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Schools and Easter
We understand that this is a difficult time for parents and carers of children in education.
The vast majority of schools have remained open since the coronavirus outbreak to provide care for a limited number of children whose parents are key workers and cannot be safely cared for at home as well as for children who receive support from social workers and have Education Health Care Plans.
In some cases, neighbouring schools have pooled their resources to offer this service and this is working well.
The government have been clear there is an expectation on schools to open over the normal Easter Holiday period for the children they have been supporting.
The two bank holidays – Good Friday and Easter Monday – are slightly different but schools are being asked to stay open too.
In Oldham the response of our schools has been tremendous, and staff have volunteered to cover this whole period, including the bank holidays.
We would like to thank the staff at all our schools for their excellent work to help for young people at this time.

Business grants
Oldham businesses can now take advantage of cash grants to support them during the coronavirus pandemic.
Oldham Council is distributing the Small Business Grant Fund and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund locally.
A form for businesses to submit their information has now been launched at www.oldham.gov.uk/cashgrants.
Completing the form will help the council to issue grants as quickly as possible.
In addition to the grants, the council is also currently rolling out a 12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality, leisure and nursery businesses in Oldham.

‘Stay at home’ – British Sign Language
Public Health England have released new British Sign Language (BSL) versions of social media resources ([link removed][UNIQID])

‘Stay at home’ guidance in easy-read, and other languages
Guidance in other languages and an easy-read format can be found here ([link removed][UNIQID]) .
Basic UK ‘stay at home’ information is available in many languages including Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Bengali, French, Gujarati, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Urdu.

What can go in the temporary weekly grey bin service?
Only put household waste, food and household recycling from inside you house into the grey bin. Garden waste, rubble, soil and sand should never go in a grey bin, our machinery can’t take it. Store this waste till recycling centres re-open.
Weekly grey bin collections are now in place – put the grey bin out by 7am on your usual collection day. No other bins will be collected.

Hospital visiting suspended
Following a national decision taken by NHS England to suspend hospital visiting, all visits at local hospitals have now stopped.

Mental health guidelines for coping with coronavirus
Guidance for all people can be found here ([link removed][UNIQID])
Guidance on supporting children and young people can be found here ([link removed][UNIQID])
Helpline – 0161 770 7007
Emergency food and essential basic items are available to people genuinely in emergency need, unable to leave the house and without neighbour or family support. 9am to 5pm on weekdays and 11am to 2pm on weekends.
Prescriptions and medicines will be handled separately by local pharmacies working with GPs.

Funeral services
Services are following national guidance which restricts the number of mourners to 10 people.
There are currently no delays in the funeral process. This may change in the next few weeks and we ask for people’s understanding during this difficult time.

Information and advice online
Go to www.oldham.gov.uk/coronavirus for a wide range of information, advice and support.

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Oldham Council . Civic Centre . West Street . Oldham, OL1 1UT . United Kingdom