This is an expanding list of resources for people in the Oxford area during the Covid-19 crisis. Please visit Oxford Covid-19 Mutual Aid for the latest news. If you have suggestions for additions to this list, please post there or email resources@oxfordmutualaid.org.
Downloadable and Printable Guides
A guide to mental health resources and support during lockdown
A guide for new parents and maternity during lockdown
The Covid-19 pandemic is causing an unprecedented rent crisis. Although evictions are suspended for three months, we have to come together to protect each other once the lockdown is lifted. You may also be able to win a rent holiday from your landlord during the crisis.
Help and Support for Unpaid Carers
If you provide regular unpaid help and support to a partner, relative, or friend who’s struggling to cope alone, then you’re a carer. Action for Carers Oxfordshire can help you find the information, advice and support you need.
Domestic Violence Help and Support
Please hit the pink ‘ESCAPE’ button to the right or the ‘esc’ button on your keyboard to quickly exit this site. Most of these organisations offer a live chat or email support option for those concerned they might be overheard.
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Please remember no matter what the reason, any form of abuse, including physical or emotional, is always wrong.
If you’re in immediate danger, you can call the police on 999 and they will come to help you– press ’55’ if you are unable to speak.
Women’s Aid corona safety advice. The COVID-19 pandemic is a scary and uncertain time for all of us, but for survivors, lockdown may be a particularly difficult period. This guide from Women’s Aid has some helpful advice for women and children during the crisis.
National Domestic Abuse Helpline
National Domestic Abuse Helpline – This freephone 24 hour national domestic violence helpline, run in partnership between Women’s Aid and Refuge, is a national service for women experiencing domestic violence, their family, friends, colleagues and others calling on their behalf. Tel: 0808 2000 247.
Oxfordshire Sexual Abuse & Rape Crisis Centre
OSARCC supports survivors of sexual violence, promotes and advocates for their needs and works towards the elimination of sexual violence. They welcome contact from survivors from all walks of life, including women who sell sex and trans women. Their phone support lines are currently unavailable, however they are still offering text support: Sunday and Thursday evenings: 6.30 – 8.30pm on 07537 432 442 – you will receive an automatic reply and volunteers aim to respond within 15 minutes (during opening times), and email support: support@osarcc.org.uk – you will receive an automatic reply acknowledging your email so you know it’s been received, OSARCC aims to reply within seven days or sooner if possible – please note though this email is not a crisis service.
Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse
Oxfordshire County Council have shared guidance on how to respond to concerns around domestic abuse during lockdown, whether that is as an individual experiencing domestic abuse, a family member or friend, a neighbour, or someone concerned about hurting another person. Please look and listen out for friends, family, neighbours, and others in your community. For information about what abuse might look like, how to stay safe, and what to do if you’re worried about somebody visit www.reducingtherisk.org.uk.
Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse Hotline
If you are at risk of harm at home you can chose to leave and will be helped by police and support workers to get yourself and your family to somewhere safe. You can also get help to stay as safe as possible at home. Call: 0800 731 0055 between 10am-7pm Mon – Fri, or email das@a2dominion.co.uk.
If you are struggling to manage your behaviour and hurting your loved ones you can get help by contacting the Respect Helpline on 0808 802 4040.
Southall based but operating nationwide Southall Black Sisters is a secular and inclusive organisation offering specialist advice, information, casework, advocacy, counselling and self-help support services in several community languages for Asian and African-Caribbean women. Their aim is to highlight and challenge all forms gender-related violence against women, empower them to gain more control over their lives; live without fear of violence and assert their human rights to justice, equality and freedom. If you need advice, please contact the following number 0208 571 9595 Mondays to Fridays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, or send an email to info@southallblacksisters.co.uk or use the contact form.
Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation
IKWRO helps Middle Eastern, North African and Afghan women and girls who are living in the UK. They speak Farsi, Kurdish, Arabic, Dari, Pashto, Turkish and English. IKWRO’s mission is to protect Middle Eastern and Afghan women and girls who are at risk of ‘honour’ based violence, forced marriage, child marriage, female genital mutilation and domestic violence and to promote their rights. Tel: 0207 920 6490. For out-of-hours emergencies call: Kurdish/Arabic/English: 07846 275246; Farsi/Dari/English: 07846 310157
يساعد نساء الشرق الأوسط والفتيات (الايرانية والكردية والعربية والتركية والأفغان) الذين IKWRO يعيشون في المملكة المتحدة.
یارمەتی ژنان وکچانی ڕۆژهەڵات دەدات ( ئێرانی، کورد، عەرەب، ئەفغانی، تورک ) ئەوانەی لە IKWRO بەریتانیا دەژین.ئێمە بەزمانی فارسی، عەرەبی، کوردی، تورکی و داری قسە دەکەین.
سازمان دفاع از حقوق زنان ایرانی و کرد،IKWRO به زنان و دخترانی که از خاورمیانه به انگلستان آمده اند ( ایرانی، کرد، عرب، افغانی و ترک) و در انگلستان زندگی میکنند، کمک میکند.
IKWRO İngiltere’de yaşayan Ortadoğu (Türk,İranlı, Kürt, Arap ve Afgan ) kadınlarına ve genç kızlarına yardım eder. Bizler Türkçe, Farsça, Arapça, Kürtçe ve Darice konuşuruz.
Everyone deserves support for their eating concerns, and NEDA wants to provide you with advice and professional help. In this time of great uncertainty and disturbance we face the added danger that isolation brings to those who are struggling with an eating disorder. Please refer to this list to explore recovery pathways with virtual support.
Child Safety During Lockdown
Please hit the yellow ‘ESCAPE’ button to the right or ‘Return’ on your keyboard to quickly exit this site. Childline offers both live chat and email support options for those concerned they might be overheard.
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Please remember no matter what the reason, any form of abuse, including physical or emotional, is always wrong.
Being abused is never your fault. It might feel like telling someone could make it worse, you might even have been threatened with this, but getting help can keep you safe .
Abuse can make you feel powerless. Being hurt is never your fault and Childline counsellors are always here to help.
If you’re in immediate danger, you can call the police on 999 and they will come to help you– press ’55’ if you are unable to speak.
The quickest way to get through to a counsellor. Talk to Childline from any phone for free without needing credit or it showing on the phone bill.
Talking to a counsellor in a safe online chat. While waiting for a counsellor to be available you can look at other things that might help like videos and games. 1-2-1 counsellor chat is available everyday from 9am until midnight. To make sure they can answer everyone who’s waiting, you also won’t be able to join the queue for a 1-2-1 chat after 10:30pm.
Send an email from your Childline locker if you don’t need a reply straight away. They’ll try to reply within 24 hours, but it might sometimes take longer.
Support and Advocacy
Settled EU/EAA Citizens Coronavirus Guidance
Settled is a new charity, working with vulnerable and hard to reach EU / EEA citizens in the UK. Their mission is to reach out to those who are at risk of losing their right to live and work in the UK after Brexit. They have a multilingual helpline: English – 07511 214684 / 07511 214701; български – 07511 214684; Français – 07511 214711; Italiano – 07511 214701; Polski – 07511 214707; Română – 07511 214698; Slovenčina – 07511 214678; Español – 07511 214716. You can also contact them by email in your own language: info@settled.org.uk.
Advice for parents and pregnant people during lockdown: keeping toddlers entertained, keeping fit, self-isolating with young children or whilst pregnant, useful links and advice relating to COVID-19 and pregnancy.