Staying safe and keeping well this winter

"This time of year can put a lot of pressure on us but it's important to remember the best give we can give each other this Christmas is support, kindness and a listening ear." - Sam

"Christmas isn't everybody's cup of tea but 'This too shall pass'" - Wendy 

"For those of us estranged from our families or who are grieving losses; family occasions such as Christmas can be a tough time of year. It's important we remember to reach out if we need to." - Christine

At this time of year it is even more important to look after yourself, find time for yourself, and to do plenty of self-care to get you through. Try spend time outside in natural light, plan ahead as much as you can and reach out to others if you don't feel well. Take a look at our little winter wellbeing activity booklet for ideas!

Find below some information to help you stay safe and keep yourself well this winter, and emergency contacts further down the page if you need urgent support. We have also included local Covid advice.

Local guides and service information:

Coping with Christmas: Information from Mind.
​VSI Winter Directory: Useful information on local support and services around mental health, physical health, Covid isolation support, support for people experiencing loneliness, food support and specialist support (e.g. for carers, South Asian communities, disabled people or learning disabled people and the elderly or older people).
Winter Wise Booklet: The Calderdale guide to staying safe and warm this winter.
Together We Can: Handy NHS information to answer any questions around accessing healthcare this Christmas.
Connected at Christmas: Activities over the Christmas period from Staying Well.
Emergency Food In Calderdale Booklet: Emergency food, free meals, and support contacts in Calderdale this winter from The Calderdale Food Poverty Forum and the VSI Alliance.
Free Christmas Dinner at Mexi Bean, Sowerby Bridge. For the homeless and elderly from 1 - 3pm. Tel 01422 833 000
Healthy Holidays Calderdale Programme: free holiday club for children on free school meals.
Healthwatch Calderdale have put together some information about health services available over Christmas and New Year.
LAB Courses for employability: Want to start something new in 2022? Gain skills and employability? Proper Job Theatre Company have opportunities on their LAB courses for people who are 19+ and unemployed, and you will receive a £50 voucher on completion. Find out more about the LAB projects here.

Emergency contacts & mental health support

 If you are in danger:

Call 999 emergency services.

If you are in crisis:

NHS mental health crisis line (24 hours) 0800 183 0558
Or call 999.

If you are in emotional distress, and feel like you are on the edge of crisis:

Local NHS helpline: There is now a 24 hour mental health helpline for anyone registered with a GP in Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. Call 0800 183 0558
Safespace, Healthy Minds (Everyday apart from Christmas day 6.30pm-10.30pm) 07388990227
Samaritans (24 hours) 116 123
SANE request a call back on 07984 967 708
Shout text line (24 hrs) Text 'SHOUT' to 85258
South West Yorkshire Partnership Grief and Loss Support Service: (8am to 8pm, 7 days a week) use the online chat or Call 0808 1963833

If you are a young person or child in distress:

Night OWLS is a confidential support line for children and young people in crisis. Helping them, their parents and carers living in Bradford, Leeds, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield.Open 8pm – 8am every day, you can contact Night OWLS on freephone 0300 2003900, by text 07984 392700 or chat on www.wynightowls.org.uk.

HopeLine UK - PAPYRUS: under 35s (9am - 12am) call 0800 068 41 41
HopeLine UK - PAPYRUS: under 35s (9am - 12am) text 07860039967
The Mix: under 25s (3pm-12am) 0808 808 4994
The Mix: under 25s crisis text line. Text THE MIX to 85258
Childline: Help line for children - call 0800 1111

If you are experiencing domestic abuse:

Information booklet here from Calderdale Staying Safe, if you are 16 or over, female or male and have experienced any form of Domestic Abuse, Calderdale Staying Safe can support you- call 01422 323339.
Refuge: domestic abuse helpline (24 hours) 0808 2000 247

Non-urgent mental health support/information:

Kooth.com (age 10-18) and Qwell.io (18+) are mental health support services that are available every day of the year - which means our counsellors and practitioners will still be available to chat online right across the holidays. For the specific hours that counsellors and practitioners are available on Kooth and Qwell (including Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day). Kooth.com and Qwell.io offers support and advice that is:
- free
- safe
- anonymous
- online
- BACP accredited 
- same day 
- no waiting lists
- no referrals/ thresholds/ criteria

VitaMinds NHS Calderdale self-referral
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust services for adults and children
OpenMinds Calderdale for children and young people
Time Out - run by Healthy Minds, for children and young people

Covid this winter

As we enter the festive period with new national COVID-19 guidelines, Calderdale Council is giving advice on how we can all make Christmas as safe and merry as possible.

With increasing cases of the Omicron variant nationally, the Government has moved to its COVID Plan B. Face coverings are required by law in most indoor public places and on public transport unless people are medically exempt; people are advised to work from home if they can; and from 15 December, the NHS Covid Pass is mandatory for entry into nightclubs and settings where large crowds gather.

To help people enjoy the festive period whilst reducing the spread of COVID-19, the Council is encouraging people to take the following steps to help protect each other, alongside the new national rules:

• Get the vaccine (and booster) when you are invited, even if you’ve had COVID-19. Appointments and walk-in slots are available now across Calderdale for people to get boosters and first and second doses.
• Wear a face covering when indoors in enclosed spaces.
• Try to keep your distance and limit mixing with people you don’t live with.
• Let plenty of fresh air in.
• Take a lateral flow test before mixing with others indoors / attending any festive events.
• Isolate and get a PCR test if you have symptoms that might be COVID-19.
• Get the flu vaccine if you’re eligible.
• Think about which festive events that involve mixing with others are the most important to you, and consider giving the others a miss this year.
• If you’re travelling with friends or relatives in the car, think about opening the windows to let fresh air in (even if it’s just a couple of inches). Think about wearing a mask for the journey.
• If you are going out to meet friends, why not choose a venue that isn’t too crowded and doesn’t have loud music, so people don’t have to shout in each other’s faces?
• If you’re going to an event, the theatre or cinema where there are lots of people, consider delaying seeing elderly or vulnerable family members until 10 days afterwards, and consider giving hugs and kisses a miss when you do see them.
• Frequent handwashing is still as important as ever, not just to prevent COVID, but other winter bugs as well.

Along with the introduction of Plan B measures, the Government also announced enhanced guidelines for care home visiting, to reduce the risk of transmission and outbreaks. This included changes to the number of people who can regularly visit, as well as enhanced testing arrangements for visitors.
The Council continues to give advice to care homes and is supporting them to implement the new guidance. Proactive work has continued throughout the pandemic to support safe visiting practices and maintain infection prevention and control measures.

For up-to-date and reliable information about COVID-19, use trusted sources such as:

www.gov.uk/coronavirus
www.nhs.uk/coronavirus
www.calderdale.gov.uk/coronavirus
www.calderdaleccg.nhs.uk