Test & Trace scams.

There are lots of reports across social media of Test & Trace scams.

Please remember, genuine texts, calls or emails from the NHS service won’t ask you for any personal details upfront.
You’ll be given a unique ID number to log in to the NHS Test and Trace website. The ONLY official web address for the NHS Test and Trace service is: https://contact-tracing.phe.gov.uk/

Once you’ve logged in using your ID, you’ll be asked to enter some basic information about yourself including:
– Your name, date of birth and current address
– the names of the people you live with
– places you’ve recently visited
– names and contact details of people you were in touch with around 48 hours before you developed symptoms.
You won’t be asked to share this information upfront over a call or
text, so if someone is asking you for it directly, they are a scammer.

Contact tracers will never:
❌ ask you to dial a premium rate number to speak to us (for example, those starting 09 or 087)
❌ ask you to make any form of payment or purchase a product of any kind
❌ ask for any details about your bank account
❌ ask for your social media identities or login details, or those of your contacts
❌ ask you for any passwords or PINs, or ask you to set up any passwords or PINs over the phone
❌ disclose any of your personal or medical information to your contacts
❌ provide medical advice on the treatment of any potential coronavirus symptoms
❌ ask you to download any software to your PC or ask you to hand over control of your PC, smartphone or tablet to anyone else
❌ ask you to access any website that does not belong to the government or NHS

Stay scam aware, and report any suspicious approaches to Norfolk Trading Standards via 0808 223 1133.

SUPPORT FOR NORFOLK RESIDENTS

There is now a central contact point in place for all residents in Norfolk requiring support.  A team at the County Council will assess calls, identifying existing social care clients and passing other requests through to district community hubs to implement the support needed.

All residents will have received letters sent by their District Council providing details of support options.  Individuals who have been identified as vulnerable may also have received additional letters from the NHS and local GPs.  Local District Councils have also been calling individuals who have been identified as vulnerable as part of a collective effort to get help where it is needed.

 

INDIVIDUALS IN NEED SHOULD CALL 0344 8008020.

 

Litcham Volunteer Group.

 

Do you, or someone you know in the village, need some help with getting shopping, posting a letter, collecting medication, walking your dog, etc?

This group has been set up to help you at such a difficult time for us all!

We are about 30 volunteers, the majority of whom are able to go and get shopping.

There are three or four volunteers to each area of the village. Some of the volunteers are self isolating and so can give support and a listening ear down the phone and some are able to go out and about. Between those volunteers, someone will help you.

If you don’t need any help now, please bear us in mind, if you need some help in a few week’s time.

Please ring 01328 700 145 or any of the numbers on the flier that was delivered to you at the end of March and we will do our best to organise some help for you, either as a one-off or as continuing help – until all this is over and we can go back to normal!

Ponies on Litcham Common

Once again we have to make a plea for people not to feed the ponies anything at all, not even carrots or apples.  Dartmoor ponies thrive on a low nutrient diet of rough grazing, such as is found on the common.  At the moment they are too fat and we need them to lose a bit of weight over the winter months.  Too rich a diet can cause laminitis in ponies, which is an extremely painful and potentially crippling disease that can prove fatal.  Three of our animals are at an age when they are more susceptible to laminitis and we know that people have been feeding them.

PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE PONIES ANYTHING!
Feeding the ponies could result in immense suffering. 

Litcham Common Conservation Group
We are very grateful to Litcham Parish Council for a grant of £300, which will go towards the cost of the renewals of tools, insurance and other expenses.
The next conservation task will take place on Saturday 14th December starting at 10am and meeting in Litcham Common car park.  Newcomers will be welcome and tools and protective gloves provided.  Contact Tim Angell on 01328 700045 for more information.

LITCHAM CHILDCARE

Following recent reports in the media about the re-organisation of Children’s Centres in Norfolk we would like to clarify the situation here in Litcham.
We are delighted to announce that, although the premises in the Weasenham Road has ceased to be a Children’s Centre as such, the building has now come under the auspices of Litcham School.
Litcham School, along with Norfolk County Council, has actively encouraged and supported this transition which has enabled Litcham Childcare to continue to provide excellent uninterrupted services to local families from the existing premises, both currently and into the future.
Litcham Childcare continues to be registered by Norfolk County Council as an “Early Years” provider for 2, 3 and 4 year olds; and remains registered with OFSTED.  Its aim remains to provide children with a safe, secure and stimulating environment delivered by quality, trained staff; in addition Breakfast, After School and Holiday Clubs are available for children from 2 yrs to 14 yrs.
For more information please contact: litchamchildcare@gmail.com or telephone 01328 701155

Changes to Local Bus Services

There will be a number of service changes to local Bus services from April 7th.
Some services are being withdrawn as coach operators like Peelings and Carters after many good years of service have decided they no longer wish to provide bus services when new laws come into place from January 1st 2020 which does not allow coaches to be used on local bus services. As a result of the review passenger will see low floor more accessible vehicles used on many services.

• Some villages currently serve by the Swaffham area flexibus will now be served by a timetabled service linking passenger to both Swaffham and Kings’s Lynn with no need to either pre book or connect to onward services.
• The Carters services to both Dereham and Norwich have been amended and merged into one service to each location.
• The Sanders 24 service to Norwich will change the day of operation to Monday.
• The West Norfolk Community Transport 22 service has been changed significantly as a result of a commercial registration from Lynxbus who will now be providing an improved service through the Massingham area to both Fakenham and Kings’s Lynn.

All service changes are based upon past usage and passenger feedback through consultations last year.

From April 7th some passengers may not be able to travel exactly like they currently do, however this service change reflects the council procuring contracts from an ever decreasing base of providers, restricted by changes to laws around accessibility and licensing which has limited the outcomes that could be achieved for passengers.
Attached is a list of the new provision by village, and 7 passenger notices for the services changing. I have designed bespoke information for some villages where there will be significant changes which will be sent soon to share, if you like something bespoke for a particular village, or you have any queries around the changes, please ask.

Village List

Links to websites:

• Sanders
• Lynxbus
• West Norfolk CT
• Konectbus

 

WE NEED YOUR HELP

As you may have noticed we have a problem with dog fouling in the area again and we need your help to catch whoever is responsible.
If you witness anyone failing to clean up after their dog please report them on:
Call or Text  01362 858500
Dog fouling is not only socially unacceptable; it is also a criminal offence. We are working hard to catch everyone who continues to break the law.
Although we will be utilising covert surveillance and patrols in the area over the next few months, we would also love your help as a local resident. We are trying to get as many people as possible to join our fight against dog fouling.
Together we will get these irresponsible people to clean up their act!

On another note, if you have a dog it may be worth mentioning that bagged dog waste can be disposed of at home. Simply place bagged dog waste in your wheelie bin. Please don’t take it to the small roadside dog bins. These bins are to help you when out walking.

If you have any questions or need help please feel free to call us on 01362 858500