Week 3: We’re now in full action!
Louise writes:
We now have 18 volunteer-requester relationships set up across our lovely corner of Bath, and so far they are all working well – shopping, pharmacy collections, regular “keep in touch” calls, enquiries and recycling manoeuvres.
If, as a volunteer, you ever feel you can’t keep going, don’t worry, we still have lots of people who can help.
Having said that, requests are really picking up, and will get more frequent as the 3SG telephone helpline is now open. They triage calls and where local support is required for a person living on any of our streets they pass it on to us.
If you are reading this blogpost then you don’t need to use 3SG to make a request. You can save time by continuing to use our red button.
Thank you all again – for picking up the phone, and:
- asking for assistance when that may take courage,
- for volunteering your help when you may have your own concerns, and
- for answering the calls quickly from Jeremy and me in response to a request.
I have to admit I’m rather enjoying the role of community co-ordinator so far – the joy and relief in requesters’ voices when I tell them:
“It’s OK, I’ve found you a lovely helper” (“Thank you, that’s made my day! It’s so nice to know there are good folk about”).
The feedback from helpers when they confirm that they’ve completed their first task:
“He/she was so nice, we had a really good chat on the phone”, or “he really liked seeing my dog” , and “to think we live so close and I’ve never talked to him/her before!”.
Talking of 3SG (Third Sector Group) we’ll be asked to send volunteers a pack of useful information and tips soon. Jeremy and I haven’t seen it yet, but we’ll pass it on as soon as we get it. In the meantime we are constantly updating our own information on our Coronavirus page here as and when useful for information for Camden residents comes to our notice.
Please keep thinking – is there anyone else you know of who may need assistance, maybe a little out of our Camden Road catchment area, and we’ll all swing into action. What a great community we have – enjoy your exercise, quiet streets and all that extra time!
Louise