WAMA VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER #1
We know that many people will look to family and friends for assistance during the Covid-19 outbreak, and Wotton Area Mutual Aid group is here to make sure that no one is left alone, by connecting people in need, with volunteers who are available to help out
Firstly, WAMA would like to thank you for signing up to be a part of this amazing group. Following the PM's announcement last night it's important to remember that we only offer "essential" help and support. Shopping and movement must be kept to a minimum. There are a few key things for you to remember at this point: - Please keep looking back at the spreadsheet. Although things are quiet at the moment, we believe they will get busier!
- Please keep all the information you have access to, and
information about the person you are helping, confidential at all times.
- If you have assigned yourself a task, please go back and change to "complete" once done so we can move it off the sheet.
- Please use gloves to handle money, shopping. These can be disposable, or regular gloves that you can wash afterwards.
- When dropping off shopping and deliveries, please just leave on the doorstep and ring the bell.
- Once you are in contact with someone who has asked for help, you can decide between yourselves if that is one-off or continued. If one-off, please remind them to fill out another request next time they need help.
- When collecting shopping, ask them to be as clear as possible about what they would like.
- If you have a concern about someone you have made contact with, please email us to talk through your concerns. We have a safeguarding system in place.
- As you will be contacting people you may not know from your own phone, please "block" your phone number if you would like to keep it private. Each phone has a different way of doing that - eg 141 before inputting your number
- If you are collecting someone's prescription, the pharmacy will just need the full name and address of the person you are collecting it for.
Reminder to share with friends and neighbours: The way to contact Wotton Area Mutual Aid for help is to:
Council Help Hubs
The local councils have created new community hubs to allow people to register requests for support and offers of help. The Gloucestershire Community Help Hub is a collaboration between local councils, police and health services. If the Gloucestershire Help Hub receives requests which require community-level support, they’ll be sent to the relevant District Council. The District will then match any offers of help with local groups, and link those in need with the local volunteer groups. Wotton Area Mutual Aid has registered with the Community Help Hub and Stroud District Council who will refer on any local requests. Similarly in South Gloucestershire, the new portal Community Aid South Glos has been set up to connect individuals with local mutual aid groups. Wotton Area Mutual Aid has also registered on the South Gloucestershire Council directory – to ensure that we receive any relevant requests for support, and offers of help in the local area.
Posters and leaflets We’ve printed a number of posters that are being put up on noticeboards and posts around our communities. We’ve also printed 3000 copies as leaflets, to be distributed safely to homes in the local area – details on leaflet delivery to follow soon. If you would like to print your own, click here
Supporting local businesses Although non-essential shops are now required to close – many local food shops are now offering a delivery service and/or collection service – so do consider shopping locally to keep supporting local business. We will be producing a list of local businesses that are offering this service.
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