Charities still available to help as lockdown is lifted
THE Wokingham Borough Community Response group is continuing to support the community as lockdown restrictions are lifted.
Over the last 15weeks, Citizens Advice have handled over 12,000 calls, and helped more than 2,129 households through One Front Door. Of those households, 633 are classed as extremely vulnerable.
The organisation offers guidance on a range of issues from benefit and employment enquiries to food and prescription requests.
Chief executive Jake Morrison, said: "I continue to be so proud of the efforts of all of our volunteers, staff and partners who are doing a brilliant job providing wrap-around support for anyone who needs our help right now.
“What we're seeing recently is an increase in employment enquiries, which we expected, we have a team of volunteers specially trained in this enquiry area so please do get in touch with us if you require any help and advice."
A shielded family living in Spencer’s Wood contacted Citizens Advice at the beginning of April when they ran out of food and were unable to get a supermarket delivery slot.
They said: “I’m on the Government’s list because I have a pancreatic tumour, so I am mostly bed bound. My wife wasn’t able to drive and there are no local shops, nothing near where we live. We have a three year old daughter.
“We got to the point where we had nothing, we were told more supermarket delivery slots would become available at midnight, so we’d wait up but then get nothing.
“We were getting quite desperate, we didn’t knowwhat to do.”
The family were directed to Citizens Advice by the borough council.
“We spoke to Citizens Advice, and within a day or two they popped over with bags of food, more than we needed, we were able to share some with my parents, who are in their eighties and also unable to access food.
“They were fantastic, without them we’d have been in trouble.
“They sent us a link for Tesco delivery slots that were reserved for people in need, so now we can get a slot and do it ourselves.
“We were overwhelmed with the support we got, I won’t forget how good theywere. Even at Easter, they brought a chocolate Easter egg for our daughter.
“It was the worst time and thanks to them we got through it. They were a lifeline for us.”
Anyone who needs support should contact Citizens Advice on 0300 330 1189 (entering 0118 978 7258 if prompted) Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm. Or visit citizensadvicewokingham.org.uk/ coronavirus/ and complete the online form.
Wokingham Volunteer Centre
The Wokingham Volunteer Centre has been delivering prescriptions, tackling unruly gardens and from early July will be helping those who cannot drive themselves.
Now with approximately 10 active volunteers across the borough collecting medication, staff report the service has delivered more than 835 prescriptions since they started.
Green and Tidy, the centre’s gardening service has started back up again and volunteers are working on approximately 5-6 gardens a day.
The centre’s Transport Scheme will be back up and running from Monday 6 July.
For updates on specific roles that are needed visit: wokinghamvolunteercentre.org.uk.
The Link Visiting Scheme
The charity is running a telephone buddy system offering social support and friendship over the phone. The organisation has 1,200 people on their records for a fortnightly welfare call and 357 on their telephone buddy system for calls two to three times a week.
Marjie Walker, manager at Link said: “We are very keen for more people to get in touch if they could do with a friendly chat to help ease lockdown loneliness.”
One volunteer said: “I personally like making the calls some people are very appreciative even though they have family support just knowing someone is checking up on them is reassuring to them.”
To refer someone for support or to apply to be a Link volunteer visit www.linkvisiting.org or call 0118 979 8019 on weekdays from 9am until 5pm.
Wokingham Distribution Hub
The Wokingham Community Response’s distribution hub, run by First Days Children’s Charity, has recently relocated to Cantley Park.
The hub has fed more than 2,300 people, making 4726 deliveries to 892 households over the last 14 weeks. And has helped 835 households access their own food shopping.
Donations can be left in the black boxes under the fire escape outside the Ashridge Room, Monday to Saturday 9am-3pm.
To contribute financially to the response visit the Justgiving page: www.justgiving.com/campaign/WokinghamBoroughCV19
All money raised will fund food parcels and any funds left over will be distributed to the voluntary sector organisations involved in this combined response.
For more information and the latest updates visit: www.facebook.com/wokinghamcommunityhub
Wokingham Foodbank
The Wokingham Foodbank continues to distribute an average of one ton of food per week, and has fed 2200 people, over 940 of which were children, over the last 15 weeks.
Food parcels are available to households unable to afford to purchase food and other household essentials such as toiletries and cleaning products.
Since the start of lock down, the organisation has received over 750 referrals.
Annette Medhurst, manager of Wokingham Foodbank said: “Our premises are very small and with the significant increase in demand we have needed to adapt our processes to maintain social distancing.
“However, for the last couple of weeks we have been inviting clients into the Foodbank to collect their food parcels and so far everything has gone very smoothly.”
The Foodbank is currently offering a delivery service but has recently started inviting clients back into the premises to collect their food.
It is open for food donations on Monday and Friday 10am-12pm and for collection of food parcels (for those who have received a referral) Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 2pm-4pm.
From Monday 6 July, the Foodbank will be reverting to their pre-Covid-19 opening hours and will be open for clients to collect their food Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 1.30pm and 3.30pm.
Donations can also be left in the collection bins located at Sainsburys, Tesco, Morrisons and Waitrose.
The Foodbank is currently in need of soap, deodorant, washing up liquid, toilet roll, tinned potatoes/instant mash, long life hotdogs, snacks, chocolate, sponge puddings, rice pudding and custard.
It reports an abundance of long life milk, baked beans, pasta, rice, tea bags, soup and tinned fish.
Many local organisations, schools and charities are able to refer people to the Foodbank.
Contact Citizens Advice on 0300 330 1189 to discuss being referred.
For more information on how to get help and the latest updates visit: wokingham.foodbank.org.uk or
www.facebook.com/WokinghamFoodbank
Earley Help Hub
With support from Earley Town Council, the Earley Help Hub links volunteers with vulnerable people in the area.
The service has dealt with 120 requests over the last three months and has helped over 86 individuals.
The hub has more than 30 volunteers who help with practical and social support, such as collecting shopping and prescriptions or a friendly chat over the phone.
Keith-Wilson, Minister at Lower Earley Baptist Church, said: “We are still keeping going, still available for people. We’ve still got lots of volunteers and a steady stream of people phoning up.
“We do want to encourage people if they need help to give us a call. We are around.”
If the service cannot help with a particular matter, they are able to signpost people to the most appropriate agency who can.
Churches involved in the project include Trinity, Brookside, Lower Earley Baptist, St. Nicolas, Bright Hope, Our Lady of Peace and Earley St. Peters.
To volunteer for the Earley Help Hub or access the service, contact 07493 784 091, email earleyhelphub@gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/earleyhelphub/