Issue 10
December 2020
Welcome to our December edition. Here you will find a round-up of our month, including key updates on our work, feedback from people that we work with, and what to expect in the coming months.
Here we find ourselves in our third lockdown since March 2020, we pay tribute to the NHS and Key Workers and Prison Officers and shop staff (who often get forgotten), and to all those families that have lost loved ones, these are unprecedented times, and we want you all to stay safe and well.
Good news
· A message from Lucy –
Hi all
I hope you are well.
If you have any face to face meetings arranged, please let me know in advance of these meetings.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your continued dedication, time and hard work this year. To have received 99 referrals and worked with 64 cases throughout the year, despite the restrictions and challenges we have faced, I think is such a credit to our service and to you volunteers to have made that possible. We have continued to deliver a high level of support to some really engaged clients, along with continued attempts with those that have been harder to move forward. The opportunity to have more frequent contact with volunteers over zoom and telephone during this time, has been a positive for the organisation. Being forced to slow down and operate in a different way has allowed us to build better relationships and partnerships and move forward with some exciting funding and service developments hopefully for the year ahead.
Wishing you all happy new year,
Many thanks
Lucy Edwards
Project Manager
Prison news
· Sadly, the Prisons are back in lockdown and there are no visits from social or legal, but we will keep you updated, and we pray that everyone in Prisons stays safe.
Other issues
I saw this in my emails and asked if I could share this in our newsletter, which they said we could. It’s an interesting read.
· A Statement for the UK Throughout August more than 1,000 people took Inc Arts’ #BAMEOver survey, and on 4th September 2020 over 250 people came together to reset the terms of reference for people with lived experience of racism. We set out to answer the question, ‘What do we want to be called?’ Through our discussion we’ve come up with a guide to terminology, for use by everyone who wants to be an effective ally and wants to avoid causing further harm through the use of casual and inaccurate language. Here are our preferred terms of reference for people in the UK. We urge you to use them and share widely. BAMEOver: Our terms of reference We do not want to be grouped into a meaningless, collective term, or reduced to acronyms. We are African Diaspora people We are South, East and South East Asian diaspora people, and we are ethnically diverse. We are people who experience racism. Use these terms in any order you choose. Just don't call us BAME. BAMEOver: Rules for engagement #1: Language is evolving. Deal with it. The terms we’ve agreed today may change in the future. Times change: come with us. #2: If you don’t know and need to know, ASK. We are now comfortable with asking people, ‘What is your preferred pronoun?’. We can do the same with ‘How do you describe your ethnicity?’. #3: Collective terminology is necessary: acronyms are not. Nobody wants to be reduced to an acronym. Especially an acronym that is inaccurate. #4: We reject BAME. The term unhelpfully blends ethnicity, geography, nationality - and in doing so erases our identity and reduces us to an ‘other’. #5: We reject ‘Minority: we are the global majority. And we reject ‘ethnic’. This terminology is centred on you seeing us as different. #6: Call us by our name. Be specific. Understand the terms you use. #7: We’re people first. Not a colour. Not a continent. Never say ‘blacks’ just as you wouldn’t say ‘whites’ (unless you’re talking about washing). #8: People of Colour is a US term, as is ‘Black, Indigenous and People of Colour’. In the UK for many people over 35 this has uncomfortable resonance with the racist terminology ‘coloureds’. The ‘colour’ of one’s skin is not what we have in common, it is our lived experience of racism directed against us. Terms of Reference Here’s what to say… Instead of ‘Asian’… ‘Asian’ can erase millions of people by not reflecting the rich diversity of culture and ethnicity that is in the continent. There’s a huge diversity of experience of oppression faced by those the term refers to. Use ‘People of South Asian heritage’, ‘People of East Asian and South East Asian heritage’. Instead of … ‘Black’ Many black people don’t object to being called black: for others it is not accurate enough. Black is a political term, best used by those who meet the conditions of its description. It speaks of collective action