PORTHCAWL

Send Your News To: 42 Suffolk Place, Porthcawl, CF36 3EB. 01656 451844 davidn-w@homecall.co.uk

Shout Out For The NHS:

This nationwide ‘Shout out’ appeared to have been well supported here in Porthcawl: it certainly was in our area and as I understand it, the intention is to carry on with it on a weekly basis.

So next Thursday night at 8pm – see you on the doorstep.

Just think, the bugles sounding the Last Post at the Menin Gate in Ypres every night since the eleventh of November 1918 started with one man, the chief fire officer of the town, taking it upon himself to show the appreciation of the town for the British and Commonwealth soldiers who gave their lives in the dreadful battles of the Somme.

Now, every time I hear a news broadcast and hear about the way that NHS staff are putting their lives at risk with little or no thought for their own safety, in order to save the lives of people like you and I; I can but think that each and every one of them and all the other supporting people from ambulance staff to workers on the new hospitals and from service personnel to lorry and bus drivers, all deserve a George Cross.

I know that this is not possible, well deserved as each one would be, but something has to be done to recognise their selfless actions.

I have a veteran’s badge which I wear with pride and a similar honour would be easily recognised and it would give us, the people whose lives were at risk, the opportunity to show our gratitude.

Coronavirus: A group called the Porthcawl Covid 19 Strategy Group has been formed with the intention of making life easier for the citizens of the town.

The strategy group has been set up and they are implementing a community strategy for Porthcawl.

Ward managers have been appointed, volunteers have been registered and instructed, and they have set up a Facebook page ‘Porthcawl Covid 19 Strategy Group’ as well as a website https://porthcawlc19s.weebly. com

Leaflets are being delivered to every household giving full

information.

The Strategy Group has appointed Ward Managers to coordinate the response (See leaflet for information on their names and contact numbers) and they have registered nearly 150 volunteers.

The strategy group has involved the Police, Portway Surgery, Pharmacies,

Social Services and local groups and has produced guidance documents to assist the volunteers and

Ward Managers and here we should be extremely grateful to these front line services who are putting their lives at risk to help save our lives and the least we can do is follow instructions.

If you do need help remember that there are people out there who can help.

So remember, if you are self isolating because of Covid 19 then they can arrange to provide help with shopping and collection of medicines:

They can allocate a phone ‘Buddy’ to arrange for a friendly phone call if you are on your own: the friendly buddy will contact you and will arrange a password with you that you may ask for, prior to any conversation.

The pharmacy/food volunteers will deliver the item to your door – knock your door and will back off to a distance of 3m and wait until you open the door and collect the items.

They will not request personal information- full name, date of birth, request money or credit card details. And don’t forget the website and Facebook addresses.

Any further advice? Think of others when you do your shopping.

Reference to the facebook page shows that they have set up a fundraising page where you can donate money which will be used to help the most vulnerable members of our society and when this crisis is ended what remains will be handed back to the community.

This is being organised through the auspices of the Buckaneers Carnival/ Christmas Morning Swim Committee which is one of the biggest fundraising group in the town.

Which brings me to a second point.

Spare a thought for the major charities – we all have our own “pet” charities, whether that be Ty Hafen, Sandville Self Help Group, save the Children, Animal Welfare The Red Cross, the Salvation Army or the RNLI – all of which play such a major role in the life of our communities and all of which are self funded charities whose charity shops have closed and whose fund raising efforts have become nonexistent with no flag days and no-one climbing Everest and who by the end of this pandemic will be bordering on bankruptcy.