You can make a difference to even your own residential road.
With these unprecedented times that we are all facing, it not only heightens anxiety and fear of what is around the corner for all of us, feeling like everything is beyond your control; but for so many who see the prospect of isolating for weeks, possibly months, it is an opportunity for us all to do what we can for those in need, giving us all a purpose and a more positive mindset by helping others.
Now more than ever, it is vitally important that we reach out and help our local community – in the best way that we can.
By being there for them – because this is who we are.
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
At Dads Unlimited, we are joining forces with local groups and the NHS volunteer service to help our community and you can too.
To make life easier, we have supplied a list of of contacts that are set up to help the vulnerable and elderly through the Covid-19 outbreak.
Should you live outside of the Ashford borough, we would advise contacting your local volunteer centre as they are likely to have the relevant contact details so that you can help close to home.
There are however opportunities to volunteer for the NHS, wherever you are in England and there are many options on assisting depended on whether you drive or not and how many hours you can commit to.
Please take care of yourselves and others by following the Government advice and remember, even when you are helping others, to keep 2 meters away and regularly wash your hands.
NHS Volunteer Services https://www.goodsamapp.org/NHS
Here is a brief list of things that are happening already across the Ashford Borough to help people at this unprecedented time and all who want volunteers.
Age UK Ashford https://www.facebook.com/ageukashford/
Collecting and accepting donations for essentials for their clients. Tel 01233 668765 Aldington and Bonnington Village Community Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1449646121975063/?ref=share
ref=group_header&view=groupOffers of help and advice sharing. Also Link to Dine at Quarry House. Aldington who are sorting out packages for vulnerable. Ashford Community Online Exercise https://www.facebook.com/groups/2802378009840001/?ref=share
Keep activity online with othersAshford Corona Care Buddy Scheme https://www.facebook.com/groups/519385528773184/?ref=share
Being arranged for those that require help. Ashford Kent Read all about it https://www.facebook.com/groups/AshfordKentRAAI/?ref=share
Sharing latest information and advice. Ashford Kent Today https://www.facebook.com/groups/629632090441910/?ref=share
People sharing information on organised groups and advice. Ashford Mummys https://www.facebook.com/groups/153944294641551/?ref=share
Offers of help to source supplies. Residents of Ashford. Offers being received for volunteering. Ashford Vineyard 01233 331919 https://www.facebook.com/AshfordVineyardAV/
Food Bank and Mummy meals. Biddenden Beats Corona. https://m.facebook.com/Biddenden-Beats-Corona-BBC-107701530860801/
Volunteers arranged to cover all zones of their area to help and support residents. Bilsington Village Community Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/1122371281148262/?ref=share
Offers of help and referred to Aldington, Bonnington and Bilsington Village Community page. Challock. https://www.facebook.com/ChallockParishCouncil/
Help for the Local Isolating – posting mail, pick up shopping, urgent supplies or a friendly chat on the phone ∙just call the clerk Di Sandy on 07895494851.Challock Post Office Stores and The Barn Shop are able to deliver basic supplies to parishioners in the village self isolating. Call Andrew Challock Post Office on 740313 or Paul The Barn Shop on 740237 or email paulbarkaway@yahoo.co.uk.
