.
The government has established a non-statutory guidance for landlords and tenants in the private and social rented sectors, the full booklet can be accessed using this link:
These new rules will be in place till 30th September 2020; however the government may choose to extend the date if needed.
A few important points to be noted are:
· A landlord cannot evict tenants for the next 3 months.
· If a landlord does give an eviction notice, it will now be a 3 month notice and not the usual 2 months notice.
· All tenants still have a legal obligation to pay their rent. If they are out of work, they can claim Universal Credit, or if furloughed from work they will receive 80% of their salary from their employer.
· An agreement can be made between the landlord and tenant where they allow a smaller percentage of rent to be paid, with how many months this will go on for stated. Additionally, this must be in writing so there is evidence of the agreement, be it a signed and dated contract or an email conversation where both parties have said they agree to terms.
· Then, the outstanding amount from these months will be paid at a later date in full. Or it can be proportionately added to the rent every month after the agreement is over till it is cleared.
· Landlords can seek a 3 month payment holiday on their mortgage from their mortgage lender. Please be noted the interest accumulated during the 3 months will be added to your existing mortgage amount and recalculated.
· Tenants who are eligible for housing benefits should apply.
Please read the guideline attached in the link above, and if you need a better understanding of your rights, you can contact us at HAWA Hub or seek legal advice. This information is correct as of 10th April 2020.
~The HAWA Team
The Annual General Meeting
The next HAWA AGM meeting will be held in September, please check the blog for further updates and details in the near future.
~The HAWA Team
COVID-19 Advice in Other Languages
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
