Beeston Rylands Community Association (BRCA) has brought together a community response team of local volunteers to provide food and support to local Ryland’s residents during this Covid-19 crisis.
Our volunteers (including the staff from the Boat House Marina Cafe) are baking homemade cakes, and making sandwiches that form part of a “pack-up.” We also make use of a donation of fresh pre-packed sandwiches donated by a local sandwich producer. The pack-ups are put together under strict social distancing and hygiene regulations and our cohort of wonderful volunteers deliver the packups to residents. These deliverers knock on the door, step far enough away and then ask if the recipient is okay or needs anything else. We follow up shopping requests and any issues as required, linking in with other voluntary groups as appropriate.
We deliver on Tuesday and Friday lunchtimes to over 145 local residents who are either in social isolation due to age, health conditions or are simply in need of some support.
Most of our Friday Club members (our social dining club for the over 60’s) receive the packages twice a week (including a Friday Club activity), as well as a weekly social phone call, and we have a virtual video Friday Club meeting on a Friday afternoon.
Other recipients include some of the most vulnerable and isolated in our community, and local families feeling the strain of these challenging times.
Feedback is incredibly positive, with most recipients glad of the food, but often more important is the friendly face and the opportunity to have a socially distanced chat. We aim to provide an interruption to the monotony of the week, a welcome distraction from being confined within the house.
BRCA is also doing outreach work with our youth club members to offer help and support if needed. Our qualified Youth Worker is suggesting activities and encouraging communication through safe online methods.
We are so grateful to our team of volunteers, and our funders who are supporting this vital community response: Broxtowe Borough Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, NET Coronavirus Appeal Programme, Martin Lewis Emergency Fund, and individual donors.
We really look forward to being able to start up our weekly Friday club and Youth Club from Beeston Rylands Community Centre in hopefully the near future, welcoming old and new participants. For more information visit: www.beestonrylandsca.wordpress.com.
If you need help, or want to volunteer, please contact Janet Barnes, Development Officer / Volunteer: 07904 06716, janetmbarnes@ntlworld.com.
JB