• Norwood Forum

Community

SUPPORT - for you, your family, a relative, friend, neighbour or anyone that you know
HELP - how you can volunteer or help in other ways

Information covers:
Community COVID-19 Mutual Aid Groups
NHS
Lambeth Council
Lambeth Foodbank Network
Lambeth AgeUK

More detailed support can be found here:
Food: www.norwoodforum.org/food
Money: www.norwoodforum.org/money
Health: www.norwoodforum.org/health
Wellbeing: www.norwoodforum.org/health-wellbeing


Community COVID-19 Mutual Aid Groups
These groups are made up of local people volunteering to support those in our community who have to self-isolate or are worried about going out. If you are not sure which group to contact, please ask the Forum: info@norwoodforum.org and we can quickly help you make contact with the right one. The Forum is actively supporting all of them.

Not sure which Ward you live in? Click here and enter your post code.


Knights Hill Ward: very roughly focussed around West Norwood, SE27, click on the map directly below:

SUPPORT
W Norwood CV Mutual Aid (WhatsApp)
 formed by local residents Emma, Keira and Steve. Volunteers are divided up into local area sub-groups. They offer non-medical support, including:

  • picking up shopping, prescriptions, or medication
  • help with errands
  • helping sort out pre-paid gas/electric top ups
  • be a friendly voice on the phone.

to those unable or too worried to leave their home.

If you live in West Norwood (Gipsy Hill and Knight’s Hill Wards) and need help to stay safe, please contact Emma, Keira or Steve on:
Call: 0208 168 7080
Text: 0203 151 7080

HELP
​If you would like to volunteer please email Emma, Keira or Steve at: wnorwoodc19aid@gmail.com

This leaflet also contains this information, click on the image for a larger version.
There is also a Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/westnorwoodcovid19/


Thurlow Park Ward: very roughly the area between West Norwood and Brockwell Park - especially the Thurlow Park Ward area, click on the map below:

SUPPORT
Thurlow ParkCV19
support WhatsApp group  (link to join: tinyurl.com/ThurlowParkGroup) was formed by a group of local residents. Their volunteers are also divided up into local area sub-groups. They offer non-medical support, including:

  • picking up shopping/medication
  • making a friendly phone call
  • posting mail
  • delivering urgent supplies
  • helping sort out pre-paid gas/electric top ups.

to those unable or too worried to leave their home.

If you know someone that needs support please ask them to call or text: 020 8678 1539/07988 864306 or email: ThurlowParkCV19aid@gmail.com

HELP
If would like to volunteer with the group (which has area Leads for different parts of the ward): 
Link showing map of Thurlow Park Ward with Area Leads: drive.google.com/file/d/1PFpMwWQsRiyG7vd6Ms-bdlko5QjUpXDY/view?usp=drivesdk
There is also a Facebook page giving these contact details: www.facebook.com/ThurlowParkCVAid/


Gipsy Hill Ward: very roughly the area between West Norwood and Crystal Palace
Being covered with a partnership between WNorwood and Crystal Place COVID19 groups. 
Friends of Gipsy Hill have an exceptional resource on their website including support groups for residents and businesses, national and borough focussed information, helpline advice covering Lambeth, Southwark, Croydon, Lewisham and Bromley: gipsyhillfriends.org/covid19/
There is also plenty of excellent community activity on the Friends of Gipsy Hill Facebook page



Lambeth TechAid

The Covid-19 lockdown has amplified existing inequalities across the UK, and people who remain unconnected to the digital world are being left behind. Lambeth TechAid works to bring internet access to households who need it, via Lambeth Schools and local community organisations in a time when having access to the internet has become essential. Recognising that many everyday tasks and services have become accessible exclusively through online platforms, Lambeth TechAid aims to bridge the digital divide. 

They take in donated devices, wipe them and and deliver them to people in need, identified through local schools, refugee organisations and other community groups. They are in need of donations to continue supporting those who need it most. If you have an old tech device that you no longer need, perhaps an old laptop or tablet, please fill in a simple online donation form here and they’ll do the rest! 

Lambeth TechAid is a completely volunteer run organisation and was set up in mid-March as a community response to the Covid-19 lockdown. They are supported by Streatham MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy and InStreatham Business Improvement District (Streatham BID). You can follow them on Twitter: @LambethTechAid and on Facebook: search for Lambeth-TechAid 

SUPPORT
Lambeth TechAid do not provide tech to individuals. If you work for a Lambeth school, charity or community organisation who could distribute up to 5 tech items, please register as a partner here.

HELP
Donate: Lambeth TechAid accepts most devices, even those that are slow or several years old:

  • Laptops
  • Smartphones
  • Tablets
  • All-in-one desktop computers (these have the hard drive built into the monitor rather than housed in a separate black box or “tower”)
  • Spare mobile or tablet chargers, mice, keyboards, laptop power converters and power supply leads, headphones, earphones, cases for mobiles and tablets and laptops.