against racially motivated oppression. It includes those of African and Caribbean heritage. If you mean Africans born in Africa, say so. If you mean third generation Caribbeans, say so. Instead of ‘black’, use ‘African’ for those born in the continent, ‘African Caribbean’, ‘South Asian Caribbean’ and ‘East Asian Caribbean’ for those born in the islands, ‘African diaspora people’ for people of African and Caribbean heritage, Or ‘People of African or Caribbean heritage’ ‘Minority Ethnic’ What a mess. Let’s talk about who we mean. There are many who experience oppression through racist action, including those of Romany heritage, or Irish traveller heritage, or Jewish heritage and some within this definition who are definitely not a ‘minority’ including Latinx– people of Latin American heritage, cultural and ethnic identity, and many more. British Asian? Black British? If you’re thinking of using these terms, ask yourself: do you mean those living in the UK? Or those born in the UK? If it’s relevant, say what you mean. Let’s not erase the experiences of migrant communities. Phrases like ‘people of X heritage’ or ‘of the X diaspora’ includes migrant people without erasure. Mixed Heritage? People of mixed white and African diaspora heritage, people of mixed white and South Asian heritage, people of East Asian and Caribbean heritage… you get the idea. Say what you mean. Too many words? Want an easy acronym? A simple collective term? There isn’t one. We choose not to be reduced to an inaccurate grouping. But what we have in common is that we are… “People who experience racism”. This term will require you to then articulate who you are referring to, and may, depending on context, refer to Western Asian people, Irish people, Jewish people and others whose oppression is not captured by current terminology. Please use with awareness the phrase ‘people who experience racism’, and don’t make it an acronym ever. And if you’re not sure of our ethnicity ... What if you don’t know? If you’re referring to ‘people who are ethnically and culturally diverse, and who experience racism in our society’ be sure to qualify it with detail of who you are talking about: Latinx people? Romany traveller heritage people? Don’t use as a catch all without further detail. All too difficult? Can’t be bothered? The difference between saying ‘BAME’ and ‘people of South Asian heritage’ or ‘people who experience racism’ is approximately 2 seconds. 2 seconds is not too much time to devote to taking positive anti-racist action on a daily basis. Remaining actively conscious of the language we use is a powerful act of allyship.
Restorative Justice
· RJ is on hold again due to the new lockdown, but we will keep you updated.
· We successfully competed the first online 4 day RJ Training in December, we were supported by the lovely Henry Kieran, we had 8 participants and will be holding the next training at the end of January which again will be online.
· A huge well done to Amanda and Alex, who completed a letter shuttle with a Harmed and Harmer, and both participants were very satisfied with the outcome.
Pathways to Change
· We have very impressive numbers for PTC, which shows how hard all staff and volunteers have been working all year –
VSN report Since January:
Referrals 99 Cases we have actively worked with 64
Housed during the year 36
Client contacts pre-release 148
Gate meets/ DOR meets 13 Client
Contacts post-release 389
Agency Contacts 489
Recalls 12 Reconvictions 2
Events
· Don’t forget about your Volunteer Support Network meetings, we have three a year which are compulsory as part of your Volunteering role with Sussex Pathways, these always have a theme, Easter/Summer/Xmas, watch out for the dates and put them in your dairy.
· We had our Xmas one which was attended by over 20 Volunteers, we pulled Xmas crackers, streamers, opened Xmas presents, played some games and had a wow of a time and all on Zoom, thank you to everyone that attended and hope that you agree it was a fun Zoom.
Partner Update and Toolkit
22 December 2020
Contents
The demand for all NHS services across Sussex has risen significantly with the annual pressures that come with winter and the addition challenge of higher infection rates of COVID-19 in the community in recent weeks. Staff across the NHS are working tirelessly to ensure they continue to provide safe consistent care and roll out the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
This update provides the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccination programme and the challenges faced by the NHS this winter, and includes a toolkit for partners to support us in this good work. Your help with sharing the key messages within your groups and communities would be really appreciated.
