New Forest District Council Update 9th September

We are sending emails like this one to residents of the New Forest with information about our services, and updates as we respond to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
You can unsubscribe at any time – see the end of this email.

Keep Hampshire safe – Help reduce the transmission

From Monday 14 September, gatherings of more than six people indoors or outdoors will be banned in England.

This change of rules from government comes in a bid to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus as the data is showing cases are staring to rise.

See the latest from the BBC on this change at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51506729

To keep up to date with the latest guidance and what you can and cannot do see the government’s website at https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Overall infection rates are rising across Hampshire. Although we’re currently still below the average for England as a whole, we need to stay vigilant and play our part to help protect each other and prevent lockdowns in our area.

You should:

Together we can #KeepHampshireSafe

To see information, advice and the local data https://www.hants.gov.uk/coronavirus

Extra funding for faster broadband in rural New Forest

If you live, or run a business, in rural New Forest and have slow broadband, you may be eligible for funding towards getting faster, reliable broadband services.

The government’s gigabit voucher scheme provides £1500 per home and £3500 per small to medium sized business.

Hampshire County Council is providing additional funding to top up the vouchers for residential properties, doubling the value to £3000 for homes in hard-to-reach locations across the county. This funding will be allocated as first come, first served.

To qualify you must be located in a rural area, be unable to get broadband speeds of 100Mbps or more and apply as a group of two or more premises.

Find out more and how to apply at www.hampshiresuperfastbroadband.com/top-up/

Details of this and other support available for New Forest businesses is at https://newforest.gov.uk/article/1677/Council-Initiatives-to-Support-Local-Businesses

Have you updated your voter details?

We’ve sent a letter to households in the district to check your voter details. It’s important that you don’t ignore the letter. It will tell you what action you need to take so we can check who is eligible to register to vote at your address.

If you need to update your details, it takes just a few minutes online. Follow the steps in your letter by 14 September. More details are at https://www.newforest.gov.uk/article/1619/Household-Canvass-2020

Kickstart jobs scheme

A new £2 billion Kickstart Scheme from government will create hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people across the country.

The six-month placements are open to those aged 16-24 who are claiming Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.

The first placements are likely to be available from November.

See more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/kickstart-scheme-opens-for-employer-applications

If you are an employer looking to create jobs placements for young people as part of the Kickstart Scheme you can read more about how here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-can-apply-for-a-grant-through-the-kickstart-scheme

Work to start on Milford seawall

Our coastal engineers along with contractors Earlcoate have been on site at Southampton docks this week to oversee as 4,533 tonnes of Larvik rock from Norway arriving on the Hagland Saga to be unloaded ready to be transported to Milford on Sea.

Over the next few months, the rocks will be used to build a sloping barricade as part of our coastal protection works to slow the damage where the seawall is failing along a 180m stretch at Westover.

Larvik is the name of the region that the rock comes from in Norway. And was chosen as it is one of the best types for this purpose. It is a waste product in Norway.

You can read more about the works at https://www.newforest.gov.uk/article/1644/Milford-on-sea-Westover-seawall-failure-and-urgent-works-update-statement

Every Mind Matters

With children and young people now back at school or college, Every Mind Matters is there to support children and young people’s mental wellbeing.

Knowing what steps we can all take to support our mental wellbeing can help us feel better, sleep better and have better relationships with the people around us.

There are tips and tools on sleep, exercise, and other ways to take care of yourself at https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/

Thinking of starting a business?

If you are thinking about starting a new business, this free online event is designed to help you kick-start your idea.

This two hour session will help you identify whether starting a business is the right step for you. It is free to attend but pre-registration is required.

Full details and to book online: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/are-you-ready-to-start-your-own-business-tickets-118450182685?utm_source=e-shot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BusinesseNews9September2020

Missed an email?

You can now view our email archive at https://www.newforest.gov.uk/article/1610/Residents-email-archive

Latest information from NFDC:
https://www.newforest.gov.uk/coronavirus
Latest information from central government: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Please share this email with your family and friends, and if they would like to sign up to receive them in future, they can subscribe at http://www.newforest.gov.uk/emails

To stop receiving these emails please email STOP to enews@nfdc.gov.uk
Read our privacy notice: https://www.newforest.gov.uk/article/767/Privacy-policies

To stop these emails going in to your junk folder
add communications.nfdc@notifications.service.gov.uk to your safe sender list. If you’re still having problems, contact enews@nfdc.gov.uk support for help.