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With the lockdown still in place, volunteers like you continue to be a lifeline for many vulnerable people.
This week
Working together, the British Red Cross, British Red Cross Community Reserve Volunteers, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Preservation Service, Lincolnshire 4 x 4, LIVES, Lincolnshire Community Assistance Scheme (LCAT) have achieved:
- 590 spontaneous volunteers have now been emailed and signposted towards Connect to Support on which are those voluntary groups who have come forward, been indemnified by the LRF and have given permission for details to go on the website
- 907 physical welfare checks
- 432 food parcels
- 54 prescriptions
- 416 vol groups / 6992 vols (222 groups have been indemnified and are being utilised by LRF
- 3000 calls answered by the Customer Service Centre through the Covid 19 Helpline for Lincolnshire residents seeking information and advice
- 1860 requests received and supported by the Wellbeing Service Community Support Team from those needing assistance
- 6800 calls made by the Customer Service Centre to those in the Extremely Vulnerable or Shielded group offering access to support should they need it. Together with the welfare checks completed through the CVC Cell, over 7,400 in this group have now had contact through this pathway.
- 1800 Lincolnshire residents connected to appropriate support by the Wellbeing Extremely Vulnerable Team, utilising the NHS volunteers, British Red Cross, Community and voluntary groups.
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A further reminder about scams
Stay vigilant about scams, which may mimic government messages such as 'Stay at home' and 'Stay home, stay safe', as a way of appearing authentic and nonthreatening.
Don’t give out private information or reply to text messages, and don’t download attachments or click on links in texts or emails you weren’t expecting.
You can forward suspicious emails claiming to be from HMRC to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk and texts to 60599. Also see the BBC news item on scam online shops.
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Mablethorpe
For anyone living in or around Mablethorpe, here is some useful information:
- Food banks - Please keep alert for any cases of hardship. Those in need should not hesitate before requesting help from Furnichurch: 01507 477007 or St Clement's: 07311 470866 or 07894 292641. Please approach them to request regular deliveries of food parcels. Special thanks to everyone who has donated.
- Staying at home - So everyone can stay in as much as possible the Good Neighbour Scheme tel: 07311 470866 & Mablethorpe Cares tel: 01507 613647 are there to help. Please don't think twice before seeking help.
- Town Council - There is a rota of volunteers looking after this number now. Anyone with any sort of difficulty can call: 01507 613647.
- L-CAT - Lincolnshire Community Action Team is entering its tenth year. They have currently covered over 8000 miles visiting the shielding/vulnerable.
To find out more about joining, email: membership@L_CAT.org.
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Lincolnshire County Council Community Fund
The Lincolnshire County Council community fund was launched on Thursday 9 April, to support community groups which are helping residents throughout the current crisis.
It's already making a massive difference to the lives of residents across Lincolnshire. 142 grants have already been approved totalling £87,482 to community groups, parish councils and charities across the county.
All of whom are doing vital work, helping the isolated and vulnerable, through delivering essential shopping, prescriptions, providing households with PPE packs containing face masks and anti-bacterial gel and of course maintaining contact.
Grants of up to £3,000 from each councillor are available to eligible groups doing important work in their community.
Any groups in need of financial support during the crisis visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/communityfund.
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Update: YMCA Lincolnshire TED programme
The past week has seen an increase in both the volume of calls to TED via the ConnecTED Helpline, and an increase in the number of individuals registering for regular support through various wellbeing, befriending and activity offers.
This week has also seen the ConnecTED Helpline go live across Lincolnshire, enabling the team to reach an increasing number of older and more vulnerable residents.
This service is available to all residents over 50 in Lincolnshire. Call 01529 301965.
A list of the support available can be found on the TED website.
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Amazing things happening in the community
You volunteers continue to make a very big difference.
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Woodhall Spa & Kirkby on Bain Coronavirus Community Support Group
A leaflet drop in both villages informed residents of the shopping and prescription service available to them. Volunteers officially started taking calls on 30th March.
They man the phone Monday through Saturday: 09.00 till midday, with a voice message to advise callers if the volunteers are currently taking another call.
The volunteers work a 'next day' service and in the first month delivered 109 loads of shopping; and almost 200 prescriptions.
Currently residents can pay in cash, by cheque or the £20 voucher scheme introduced by the Co-op.
There should be shortly a new bank account enabling people to pay by bank transfer.
A 'phone a friend' service is now available to any resident in either village feeling isolated or simply lonely and wanting to speak to someone.
Residents struggling to access funds to feed their families or pay for basic utilities can apply to the hardship fund for; a 3 day emergency food parcel or an emergency top up for prepayment gas and/or electricity meters.
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Edenham and Grimsthorp Steam Action
A community group of 16 volunteers who have looked after the over 70s in the parish for 40 years. In recent years the age was lowered to 60.
The group provides events and entertainment, such as cream teas, pantomimes, summer fetes, dances and a vegetable and produce show, at Edenham Village hall.
During the current pandemic, they have adapted how they look after their community. Each member has a list of residents calling them either daily or weekly.