1. Update on winter challenges in local healthcare system
The NHS is open and here for you if you need us. Hospitals, community teams, mental health services and GP practices are very busy, and remain open to provide care.
Everyone can do their bit to support the local NHS to overcome the challenges they face this winter and follow the government’s guidance to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus - Hands, face, space.
GPs are asking residents get in touch about any health concerns by phone or online for advice now, as spotting problems early is vital, especially for things like cancers.
In hospital, cancer and other urgent operations are continuing and teams are working to carry on providing other non-COVID treatments as much as possible.
People can still travel to medical appointments in and out of Tier 4, and we are urging patients to keep appointments unless they feel unwell or have suspected COVID-19 symptoms.
The NHS is calling on anyone in need of healthcare, which is urgent but not an emergency, to use NHS 111 first online at NHS.uk or by calling 111. The 111 service should also be called before attending one the NHS services that patients would usually walk into without an appointment.
Your support
The NHS is Sussex is asking partners to support them in this work and make sure everyone use NHS111 first and continue to follow the guidance of maintaining social distancing, have good hand hygiene and finally wear a mask, unless you are exempt - HANDS. FACE. SPACE.
Key messages to support the NHS
These are the key pieces of information the NHS in Sussex wants to communicate to residents on the challenges we face are set out below for partners to take and use in their communications channels, to support the NHS:
· Local NHS services are currently extremely busy and caring for an increasing number of patients with COVID-19.
· Health and care staff are working tirelessly to provide care for everyone who needs it.
· Please help them by following all the guidance to reduce the spread of COVID-19
· NHS services are open and working to provide safe care for patients.
· At our hospitals all urgent treatments, cancer and diagnostic services will continue as planned.
· Please attend your appointments unless you hear otherwise from the NHS.
· If you think you need A&E, please contact NHS 111 first who can provide advice and support, and advise of the best place to go for help if you need it.
· Please wait for the NHS to contact you when it is your time to get vaccinated against COVID-19. More services are going live over the coming weeks and teams are working hard to make this available for their patients as quickly as possible
· Remember - hands face space and help us all to stay safe.
Social media messages for partners
Suggested social media posts are set out below for partners to post on their social media accounts:
· The NHS in Sussex is extremely busy. Think you need A&E? Don’t just turn up. Call 111 first. They will talk to you about the help you need and can book you a time with the right local service.#HelpUsHelpYou #NHS111First
· The NHS is working extremely hard to provide care, with demand on services rising significantly. To stay safe and help the NHS everyone needs to do their bit. We all need to follow the guidance to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. #keepsussexsafe
· We can all do out bit to keep Sussex safe - remember Hands, face, space, working from home where you can, and all of the requirements of the Tiers where you live. #keepsussexsafe
· Demand for NHS services has risen significantly, is working hard to continue to provide care to patients and we can all help - remember government guidance, and please wait to be about the COVID-19 vaccination – you will be called when it is your turn.
· All urgent operations, cancer and diagnostics are still continuing at hospitals across Sussex, despite the rising demand for services. Please continue to attend your appointments unless you hear from the NHS directly. #HelpUsHelpYou #keepsussexsafe
Text for websites and newsletters
NHS calls on community to help them meet winter challenges
The NHS in Sussex is calling on residents to remember simple steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19 as demand for services rises in the region.
The demand for all NHS services across Sussex has risen significantly due to the higher infection rates of COVID-19 in the community in recent weeks. Staff across the NHS are working tirelessly to ensure they continue to provide safe consistent care. Hospitals, community teams, mental health services and GP practices are very busy but remain open to provide care.
You can still travel to medical appointments in and out of Tier 4, and the NHS is urging you to keep appointments unless you feel unwell or have suspected COVID-19 symptoms.
The pressure will stay on the NHS as long as the infection rates stay high. To protect yourself, family and friends and help the NHS everyone needs to do their bit to keep Sussex safe.
We all need to follow the guidance– to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Remember - Hands, face, space, working from home where you can, and all of the requirements of the Tiers where you live.