Unfortunately they do not currently have the capacity to repair broken screens.
After you donate your tech, they will ensure all data is fully wiped from it by their volunteer tech experts before it is given to someone in need. 
If you are still not sure, complete an online donation form and they will assess the device, find their website here

Volunteer: Lambeth TechAid need volunteers to cover a wide range of roles. Find out more here.


NHS Volunteer Responders
HELP
The NHS has reopened its call for Covid-19 volunteers, and there are other ways to volunteer with the NHS listed here, including Transport, and Chat and Check: https://www.goodsamapp.org/NHS


Lambeth Council
SUPPORT

Support available to you or vulnerable people you know:
Lambeth Council has now closed its own Vulnerable Help Line and from 1 July 2020 passed this service over to AgeUK Lambeth and their MyCommunity Gateway Service:

The MyCommunity Gateway service, run by AgeUK Lambeth, can help you with advice and support to connect up with local services that can help you, whatever challenge you are facing. You can ask for help for you or for someone you know. The service is for anyone who is over 18 in Lambeth.

Call Gateway on 0333 360 3700, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
or email mycommunity@ageuklambeth.org

HELP
Ways to volunteer:
OnHand
Lambeth Council have partnered with onHand to provide a shopping service to those who are unable to leave their homes. People who are shielding, have mobility or perhaps anxiety issues need help from time to time. Volunteers download an app on to their smartphone which gives details of local people who have requested help and then take on the specific mission.  One of the Norwood Forum committee is an onHand volunteer and says "I have completed over forty missions and really enjoy meeting lots of different people and doing something good at the same time.  The onHand team are really helpful and it has been a great experience."
You can get involved by downloading their app on the Google Play Store or the App Store and completing an ID and DBS check so you're ready to pick up missions. It's super quick and simple and their app has been described as 'the uber for help' so you can find volunteering opportunities that are closest to you – Find out more here.

Lambeth also lists other ways to volunteer here.


South London Foodbank
SUPPORT
Detailed advice on Food support can be found here: www.norwoodforum.org/food
 
HELP
In April the South London Foodbank fed 3,044 people. They are regularly giving out 8.5 tonnes of food per week which due to concerns over social distancing is delivered via a team of drivers directly to people's homes.
 
There are lots of way to support the Foodbank, watch this video, then read on to find the one that suits you:
 

  • Donate money to the GoFundMe campaign: Lambeth Food Bank Fund
  • You can donate online: Single or Monthly amounts
  • Text to donate (Text 'DINNER' followed by amount you wish to donate up to £20 to 70085)
  • You can download their app: search 'foodbank' in your app store to stay updated on their latest shopping needs
  • And you can, of course, still donate items in their supermarket drop-boxes, list below.
South London Foodbank drop points:
This link will show you all the current drop-off points with address, location of drop-off box and times you can drop-off.
Also this link will show you a list of the urgently needed items:
Donate Food: norwoodbrixton.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-food/
Volunteer:
Currently looking for volunteer delivery drivers. See here for details on how to get involved: norwoodbrixton.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/volunteer/

Lambeth AgeUK
SUPPORT

  • Main Gateway number: Open 9-5, Monday to Friday  0333 360 3700  Voicemail is on outside of hours. (This will take you through to a kind of main switchboard - it's primarily been used for arranging food parcel deliveries but is also a good one for people to use for general enquiries if they're unsure where else to go.)
  • MYadvice team: 0203 1434 025  Open 10-4, Monday to Friday, voicemail is on outside of hours. (Puts you through to advisers who can help with form-filling, benefits and housing advice etc.)
  • MYneighbour team: 0203 1435 836 (Befriending service)
  • MYsocial team: 0203 1435 695  Members encouraged to call for a chat, Tuesday to Friday, 10 am until 2 pm. (Social activities and support.)
  • HandyFix & Hospital to Home: 0333 360 3990: Open 10-4, Monday to Friday, voicemail is on outside of hours (Transfer of care from hospital, odd jobs around the house, cleaning and gardening services; there is a charge for the latter three - £50 per hour standard rate but only £15 per hour for those on means-tested benefits and they are efficient; people are encouraged to book for more than one task and they will get as much done as they can within an hour's timeframe to keep the cost as low as possible.)

A detailed list of Wellbeing support and advice can be found here: www.norwoodforum.org/health-wellbeing
And on Health including doctors, dentists and a list of pharmacies with their opening times here: www.norwoodforum.org/health

HELP
AgeUK have relaunched their befriending scheme and it is called MYneighbour.
Our two local Community Mutual Aid Groups are part of this scheme and you can sign up as a volunteer with them and help our community in multiple ways - see top of this page to find out how, or sign up with AgeUK direct here: www.ageuk.org.uk/lambeth/our-services/myneighbour/


Scams
The Metropolitan Police have received reports of people knocking on doors and demanding money for a coronavirus test. There are also reports of Police imposters. Dial 999 if you experience any of this. See also news story here.