Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Important Information

Government dedicated helpline number: 0800 028 8327

For the latest advice from Central Government please click here.

Register for support as an extremely vulnerable person here.

For information for those in receipt of free school meals, please click here.

For details of West Sussex County Council’s Covid-19 Community Hub, please click here.

For a list of pharmacies in Burgess Hill and their policies on delivery and collection, please click here.

For a list of Burgess Hill restaurants currently offering food deliveries and takeaways, please click here.

For a list of open shops in Burgess Hill, please click here.

Information on support available from supermarkets for vulnerable people can be found here.

For information on the closure of educational settings, please click here.

For information for businesses, please click here.

For information on Grants for Businesses, please click here.

For support for victims of domestic abuse, please click here.

There is a new HMRC helpline to help businesses concerned about paying their tax due to coronavirus (COVID-19). Up to 2,000 experienced call handlers are available to support businesses and individuals when needed. The new number is 0800 024 1222.

For changes to Metrobus routes, please click here. These services are for Key workers and essential travel.

For updates on Compass Travel bus services, please click here. These services are for Key workers and essential travel.

West Sussex County Council Registration offices are currently closed. All registration appointments will be conducted by telephone with immediate effect. Please book your appointment as normal, but do not attend the Registration Office.  For details, visit the West Sussex County Council website here.

Help Point Current Opening Hours

The Town Council Help Point is now closed for face-to-face help. The Help Point can still be contacted via telephone: 01444 247726 or email: helppoint@burgesshill.gov.uk  or via the Town Council’s website, during the hours below:

Monday – Friday: 9am- 5pm
Weekends: Closed
There will be no Saturday Councillor Drop-In sessions until further notice.

All Help Point Surgeries are cancelled until further notice.

To contact the surgery providers, please use the details below:

Housing Benefits:

The Housing Benefit department  can still be contacted by telephone: 01444 477 264 or email: benefit@midsussex.gov.uk

Citizens Advice:

Citizens Advice have now closed face-to-face services until further notice. Support can be found online and by telephone.

Self-help: www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Telephone: 0344 477 1171

(Mon-Fri 9am-4.30pm)

Web chat and email:- www.advicewestsussex.org.uk

Council Contact Information

Phone: 01444 247726
Email: council@burgesshill.gov.uk

Burgess Hill Burial Ground

During this pandemic period and for the foreseeable future, the Burgess Hill Burial ground will remain open for burials, interment of cremated remains and for people to visit.  We would stress, however, should you wish to visit the burial ground you must observe the government’s rules in regard to social distancing and NOT to visit should you be in one of the vulnerable categories i.e. over 70 or have an underlying health issue.

For further information relating to the burial ground, please click on the following link www.burgesshill.gov.uk/burial-ground or call 01444 238214

Council Meetings

The Annual Town Meeting, due to take place on Tuesday 14 April, has been postponed. Once a new date has been decided it will be posted on our website and social media, and advertised in the Help Point window and town Noticeboards.

With the government’s regulations in regard to social distancing during the Covid 19 pandemic, council meetings are now being held, where practicable, remotely. This meeting will be held via Skype and a meeting “link” will be placed on the town council’s website and social media pages shortly before the meeting starts for members of the public to join should they so wish.

Events and Cancellations

The following Council events have been cancelled or postponed:

Great British Spring Clean – Postponed until September

VE Day 75 – All events cancelled

Summer Festival – All events cancelled, including Summer Fayre, Wild About Mid Sussex, Family Fun Morning and Teddy Bears Picnic

Closures

Folder’s Meadow Play Area has now been closed until further notice.

The Household Waste Recycling site (amenity tip) in Burgess Hill has been closed until further notice. Household waste and recycling kerbside collections are continuing as normal, however garden waste collections have been suspended for 12 weeks. More information about waste collection can be found here.

The Burgess Hill Library has been closed until further notice.

The Triangle Leisure Centre has been closed until further notice.