The NHS is also calling on anyone in need of healthcare, which is urgent but not an emergency, to use NHS 111 first online at NHS.uk or by calling 111. The 111 service should also be called before attending one the NHS services that patients would usually walk into without an appointment.
2. Update on COVID-19 vaccination programme in Sussex
In Sussex the COVID-19 vaccination programme went live on 8 December 2020 at the Royal Sussex County Hospital – the first hospital hub for our region. The hospital teams have been vaccinating people over the age of 80 year’s old who are coming to the hospital for as an inpatient or outpatient, hospital staff and staff from care homes in the area. Latest figures show it is one of the highest performing vaccination hospital hubs in the country.
Following this, the first GP led vaccination services then went live in Sussex last Tuesday 15 December. Nine sites supported by 26 GP practices in the region started to vaccinate their patients who are over the age of 80.
A further two GP led vaccination services go live today in Eastbourne – one in Princes Park and one at Hampden Park. These vaccinations will take place over the next three days for their registered patients over the age of 80.
We are also delighted to announce that two further hospital hubs have received their vaccine and are due to start vaccinating today – The Conquest Hospital in Hastings and Worthing Hospital.
There are sites in Brighton and Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex, and a full list of the sites which have gone live.
At the weekend, national guidance was shared with all GP practices and Primary Care Networks in relation to the vaccination of care home residents. This guidance explained how the vaccination could take place safely in care homes, in particular in relation to moving the vaccine. We are working with our GP practices this week to understand who wants to be involved in this element of the programme and how it can be rolled out across our care home sector. We will continue to keep you updated on this area of the programme.
Tier guidance and advice for people in Tier 4
Following the Government’s announcement of the new tier guidance at the weekend, we are working with our health and care partners, community and voluntary sector organisations and key stakeholders to share key information relating to the COVID-19 vaccination programme:
· Vaccination services can still go ahead in Tier 4 areas;
· People can travel to medical appointments (including vaccination appointments) and should unless you feel unwell or are concerned you may have COVID-19;
· Patient Transport is still operating in and out of Tier 4 areas to support people to reach medical appointments, including vaccination appointments.
Frequently Asked Questions
We are receiving a high level of enquiries relating to the COVID-19 vaccination programme from members of the public. We are responding to each one, and we are also taking the useful information from our responses to share more widely. The latest version of FAQs
Your support
We understand the high level of interest in the COVID-19 vaccination programme and the people are keen to understand when they will be able to receive it. Your help with sharing the key messages within your groups and communities would be greatly appreciated.
Key message
This is the key piece of information the NHS in Sussex wants to communicate to residents on the COVID-19 vaccination programme:
The public have an important part to play to help the NHS deliver this vaccination programme:
· Please don’t contact the NHS to seek a vaccine, they will contact you;
· When the NHS do contact you, please attend your booked appointments.
· Please continue to follow all the guidance to control the virus and save lives.
Social media posts
Suggested social media posts are set out below for partners to post on their social media accounts:
· The NHS has started the first phase of the COVID-19 vaccination programme. When it is the right time for you to receive your vaccine, you will receive an invitation to come forward. Please do not contact the NHS to get an appointment until you are contacted.
· The NHS is prioritising the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. When it is your turn to get the vaccine you will be contacted. This may be by phone or letter from your GP or national NHS booking service.
· The NHS is working to arrange locations for GP led COVID-19 vaccination services across the whole of West Sussex/East Sussex/Brighton and Hove. Detailed planning is underway and more sites will be confirmed in the coming weeks. Please wait until you are contacted with an appointment.
· The NHS in Sussex has asked everyone to help them arrange the COVID-19 vaccinations by waiting until they are contacted with an appointment. Some sites have gone live where preparations were easier to put in place, others are taking a little longer and these sites will be available soon.
Text for websites and newsletters
Update on Sussex COVID--19 vaccination
It's fantastic news that the NHS is able to have started delivering a safe, effective vaccine.
