Abermule Community Centre applied for a grant from the C-SERT emergency fund for an outreach project to help them to provide a shopping service and support with on-line shopping for community members. They’re also arranging collection and delivery of medication and putting on socially distanced community events to combat loneliness and isolation.
Community Centre Chair, Leon Shearer, told us more:
“Our volunteers have delivered over 400 prescriptions to local residents and over 200 food orders. Our switchboard has received 166 calls and 26 voicemails. Our digital team has managed 80 Facebook messages and 97 e-mails. We are currently supporting residents in Abermule, Aberbechann, Cefn-Y-Coed, Llandyssil, Llanmerewig, Hodley and Fron Frith. We have also supported residents in Berriew and Sarn with ad-hoc issues and delivered to local care homes and NHS Newtown staff welfare on behalf of UNISON.
As well as the grant from C-SERT we have received several small private donations to help out disadvantaged families and a donation of 5 pallets of Potatoes from Charlies, which was shared with Kerry and Sarn.
For the safety and peace of mind of those accessing our service, we have issued verifiable photocard ID to volunteers with DBS markers for those in contact with vulnerable or elderly people. These have also helped medical practices and police identify volunteers. We have worked with social services to ensure that those receiving support from Carers or our outreach project have a safe and accountable way of accessing cash where needed. 94% percent of our transactions are cashless.
To ensure our community is connected we are streaming videos of villages pantos, local YFC performances etc as watch parties. Residents have enjoyed watching together and sharing memories online. We have introduced Community Thank-Ewes, where people are nominated to receive a thank you card from the Community. Finally, each Thursday at 8 our external PA plays 3 songs picked by the community following Clap for Heros - This has been very successful!”
The Powys Community Sector Emergency Response Team (C-SERT) and PAVO have worked together to distribute small grants to help communities respond to the Covid-19 emergency. The C-SERT Emergency Fund is drawn from the Welsh Government Integrated Care Fund (ICF), allocated by the Powys Regional Partnership Board (RPB).
