Many people have approached me wanting to offer their help during the crisis.
With those aged over 70 and those with underlying medical conditions being advised to stay at home as much as possible, we can all do our bit to keep an eye on them, offer to do shopping and other errands. There are other vulnerable local people who may need our help too and in addition we should not forget our fantastic NHS and other essential public service staff who are under a lot of pressure. If you know anyone in these categories who is facing particular challenges at the moment then think about what you may be able to do to make their lives a little easier – childcare, shopping, school drop-offs etc.
Many people have been approaching me offering help and wanting to know how best they can be utilised. In order to make this effective as possible and to make sure that we are not unwittingly helping to spread the virus I am suggesting that constituents should approach existing charities and voluntary organisations to be put to good use. I will be adding organisations and their details below so you can contact them directly if you want to help.
More locally constituents can keep an eye out for immediate neighbours and friends and there are localised Facebook pages already organising people to do this. For many it might just be helpful to have a daily check-up phone call or offer to lend or collect magazines, books games and other things to keep them occupied as well as essential shopping. Older people might also appreciate advice with getting the most out of online activities and TV subscription services if they have access to them. If you have any good ideas to pass on the please let me know and I will happily publicise them. I have published a leaflet which can be downloaded from this site to pop through a neighbour’s letterbox to offer help and this has been used successfully in other parts of the country - see at the bottom of this page for the attachment.
The next few weeks and months are likely to be very challenging ones but if we all pull together then we can get through this safer and stronger.
NCVO have a lot of information on their website which can be accessed HERE
COVID 19 Support Group
Please click HERE to access a grocery and delivery directory - to support the self-isolated
Sussex Crisis Fund
Sussex people and businesses are being asked to donate – urgently and generously.The Sussex Crisis Fund is supporting local charities and community groups who are in the frontline of community action to help people suffering as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. Visit HERE to find out more
Food-bank
Lots of volunteers are self-isolating and so money is needed to run a voucher system. Those of us stuck at home could help by transferring money to:
Lancing & Sompting Churches Foodbank
Sort Code: 20 79 31
Account: 73929213
Cheques can be sent to:
Lancing Tabernacle
105 North Road
Lancing
BN15 8DE
Worthing Community Chest
Worthing Community Chest is offering grants of up to £250 that are designed to be as flexible, quick and easy as possible.
No application form, just an email to grants@worthincommunitychest.org and a follow-up telephone conversation.
No monitoring forms, just the receipts and some photos or videos to show the project in action.
They are loosening our usual criteria on types of bank account and written constitution, Groups may even reapply for additional funding if need is proven to be ongoing.
Shoreham Beach Residents’ Association and the Church of the Good Shepherd
They can help with shopping, picking up prescriptions and posting letters.
Please contact:
Cllr Joss Loader – 07838 379599 or email: shorehambeachra@gmail.com
Assistant Curate, The Rev’d Jane Bartlett – Tel: 07935 538085 Email: bartlett.jane@ntlworld.com
Worthing Homes
Worthing Homes is responsible for providing accommodation for thousands of tenants across Worthing and beyond. They run a number of sheltered housing schemes looking after vulnerable individuals as well as the fantastic Community House in Dominion Road.
If you can offer any help perhaps with shopping or donations of food for the elderly in the sheltered schemes please contact Clive Cavanagh on 07966325344 or 01903 703151.
The Community House has currently suspended all activities but is still operating its Foodbank for people who need their help. If you would like to help with donations to the food bank at the Community House please ring Ali Chivers on 01903 215799.
St Mary de Haura Church in Shoreham and the Church of the Good Shepherd, Shoreham Beach
Both churches will remain open daily between 9am and 6pm. Although their usual services are suspended anyone is welcome to come in to sit or pray or light a candle during the day. If it would help to talk to someone in these anxious times please phone one of the clergy:
St Mary's - Revd Liz on 01273 452535 or Canon Ann on 01273 965303 / 07794 537598.
Church of the Good Shepherd - Revd Jane on 07935 538085.
Email: annwaizeneker@gmail.com
Weddings and funerals can still go ahead in church with certain restrictions and they have contacted all our wedding couples to let them know this. They have volunteers to help with shopping / prescriptions to the housebound and generally keeping in touch with anyone feeling lonely and isolated. There are prayer resources online and in the churches and will be directing people to services they can access from home, including from their own churches. They have had to suspend their recycling collection for the time being in both churches.
To help combat mental illness and isolation we are setting up rotas of people to be in the churches daily if people want to talk to someone.
