Staying positive... while staying at home 
If you’re looking for ideas on how to keep you and your family occupied during lockdown sign up to our Love Libraries email. 
These special edition emails will not only keep you in the loop with online activities our local libraries are providing but there’ll be lots of national information and suggestions too. It’s for all ages, so what are you waiting for? Add your email to the list here  

Benefits advice – Citizens Advice Oldham 
For information about Universal Credit, Welfare benefits, employment, debt and housing people can contact our Citizens Advice Oldham. Visit casort.org where you can find information or use the webchat. Or call on 03003309073.  

Free school meals and Easter 
We are working closely with schools to continue to provide free school meals for those that are eligible. Free school meals are provided on school sites or a voucher alternative if schools have this in place. 
Over the two weeks of Easter our catering service will be on site to provide packed lunches but there will be no voucher scheme – as the Government haven’t supplied money for this. 
After Easter the system will return to catering staff providing packed lunches on site and the voucher scheme start again – with a total of £15 per week available. Each school is administering its own voucher scheme and so enquiries should be directed to them in the first instance. 

Oldham foodbanks also are available for those in critical need.

Schools and Easter  
The vast majority of schools have remained open 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 schools have pooled their resources to do this and they will continue to be open over the Easter Holiday period for these children. 
On Good Friday and Easter Monday schools will be open, staffed by volunteering school staff, although what is offered may be slightly different. 

Early Years settings for very young children 
The Council is working with Oldham’s nurseries and childminders to ensure there is a level of childcare for key workers. This has been a difficult time for these small businesses and a number are now closed due to staffing levels and financial pressures. 
If you are a key worker with a child aged 0-5 and you need childcare provision or your childcare has closed, please visit our list of childcare providers (which we are constantly updating) for telephone numbers to check availability. List of childcare providers. Please note the list does not include childminders. 
If you would like to enquire about childminder availability then please email [email protected]  with your full contact details (including postcode) and information about the type of childcare you require including dates and times. 
All other children should be cared for at home during this period.

Helpline – 0161 770 7007
If you need help during the coronavirus outbreak call us on 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.