Council measures to support residents and businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak

Support for residents include:

• Compassionate Swindon: volunteer support for those who most need it. Information about this and how to get help can be found on the Compassionate Swindon page on the Voluntary Action Swindon website.
• Council Tax relief to vulnerable people and households to help those affected most by coronavirus
• Support for people who are vulnerable and need help
• Supporting council housing tenants
• More parking options for key workers and residents making essential journeys
• Helping residents access library services online
• Extending bus pass use for older and disabled people
• Priority re-booking and waiving fees for marriages postponed due to coronavirus

Find out more

Emergency household supplies for people most affected by COVID-19

The council can help people getting emergency supplies. You can access support if:

• if you have received a letter and been identified as ‘shielding’,
• if you are self-isolating at home, able to afford supplies and do not have a support network to help you,
• if you are self-isolating at home, unable to afford supplies and do not have a support network to help you and
• if you need prescriptions collected and delivered and do not have a support network to help you

If you're in extreme hardship the Emergency Assistance Fund page will provide information on:

• providing food vouchers,
• signposting to local food banks,
• gas or electricity (not including British Gas),
• and contact details for Citizens Advice Swindon

Please call Customer Services on 01793 445500.

If you’re unable to call, please email customerservices@swindon.gov.uk   

Support for businesses include:

• Getting vital financial support to local businesses
• Supporting not-for-profit and commercial tenants in council properties
• Helping Swindon’s taxi drivers

Find out more

Disposing of waste if you have COVID-19 symptoms:

• Waste tissues produced by someone who has, or suspects they have, COVID-19 should be placed in a plastic bag, which should be tied when full.
• Disposable cloths or wipes used to clean hard surfaces such as kitchen worktops and bathrooms should also be placed in the same bag. This plastic bag should then be placed in a second bin bag, which should also be tied when full.
• Bin bags containing these plastic bags should be kept in a secure place until the person’s test results are known.
• The bags should not be put out for collection or placed in communal waste areas until negative test results are known or the waste has been stored for at least 72 hours (three days).
• After being stored for at least 72 hours, please place these in your black wheelie bin or blue bags.

Please help us to keep council staff safe and services running by following these instructions.

You can also read the latest Defra guidance on cleaning your home and disposing of waste.