Is there any place you can ask for help?

[KoalasandRabbit]

We live in a street of elderly residents probably only ones under 70. Most live alone. We do have a village supermarket in the street but in theory they aren't supposed to leave their houses.

We keep getting asked to help - 2 have knocked this morning by 9.30am. We are really struggling - got 2 kids including 1 autistic at home and I have ME. I've just started sweating with a fever and so we should all now be self-isolating but there's no-one to help the elderly. Is there anyone I could report it to? Looking online looks like there's nobody. Wondered about council or social services? And should we just not answer the door now? I obviously wouldn't answer it - I also have a cough - but DH wants to carry on answering as he says there's no chance its the virus. I haven't been out for a month so only way it could be would be if someone else in household had no symptoms and passed it on. It's therefore really low chance but rules are we self-isolate as a household. I have the e-mail of one lady - tbh even if I say I think they will still be knocking.

Have you had a look on Facebook? My town has 2 groups set up specifically for people to ask for help from local residents.

Have you checked Facebook? Lots of communities are being coordinated through their local MP’s and churches.

Have you looked at next door? People register to help...

If you call your local parish council they are likely to know who is organising a help service and how you can get in touch with them. A quicker option will be to get on your local Facebook group and ask.

You need to self-isolste now with your family, so don't forget to ask for help for yourself as well!

I recommend you put up a sign on your food that says you are now self-isolating and if neighbours need help they should email/call X.

Thanks very much - I did try Facebook but could only find council asking for volunteers. I do have a parish counsellors e-mail so that could work, even if there's no help now just flagging there's an issue would help. I think will get DH to stick a note to the door. We can just about manage ourselves but certainly for 2 weeks we can't do the street and even after then we would be struggling and autistic child gets distressed when people knock at our door. Happy for people to e-mail but also DH will never say no and not answer door. Thanks for the help.

Try emailing, or better still tweeting, your MP too. They should be at the very least aware of how their constituency is managing its vulnerable.

The MP might be able to put pressure on the local council to put things in place or at least identify the most in need.