New relationships have been built and existing ones strengthened.
Besides chatting to residents, volunteers are out shopping, picking up prescriptions, baking and leaving cakes on doorsteps, as well sewing scrubs and baking for the local hospital.
The Vicar has also been live streaming services every day and having after service tea, cake and chats via zoom meetings.
Hard as it may be for such a close knit community to adhere to social distancing measures, they all take heart from the efforts of the Steam Action volunteers and the knowledge that everyone is safe.
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The Holdingham Helpers
This group was established six weeks ago to help the elderly, the less able, the unwell, and NHS and care workers in Sleaford.
Many of their clients were referred by Wellbeing Lincs, but in addition, 2000 homes in the town were leafleted with a further 2000 in the first week of May.
32 volunteers have so far helped 55 people, many more than once, with shopping, collecting prescriptions, advice and friendly phone calls.
They have also re-distributed food parcels, sent to people on the NHS priority list but which were not needed.
The group is coordinated from home by Councillor Robert Oates, contact Robert.oates1@btinternet.com or 07523 327697.
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Coningsby, Tattershall and surrounding area Community Support Group
Coordinated by Coningsby and Tattershall Lions Club and the Bain Valley Group of Churches, the group are currently supporting 102 people who need support with shopping and prescription collection and a regular phone call.
They are also delivering free food parcels to families with children who are eligible for free school meals.
The Community Support group received donations of materials from Grafters of Conningsby and from local individuals.
Individual volunteers have made anywhere between 6 to 40+ wash bags or the NHS each and some are still making many more.
Some are also making scrubs as a result of the appeal that was made on the local radio station.
In addition they have also received donations of toiletries for the NHS staff.
Lions Clubs International awarded the group a grant for £1,000 to be used to provide support for the community.
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Hemingby Community Support Group
Hemingby volunteers are looking after the vulnerable and self-isolating residents – collecting shopping or prescriptions, dog walking, making phone calls to neighbours, and making wash bags and scrubs for local hospitals.
The Coach & Horses public house opened up a grocery store and make deliveries of dry goods, fruit, veg, fish, meat and drinks to villagers.
They have also been providing a takeaway / delivery meal service including a curry night and fish and chips. At Easter they cooked, served and delivered 73 meals as the traditional fayre for Good Friday.
Play Area Committee mums and children made Easter cards for all the children and some of the older people in the village and delivered them along with a little Easter Bunny surprise.
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Tealby and Walesby Joint Community Action Group
Tealby Community Shop teamed up with local bakers to give out fresh baked scones and chocolate brownies to all elderly residents over the Easter weekend. These were delivered by volunteers and street wardens to nearly 60 homes.
Walesby encouraged all residents to place a drawing or painting of a rainbow in their windows as a show of community support for the NHS.
Featured on BBC news & radio – Tealby photographer Chris Waud has been taking portraits of locked down residents in Tealby village during his daily exercise walk.
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Hogsthorpe Volunteers Group
24 volunteers from Hogsthorpe have been working to ensure every resident of the village received whatever support they needed.
They have carried out numerous shopping trips, operated a dog walking service and built a phone buddy network offering friendly chats which has also served as a safety check on individuals.
This service is largely run by their self-isolating volunteers who wanted to help despite being housebound.
The greengrocer from Chapel Garden Centre donated eggs, potatoes and some vegetables and the village hall opens for an hour every day to sell, or donate where necessary, produce to the village.
There is also a jigsaw and book exchange.
A delivery service has been carried out for those self-isolating and profits have been used to support those in financial difficulties with food parcels.
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Spilsby Christian Fellowship
In an effort to support parents, the Fellowship have been producing 'Together at Home' activity packs, which include crafts and colouring kits.
Parents are encouraged to post pictures of the crafts being completed thus opening a new means of communication, enabling families to feel both together and supported.
The first pack was distributed free to 35 families and additional packs were purchased to be sent across the country.
These packs are paid for with toddler group funds, however in order to make the packs available to more local families, a grant has been applied for.
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Bourne Corona Volunteers
Taking referrals from SKDC Wellbeing as well as local surgeries and pharmacies in Bourne, the group have served over 200 requests for assistance with shopping and prescriptions.
35 volunteers work every day to meet the needs of local elderly and isolating residents.
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LRF Updates
Remember, the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum broadcast daily updates, Monday to Friday at 13.30 on BBC Radio Lincolnshire. Tune in to hear more.
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Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue - to the rescue
This week the LRF have been delivering PPE and were struggling to get someone to actually deliver them.
Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue stepped in and delivered to Nettleham PC trust and another in Gainsborough.
Both were extremely grateful for the effort made by LRF and LFR in making those deliveries possible!
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Indemnity Forms
Those groups who haven't returned your indemnity forms, please do so (enquiries can be directed to resilientlincs@lincoln.fire-uk.org or 01522 843410).
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Finally
Remember, this newsletter is here for you. Please share your own good news stories, also, any ideas for other volunteers to help the residents in their area.
Please send to mark.stoneham@lincolnshire.gov.uk. If you have photos – send those too!
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