Tackling Loneliness & Supporting People In Isolation
Rotarians taking action to combat loneliness and provide support during the Covid-19 pandemic
Befriending Scheme
The Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta is partnering with Swale Community & Voluntary Services in extending its "Befriending Scheme". A Befriender is a volunteer who is willing to contact a person and provide friendly chats and companionship on a regular basis.SwaleCVS has seen a sudden increase in people requiring a telephone contact in the Sittingbourne area and 18 club members have helped to swell the ranks of existing volunteers making calls to elderly and isolated people.
The club has also secured a district grant to support SwaleCVS's increased transport costs in transporting people and supplying groceries and medications during this period of isolation.
Delivering Groceries
Members of the Rotary Club of Maidstone Riverside are busy distributing food parcels to those in need in isolation due to Corona virus - a great scheme in conjunction with Maidstone Borough Council
Taking Care of Members
The Rotary Club of Margate have set up a "pastoral care" system with the club officers each looking after a number of members and keeping in touch with them regularly either by phone, email, whatsapp and Zoom.
The Dover club are in regular telephone and video contact with members to help alleviate possible feelings of isolation. Some members are also helping those that cannot leave home with shopping, prescriptions etc.
Other Activities
- Maidstone Dawn Patrol members have contacted local care homes and are supporting the residents by sending letters, cards and small gifts.
- Eastbourne members are also contacting elderly residents to alieveate isolation and loneliness.
- Margate members are working with East Kent Hospital Trust and knitting "Loving Hearts" for patients and their families who cannot visit whilst in hospital. Thirteen sets of hearts have been delivered so far.
- Some Medway Sunlight members are acting as ‘Telephone Buddies’ providing co-ordinated regular telephone support to isolated members of the public
- Dover has a mental health professional in the club who is offering to speak by telephone with members and people in the local community affected by the lockdown.
- Tonbridge members have supported local elderly residents with telephone calls.
- Hailsham members are visiting elderly residents at a local caravan park and helping with shopping.
(Main Photo by Alex Blăjan on Unsplash)
Related pages...
Helping Our NHS & Care Workers
more Supporting our health care professionals during the Covid-19 pandemic
Feeding Those In Need
more Rotary clubs providing funds and support to feed those in need during the Covid-19 pandemic
back to page above this...
Rotary Keeping Safe & Carrying On
back Rotary's People of Action during the current Covid-19 pandemic