Due to unprecedented demands caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the East of England Ambulance Service are urgently recruiting 1,000 temporary workers and volunteers in all kinds of paid and volunteer roles across the region.

They are looking for people with:

• medical experience as a paramedic, nurse, healthcare support worker or even recent first-aid training to work in a variety of clinical and clinical support roles
• C1 driving licences who would be interested in driving patient transport vehicles or moving vehicles between sites (band 2 or 3).
• Five GCSEs at grades A-C to work as call handlers/dispatchers (band 3)
• A willingness to fulfil other support roles such as ambulance cleaning, general cleaning, and administration (bands 2-4).

All pharmacies in Bedford Borough have been asked to open from 2pm until 5pm on both Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Pharmacies will open as normal on Saturday.

Bedford Borough Council has confirmed that for those whose bin collection is due on Good Friday, 10th April, or on Easter Monday, 13th April, it will be collected it as usual.

The council also asks that if you have a confirmed or possible case of coronavirus, please take extra care to keep the collection crews safe. In particular, double bag all tissues and do not put it out for collection for 72 hours.

Bedford Independent has, today, published Mayor Dave's Monthly Column detailing the Coronavirus support available from Bedford Borough Council.

You can read the column at https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/coronavirus-support-from-bedford-borough-council/ or below.

Coronavirus support from Bedford Borough Council

Bedford Borough Council and the NHS have teamed up with the Bedford Clanger and Bedford Independent to produce a new leaflet with information and signposting to support for local residents during the coronavirus pandemic.

With misinformation, rumour and fake news so potentially harmful at this difficult time, the aim of the initiative is to give people free, clear guidance and information on how and where to access support and other key information and advice for Bedford Borough residents.

The Government has announced details of an income support scheme for those that are self-employed. You cannot apply for this scheme yet, although HMRC will contact you if you are eligible for the scheme and invite you to apply online.

This scheme will allow the self employed to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of your trading profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for the next 3 months. This may be extended if needed.

The sun is shining and beautiful weather is forecast to stay with us this week. But the clear message for all of us this weekend is to stay at home in order to save lives and protect our NHS.

Mayor Dave Hodgson sets this out clearly in new video posted this morning. You can watch it here

Government advice remains we should stay at home apart from for essential reasons.

I know a number of people are struggling with self-isolation and wanted to share some links and suggestions of how we can all keep well - and also how you can best keep in touch with the latest news.

The NHS have set up a very valuable resource called Every Mind Matters at https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters that provides advice about how to look after our mental health.