Volunteer group serves up 12k free meals
PANDEMIC RAISES DEMAND FOR HARDSHIP SERVICE
MORE than 12,000 meals have been handed out to South Derbyshire families by just on group in seven months during the pandemic, few figures have revealed.
South Derbyshire CVS revealed between the start of the pandemic in March and October, it supplied 12,654 meals to 552 children and 854 adults.
And the voluntary service said demand is still growing as families are left struggling for money during the pandemic when many people have lost their jobs or had their hours cut and are living on reduced wages.
Cathy Miles, from South Derbyshire CVS, based in Swadlincote revealed the shocking numbers at the recent Swadlincote Area Forum meeting. She said: “Between March and October, with the support of local people, we supplied 12,654 meals to 552 children and 854 adults.
“Demand is growing, and that’s why we’re appealing for financial donations throughout the winter period to help feed families across South Derbyshire.
“There are people around us facing significant hardship due to redundancy, ill health or changes to their personal circumstances.
“We are asking people to make a financial donation so we can buy the right balance of food, and support those most in need this winter. Just £5 buys food for a child for one day, £20 buys emergency food for a family for three days and £50 buys food for a family for one week.”
She also announced there had been a huge increased need for volunteers and between March and
May they have recruited 180 people, but more are needed for its telephone befriending service.
During the pandemic, its face to face befriending service was forced to stop. This would involve a CVS volunteer visiting an elderly person who may be isolated to have a chat, she said.
Other services that were forced to stop due to the covid risk included active travel; social car; shopmobility, and home from hospital service assessments.
However, demand has soared in other areas, including the use of its food bank; befriending; shopping for housebound; and collecting medications for housebound.
The CVS also launched its South Derbyshire Volunteer Force which will work with other local volunteer organisations to provide a joined up volunteer service with many tasks and roles within the community, including shopping, the food bank, telephone befriending, collecting medications, driving, home DIY, gardening and more.
Mrs Miles said: “The South Derbyshire Volunteer Force has been tasked with recruiting volunteers to help at vaccination clinics in Swadlincote - to help guide patients for parking and maintaining social distancing whilst attending for their vaccination. We launched the recruitment drive on Friday, January 8, and were amazed by the tremendous response with more than 300 expressions of interest to date.
“Since January 8 we have cleared more than 70 new volunteers for referral to the NHS People Hub to cover vaccination clinics at Oaklands in Swadlincote. Some are also covering clinics at the Derby Arena. There are many volunteering roles available. However we are hoping to recruit more for driving and phone befriending.”
Information about volunteering is available by emailing volunteer@ sdvcs.org.uk Donations towards food parcels can be made by visiting sdcvs.org.uk/donate, phoning 07534 263268 or emailing projectsupport@ sdcvs.org.uk
A BURTON musician who would wake up in a pool of sweat due to suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has decided to release a music album as part of his mental health project to support others.
Craig Gould, who lives in Shobnall, spent 10 years playing in a band, supporting top acts such as Levellers, Ocean Colour Scene, The Rifles and Example but due to lack of enthusiasm quit the band to concentrate on his work.
In 2016 he began struggling with his job, a senior management position in the travel industry and was diagnosed with a severe mental breakdown, anxiety, depression and eventually PTSD.
During these difficult times songwriting and singing became a huge part of his recovery allowing him to process the illness and focus on the future.
Now he has formed a partnership with the mental health charity campaign against living miserably (CALM) to donate all profits from his debut solo album November 2021.
The 37-year-old, who runs his own business producing bespoke furniture said: “You never really recover from a illness like PTSD, you just learn to manage it.
“Things do get easier as time progresses, even now sometimes when I go to the shop it can trigger my anxiety and you just have to accept this new version of yourself.
“I started getting warning signs, which now looking back I should have acted upon sooner, but you don’t realise what you are doing to yourself and class it as a normal thing that you are dealing with because of work.
“Initially it was very tough, I would struggle to sleep and if I did manage to sleep I would wake up in a pool of sweat and it affected my relationship at home with my family. “I used alcohol as a coping mechanism and that was just a sign for more trouble so I managed to stop drinking.
“I was in a band for 10 years and really enjoyed going on tours. We were doing at least one gig a week releasing in and supporting some brilliant acts, but then it started getting too much and having a full time job on top of touring was getting very hard to maintain.
“Mental health awareness has grown and I want to play my part in helping others through these testing times. I will support CALM through my album as a lifetime pledge, and any profit I make will be donated to them.
“I want to highlight that mental health is always there and that’s why I want to show my support for as long as I can
“Moving forward once the lockdown is lifted, I want to offer free mental health workshops to the public and work with organisations in and around Burton so we can all work together to achieve the right results and help one another overcome this horrifying illness.”
I started getting warning signs, which now looking back I should have acted upon sooner. Craig Gould