Community Support and Volunteering

Age UK Cherry Tree Centre:
The Cherry Tree Centre in Fairfield Road is closed until further notice although they are still providing support and services to older Burgess Hill residents. They are offering:

Information and Advice – including information on social care, housing and welfare benefits.

Telephone Befriending – a friendly chat if you’re feeling lonely or isolated.

Doorstep Deliveries – they can deliver meals, groceries and essential medication to your doorstep, as well as knitting kits, CDs/DVDs, books and jigsaws to stave off boredom.

Welfare and Safety Support – helping the most vulnerable with tasks such as cleaning, shopping and laundry, as well as offering respite for carers.

Wellbeing Advice – they can share information on healthy living, nutrition, hydration and exercises that can take place in the home or garden.

If you’d like to access any of the services above, or you’re worried about an older friend or family member at this time, please call 01903 731800 or email information@ageukwestsussex.org.uk.

Neighbourly Care
Local charity Neighbourly Care’s DBS checked volunteers can help people of all ages in need of assistance with shopping, collecting prescriptions and befriending phone calls. More volunteers are needed, DBS checks will be carried out. Contact them on 07876 066368 or email neighbourlycare@outlook.com.

Early Help

The Gattons and Sidney West Children & Family Centres are currently closed but the Mid Sussex Hub can provide information and crisis support for families with children under 18 years, or under 25 years with additional needs.  Visit the Early Help pages on the website.

Food Bank

The Foodbank will now be distributing out of the Salvation Army Hall on Cyprus Rd in Burgess Hill, Tuesday and Thursdays 11am-1pm. They will be putting in place procedures to keep everyone as safe as possible, with queuing outside the building (2m apart) and one client going into the foyer at a time.

Access via electronic voucher from:
Citizens Advice  – 0344 477 1171, web chat & email www.advicewestsussex.org.uk.
Burgess Hill Town Council’s Help Point – 01444 247726 email helppoint@burgesshill.gov.uk.
Early Help – contact via website www.westsussex.gov.uk.

Food collection point at Waitrose and the Co-ops on London Road and Junction Road. If you would like to help and can’t donate food you can donate money via Golden Giving on the Food Bank website www.burgesshillfoodbank.org.uk/. Younger volunteers are also needed so if you can help please contact 07849182231 or email foodbankburgesshill@gmail.com.

Signposts Mid Sussex

The Signposts drop-in services and groups for adults with learning difficulties and their carers are closed until further notice, although they are still providing a support service through emails and phone calls. Contact 01444 616232 or 07572 211 509, or email will.geffin@signpostsmidsussex.org.uk.

Homelessness

Homeless support charity Turning Tides has increased its outreach provision in Mid  Sussex. Their aim is to deliver the essentials that are needed for the local rough sleepers.  Contact Amy on 07851 249561 or email Rebecca.Sowerby@turning–tides.org.uk.

Community Transport Sussex

Community Transport Sussex have temporarily suspended their normal services and dial-a-ride.

Volunteering

For those keen to volunteer work is being co-ordinated by the Volunteer Hub developed by West Sussex County Council and District Councils. Contact volunteering@westsussex.gov.uk

Mid Sussex Voluntary Action is signposting volunteers to groups and charities that are supporting people who are self-isolating. If your group/charity is planning to use additional volunteers to help deliver food or shopping, look after children or pets, keep in touch or check on people’s well-being – you can contact them on 01444 258102 or email volunteering@msva.org.uk (please include the contact details of whoever is coordinating recruitment). They are also preparing guidance for self-organising groups which are being set up to help with this specific situation.

Online Services

The Town Council will be sharing resources and activities for the residents of Burgess Hill on our social media.

Amaze, a local charity who run The Compass Card have put together a list of things families can do while staying indoors. This can be viewed here and will be kept updated.

West Sussex Libraries have a variety of resources and services available while their libraries are closed, including free access to audiobooks, e-books and study resources. Take a look at their website here.