Charing Covid-19 Mutual Aid Group volunteers to support their community. Charing Covid-19 Mutual Aid groupCorona Virus Community Care (Ashford Kent). https://www.facebook.com/groups/226739368694621/?ref=group_header
Delivering Food and medical supplies. Requesting donations. Trying to get all volunteers DBS checked. Setting up a whatsapp group.To volunteer or ask for help call John Howell 07946 345859 Dine at Quarry House Aldington https://m.facebook.com/dineatquarryhouse/
Putting together essential packages for elderly and asking for volunteers to distribute. Fareshare Kent. https://m.facebook.com/faresharekent/
Sending out food parcels and require volunteers to distribute. Call Emma White 01233 500477. Friends of North Willesborough Community Forum https://www.facebook.com/groups/FriendsOfNWCF/?ref=share
Advice and information sharing. Flyers being distributed for volunteering offers of help. Councillor Gerrard White Highfield Ward is looking to set up a a help group which is to be advised. Hamstreet Community Group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1809207695978464/?ref=share
Contact details for local volunteers distributed around village. Spreadsheet set up for people to cover each road. Liaising with local surgery. Helping Hands https://www.facebook.com/groups/2736361073143831/?ref=share
Offering to search for items in short supply. Gathering members who are offering to volunteer to help community. High Halden Covid 19 Response. Volunteers Community Support https://www.facebook.com/groups/highhalden/?ref=share
Group. Volunteers; Information Flyers supporting all our residents. Kingsnorth Community Hub https://www.facebook.com/groups/569473030443160/?ref=share
Help people and businesses Keep Kingsnorth Rural https://www.facebook.com/424780354942936/posts/669104310510538/?sfnsn=scwspmo&extid=uyittnoVoneoP3dU
Councillor Heather Hayward to arranging a plan of action for Roman Ward and Knights Park for volunteers. Kennington Community Council https://www.facebook.com/KenningtonCouncil/
Organising help for the vulnerable with shopping, fetching supplies and posting letters. Kennington Forum https://www.facebook.com/groups/kenningtoncf/?ref=share
Advice and information sharing. Flyers being distributed and volunteering. Links to other sites. Offering support to set up prescription delivery. Kent Community Foundation https://m.facebook.com/KentCommunity/
Support group for those at risk and volunteering opportunities. Co-ordination of chat whatsapp groups for each different area, advice, on-line classes. Kent Covid-19 Mutual Aid https://www.facebook.com/groups/1093009801049456/?ref=group_header
For helping and supporting people to access food, complete errands etc – particularly those who are elderly, disabled and/or immunocompromised. Our place in Wye https://www.facebook.com/groups/706096346250773/?ref=share
Wye Coronavirus support system 40 Volunteers. Postcards delivered to support the villagers. 07547 321046 or email admin@ourplacewye.org.uk
Park Farm, Bridgefield & Kingsnorth Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/1681063525461645/?ref=share
Repton Park Community Info https://www.facebook.com/groups/1649342451951934/?ref=share
Sharing information and adviceSalvation Army Ashford https://www.facebook.com/TheSalvationArmyAshfordKent/
Requiring donations of food.01233 643 480 Self Isolation Activities – Helping us to keep our sanity one day https://www.facebook.com/groups/3385239234836265/?ref=share
People swapping ideas of activities for self – isolation. Shadoxhurst A Kent Village https://www.facebook.com/groups/1721139798106705/?ref=share
Setting up plans to co-ordinate volunteers to help within their community. Shadoxhurst Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/236341027310856/?ref=share
Establishing a volunteer group. Singleton and Great Chart Community Info https://www.facebook.com/groups/singletonandgreatchart/?ref=share
Smeeth & Brabourne’s Community Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/207250272959006/?ref=share
South Ashford Forum https://m.facebook.com/SouthAshfordCF/
Sharing posts and information. The Cinnamon Trust https://www.facebook.com/TheCinnamonTrust/
Has volunteers to help vulnerable looking after their pets. tel 01736 757 900 The Community Radio Show https://www.facebook.com/communityradioshow/
They have asked people to share community services and support to their page. The Real Ashford Watch Community Forum https://www.facebook.com/groups/728332777599456/?ref=share
Sharing updates on the virus and closures. Requesting volunteers and offers of help. The Real Sellindge Village Community Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/205556813565656/?ref=share
Community Group Link to Jane Mackenzie (Leading Folkestone & Hythe instructor) providing weekly video Pilates classes. Woodchurch Hub Community support group. Flyers distributed by volunteers. Requiring more volunteers. https://www.facebook.com/groups/WoodchurchHub/
www.woodchurchhub.ukContact details 01233 801 789 or email support@woodchurchhub.uk
Let’s work together to help our communities and be their ‘ripple of hope’.
Because this is who we are.
Meanwhile, keep washing those hands and stay safe.
Thank you all for your time.
Nav & Frances, Dads Unlimited