A big THANK YOU to everyone who has been involved in the amazing volunteering and fund raising efforts we have seen come together across Merton since the beginning of the pandemic.
6 months on, we bring you an update on the COVID-19 Community Response in Merton and further information on how you can get involved, by volunteering, donating, and how to receive support for you or someone you know who needs help.
For a more comprehensive list of support resources available to Merton Residents, please make sure you visit our Merton Community and Support Resources pages.
MERTON COVID-19 COMMUNITY RESPONSE HUB
The Merton COVID-19 Community Response Hub is a partnership between Age UK, Merton Voluntary Service Council, and Wimbledon Guild. It was set up in March 2020 to help isolated households and those at risk from COVID-19.
An army of volunteers and community groups assembled across Merton to make sure help reaches those who need it most. Over 2000 isolated households and those at risk from COVID-19 asked for help, with nearly 800 volunteers stepping forward to make sure they got the help they needed.
Are you isolated, at risk from COVID-19 and need help with any of the following?
The Hub continues to offer support and is determined to make it easy for you to get the help you need. Simply call on 020 8685 2272 or email Help@MVSC (between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday), if you, or someone you know, needs:
Support with shopping and basic supplies
Access to prescription and medication
Telephone befriending
Advice and practical help to stay active
Support to stay independent at home
Local resident Stacey was self-isolating during the pandemic, and was in desperate need for food and access to medication. Thanks to the help of volunteers, Stacey was able to get what she needed.
“I was absolutely delighted with the excellent service and expert advice. I feel so supported in a challenging time. They put my worries at ease by calmly explaining what would be helpful and beneficial and they genuinely care. Thank you so very much for an outstanding and much needed community service.”
Can you volunteer? Volunteers will be allocated tasks to help isolated households and those at risk of COVID-19. If you would like to add your name to the waiting list please email volunteer@mvsc.co.uk.
The latest stats from the Merton COVID-19 Community Response Hub are shown below. What amazing support their teams and volunteers have provided to the Merton communities during the pandemic!
WIMBLEDON GUILD
During the COVID-19 outbreak Wimbledon Guild are supporting #Merton in numerous ways. They are contacting isolated customers & delivering essential items – giving food vouchers to those on low incomes or unable to work.
Wimbledon Guild staff and volunteers are also out and about across the borough delivering tasty, nutritious meals. On the 27th April, they partnered with Two Teaspoons UK to deliver home cooked meals to their HomeFood Café customers in return for donations to Wimbledon Guild.
If you can, please donate and help them to help others:
http://https://www.wimbledonguild.co.uk/support-us/donate
To find out more about Wimbledon Guild and all the fantastic work their teams and volunteers are doing in Wimbledon and surrounding areas, and to find out how you can get involved, read our Wimblecomm Spotlight and visit their website: https://www.wimbledonguild.co.uk.
DONS LOCAL ACTION GROUP
Dons Local Action Group is a local network of volunteers who have been working tirelessly over the last few months to support our local community and to fight poverty and isolation to help those who need it the most.
Formed in response to the Covid-19 crisis by a few AFC Wimbledon fans, the organisation has grown rapidly joined by hundreds of fans and non-fans alike. It has now become permanent across Merton, Kingston and Wandsworth.
DLAG – The First 6 Months
DLAG are now broadening their reach locally to include access to sports, coaching and mentoring and develop initiatives to improve local environments.
It’s great to hear that they are ‘here to stay’ and expanding their services beyond the immediate crisis support during COVID-19!
Can You Help Dons Local Action Group?
As life is going back to a sense of normality, some volunteers cannot help as often.
You can support them in the following ways:
As a volunteer to collect food donations at their stalls outside local supermarkets or help as a driver. They have stalls in many locations, including Wimbledon, Morden, New Malden, Raynes Park, Mitcham, Colliers Wood, Wandsworth, and Kingston. Shifts are 3 hours long. You can also help in other various roles: administration, marketing, fundraising, etc.
Whether you can support them a few times a week or once a month, it would be a huge help.
Email them: DLAGvolunteer@afcwimbledonfoundation.org.uk
As a donor to support their work, visit their justgiving page on their website
If you have a laptop or tablet less than 8 years old to donate: the ‘Keep Kids Connected’ I.T. specialists wipe all data, refurbish your device and deliver it to a child.
donslocalaction.org/keep-kids-connected
Other Contact Details:
donslocalaction.org
Telephone Hot Line: 020 3301 4511
Email: DLA@afcwimbledonfoundation.org.uk.
Find out more in our Wimblecomm Spotlight Interview with Xavier Wiggins, one of the co-founders of the Dons Local Action Group.
MERTON COVID-19 MUTUAL AID GROUP
POSTCARD BID TO HELP SELF ISOLATING NEIGHBOURS
Postcard bid to help self-isolating neighbours, find out more here.
NEXTDOOR NEIGHBOURHOOD APP
If you don’t already have the Nextdoor Neighbourhood App, go and get it to see for yourself if it is for you. Local groups are mobilising to provide support to local residents, there is bound to be some activity happening near you…
CIVIL SOCIETY SUPORT GOVERNMENT WEBSITE
What began as a local attempt to help those in isolation or otherwise unable to go shopping for food has, since Easter 2020, grown into one of the biggest volunteering efforts in the country in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Find out more on the government’s civil society support website.