This is the biggest immunisation programme in NHS history – and we are delighted to see the progress across Sussex to protect local people. The NHS started vaccinating two weeks ago in our first hospital hub at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, and last week the NHS started the first vaccine services in the community led by GP practices.
In Sussex there are now eleven GP led sites – each supported by a GP practice or a number of GP practices working together. It is a phased roll out with more GP led sites going live over the coming weeks.
It will take time, but as more sites are approved, we’ll be able to get more GP led sites up and running, as well as hospital bubs. And, in time, we’ll be able to deliver it in care homes and in people’s own homes if they aren’t able to get to a vaccination centre.
This has been an incredible effort from GP practice teams all over Sussex and credit to them for all of their hard work, whilst they continue to provide day to day care for their patients.
The GP led sites are starting with the most vulnerable – people over the age of 80 – and we hope to have vaccinated people in the most vulnerable groups by the spring.
People are being contacted when it is your turn for the vaccine so please be patient.
The NHS will contact you when it is your turn to receive the vaccine. You will be contacted by the first NHS service that is able to offer you a vaccination.
And now that we have a vaccine, it does not mean that we can let our guard down.
It is just as important as ever that we all continue to wash our hands, cover our face and give each other space.
Pathway to Sussex Pathways
The better we know and understand each other, the better we can work as a team. Each month our newsletter will profile a different member of the team at Sussex Pathways, spanning staff, trustees, and volunteers.
In the hot seat this month is Alex Burrough, RJ Facilitator
Pathway to this point: In my 20s I worked for a Cultural Tour Operator in London, planning tours in Europe and North Africa. Alongside that I volunteered at HMP Bronzefield in the chaplaincy, and co-ordinated their volunteer visitors scheme. Then I was swept off my feet by a man who lives by the sea! so I moved to Eastbourne.
Current pathway: My main role in life right now is to be mum to two demanding but delightful little people. In my ‘spare time’ I volunteer for Sussex Pathways as a Restorative Justice Facilitator. And I’m involved with Prison Fellowship, the charity that runs the Sycamore Tree Course at HMP Lewes and Rochester.
Pathway ahead: Training in Restorative Justice has been a life-changing step on my pathway.
Soon I will be working for Sussex Police in a job share, co-ordinating the Restorative Justice service for the East hub. I’m so pleased this role enables me to stay connected with Sussex Pathways and the people who make its heart beat.
Pathway alongside work: I love to cycle, wherever and whenever the weather allows - ideally with my husband but he’s a bit fast for me! I usually wear a helmet and closed shoes, honest!
It has been a pleasure working alongside with Alex, she has been an asset to Sussex Pathways, and as much as we will miss her, we wish her good luck in her new RJ Post with Sussex Police, and look forward to working with her in her new role.
Final Thoughts
· A message from your CEO Shirl Tanner –
I have worked with SP for over 11 years now, and I still wake up every morning looking forward to the day ahead, wondering what Challenges it will bring, what wonders it holds, and what’s new, every day is a learning day for me, and since Covid-19 and the lockdowns, my days have been spent working from home mostly, once a week I have a Zoom meeting with all the staff and it’s always full of joy, laugher, and passion for the work we do, I also try and log into the Volunteer Zoom when I can, and again it always amazes me the passion, the joy and the commitment everyone gives to SP, their clients and each other. In a way Covid has brough the SP family closer, we have more contact via Zoom, we talk more on the phone, and we have reached out to other agencies and organisations, as well as them reaching out to us.
Funders have been outstanding in their approach to funding during Covid and the challenges that Charities have faced, and for that I am truly grateful.
It has been an interesting year, and 2021 has started with its own challenges, which means it can only get better as the year goes on 😊
Stay safe, stay well and thank you to everyone that has contributed to SP.
Stay safe from all at Sussex Pathways.
If you would like to unsubscribe from this newsletter, please email admin@sussexpathways.org.uk and you will be removed from our mailing list.