Coronavirus: Service updates, help and information
A Sheffield skyline at dusk

Winter Information

To help make sure you’re prepared for winter this year, we’ve put some information together about our services and how you can stay healthy and well during the colder months. 

Sometimes bad weather disrupts some of our services, so we want to keep you up to date on what is happening on the roads, in schools and with your bin collections. We’ve also got some advice about protecting your home during freezing temperatures, how to support people sleeping rough and keeping yourself healthy and well. 

To keep up to date with what’s happening, follow us on Twitter, or sign up below to receive our winter alerts so you get all the latest information via email. 

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Roads

The Streets Ahead team closely monitor the roads in winter, and keep residents updated on any issues. When freezing temperatures are forecast, Streets Ahead grit 60% of the road network in priority order. There are over 2,200 grit bins across the city for the public to use. You can listen to your local radio station for traffic updates, or visit Travel South Yorkshire for public transport updates.

Find out about road issues in winter

Schools

Sheffield schools will always do their utmost to stay open, however, changes to opening times may occur due to adverse weather.

In the first instance, you should hear from your child’s school via their usual methods if there is a change to normal opening times. 

You could also check their website for information.  

Some school closures are detailed on our Twitter page and our school closures page. 

Find out about school closures in Sheffield
Helping stop the spread of Coronavirus in schools and colleges
 
  • Secondary school and college aged children should test twice weekly
  • If your child is unwell and you think they may have COVID, they should book a PCR test and stay at home until a negative test is received
  • If a child has tested positive for COVID, they must stay home and isolate for 10 days.

Bins

The Veolia team aim to collect bins as normal. If bad weather coincides with your usual bin collection day, please put your bin out as normal.  It may not be collected at the usual time, but it will get collected as soon as possible.

Check for updates from Veolia

Council Houses

Every council home has an annual gas safety check to keep people safe from carbon monoxide poisoning.  You will receive a gas safety appointment by letter. If you need to reschedule this, please call us on 0114 273 5555.  During this visit, we’ll also make sure your central heating system and gas fires are working efficiently to keep you warm. Please make sure we can access your home at the appointment time.

In winter, many people dry clothes inside, but blocking up radiators with wet clothes can stop the flow of warm air and create condensation which causes damp. If drying inside, try to use the bathroom or kitchen with the door closed and the window open. Here's more useful advice and information to help keep condensation, damp and mould at bay.

Frozen pipes are a problem in cold weather. You can help prevent it happening by reading these practical hints and tips. Remember not to call our repairs service about frozen pipes – we can’t fix them.

In bad weather it’s likely we can only get to emergency or urgent repairs. Please bear with us when this happens - we have to prioritise jobs and reschedule those we can’t make. 

Arrange emergency Council Housing repairs

Help for rough sleepers

During the colder months, we try to make sure that rough sleepers have somewhere to keep safe, have a meal and stay warm.  From November to March, the ‘Rough Sleeper Winter Plan’ protects people against the winter weather and the risks posed by Coronavirus.  The Winter Plan aims to prevent serious harm on the streets due to harsh winter conditions, reduce the risks for people sleeping rough, increase opportunities for talking with people who are sleeping rough and help our aim to reduce rough sleeping.

Anyone sleeping rough in Sheffield will be assessed and we will work with them to secure emergency, and then more permanent, ‘move-on’ accommodation with appropriate support.

If you see someone sleeping rough in Sheffield and are concerned, you can report it either online via Streetlink, or by calling Sheffield’s Street Outreach Team on 0800 066 5358 (free from landlines and mobiles), or text SOTS to 80800, followed by your message. During evenings and weekends you can phone our out of hours Housing Solutions service on 0800 7311 689.

Staying well this winter

This year it's more important than ever to try and stay healthy and well over the winter months.  With Coronavirus added to the usual cold weather illnesses like colds, flu and other more serious health problems, we all have to play our part to look after ourselves and others.  Here are some ideas to help keep you well this winter…

  • wrap up warm and heat your home to at least 18°C (65°F)     
  • make sure you are fully vaccinated against Coronavirus this includes the Coronavirus booster jab. You can pre-book your booster jab (and if you have not had either your first or second jab) at NHS or call 119
  • if you are entitled, make sure you get your flu jab.  It’s important that eligible people are vaccinated to protect them from flu - if you have a health condition like diabetes, heart, kidney, or liver disease, flu can be serious. 
  • your pharmacist can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats and aches and pains.  Do not go to a pharmacy if you have symptoms of COVID.  Remember, you can get your medicines delivered or ask someone to collect them.
  • if you have symptoms of Coronavirus, you must book a PCR test. Book at GOV.UK or call 119. You can book a local test centre or request a home test kit which can be returned by courier.

 

Helping stop the spread of Coronavirus

  • make sure you are up to date with your Coronavirus vaccinations (first, second and booster jabs)
  • use an LFD test before periods of high risk
  • secondary and college aged children should test twice weekly
  • wash hands regularly and keep a safe distance from others
  • wear a face covering when required (unless exempt)
  • self-isolate if you have symptoms and book a PCR test
  • isolate for 10 days if you test positive 

Coronavirus symptoms include: a high temperature; a new, continuous cough; a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.

We have testing centres at locations around Sheffield - please book an appointment at GOV.UK or call 119.  Find our latest information on Coronavirus

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