Covid Legacy and Ukraine Response

Community Help Hertfordshire’s Voluntary and Community Infrastructure offers a range of Ukrainian refugee support. Similarly, our Compassionate Community Connectors help to support local vulnerable residents as part of our Covid Legacy project. These projects are led by Communities1st.

We’re here to help, please call 01727 649900 or email help@communities1st.org.uk

 

Shopping

Email or call us with your shopping list, and we’ll arrange for someone to do this shopping and one of our staff or trusted volunteers will deliver it to your door.

Telephone Befriender

Email Feeling lonely or isolated at this difficult time? Let us know and we’ll arrange for someone to give you a call.

Postcard Pal

Would you like to receive a message from a child home from school who would like to exchange postcards/letters? Get in contact.

Dog Walking or Pet Sitting

Can’t get out? or need to go into hospital? Need someone to look after your pet? Let us know and we’ll see what we can arrange.

Tech Support

Want to video chat with your family through Skype or Facetime? Need to know how to set up online shopping orders? Call our friendly phone tech support volunteers to help you gain confidence with your tech.

Walking Buddy

Has your confidence been knocked by being stuck in isolation? Would you like a friendly volunteer to go out on social distanced walks with you to build your confidence? We’re here to help.

“They are stuck with me now! … They are incredible women and it has been a privilege to have been part of their story.”

Amy

Volunteer shopper and phone befriender for Diane and Peggy

“Thank you so much for all your help, success! Seriously, I am so grateful for all your help in getting this done – it is very much appreciated.”

Graham Macey

User of handy-person service

Charles has been receiving shopping deliveries from our volunteers since , so he can stay safe at home.

Since March 2020, we have been providing people with shopping deliveries, prescription medicine collection, dog walking, and telephone company.

As things begin to open up again, think about what you can do to keep vulnerable in our communities safe.
#WhatWillYouDo?

If you’d like to access our services, fill out our support form: http://ow.ly/jDTx50ErU40
If you need help filling this form in, call: 020 8207 5115

Our Personal Shopper Service

William is one of our volunteer coordinators. He makes sure that our vulnerable clients receive their shopping deliveries, so they can #staysafe at home.

If you’d like to volunteer with us, visit: Communities1st.org.uk/volunteer-information

Case Study - Tina

On Tuesday 21st April, one of our volunteers took a call from Tina from Welwyn Garden City, a 72-year old woman who was living alone. Tina was isolating for 12 weeks due to underlying health conditions.

She wasn’t sleeping because of her anxiety about the pandemic and needed emotional support. She was also having problems with her laptop and was struggling to get online for a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Isobel, the volunteer, talked Tina through re-booting her laptop and showed her how to accept and join a meeting. She also suggested Tina might like to receive a regular friendly phone call to help alleviate her loneliness. Tina agreed and was registered there and then on the telephone befriender scheme. She was also registered for prescription collection and technical support.

Tina ended up applying to Communities 1st to become a telephone befriender herself since she thought the best way to feel good was to do good. By the time Isobel said goodbye Tina seemed much happier and grateful for the new direction the phone call she made had given her. She was full of praise for the project and thanked Communities 1st for all they were doing.