The idea
We call our Covid Support: HANDS and we want to deliver the following:
H - Health
To run weekly 'chair' exercises with trained professionals tailored for elderly people. The lockdown has not given opportunity to visit our 'Social Fridays', where our community could come, mingle and dance the afternoon away.
A - Advice
Advice and awareness on sensitive and difficult topics which include NHS opt in/out organ donation, will writing, dignity in death and power of attorney with advice and support for the families.
N - Nourishment
To provide tailored ethnic food baskets to 70 community members which can last between 1-3 months and bring comfort as they are unable to shop.
D - Digital
To setup and provide support for digital inclusion for 12 of our members who are living alone and cannot connect with family members.
S - Supporting with strength
These are tough times not only for our community and will seek new opportunities to support where we can. This is our promise.
What we'll deliver
- Ethnic food baskets for 70 vulnerable isolated elderly community members.
- 12 weeks of 'chair' exercises for the community members in nursing homes from specialists. Covid secure.
- 12 All-in-One PC's to support our members who could learn computer and online skills and allow them to interact.
- Zoom workshops that will cover advice on NHS organ donation rules and regulations
- Zoom workshops to support families with dealing with loss of life, dying with dignity, safeguarding elderly adults
- Zoom quiz nights for members of the community with young children and families with an educational twist
- Zoom workshops that will cover advice on will writing and power of attorney advice
Why it's a great idea
We are a strong grass roots BAME community organisation and have been working in Sutton, Merton and Croydon for over five years but we all have been affected by COVID and the challenge is to remain connected through the lockdowns, to avoid increased isolations, increasing issues and disparity within our society raised in 2020 through Black Lives Matter. We know from the statistics that the BAME community have been disproportionately affected by COVID and the related deaths.
The deliverables we've stated can bring a sense of humanity, positivity and support for the next 3-6 months and beyond.
Our focused efforts are on the Windrush generation. They are proud and strong willed and have been enduring the rough conditions currently in place for nearly a year.
The small efforts we've provided in the last year has given them hope and the strength to continue. Some have families but are far away, some have partners whoa re struggling health wise while others are solely alone.
HANDS!
Steps to get it done
- P1: Book calendar space with the nursing home and 'chair' exercise specialist for mapping the weekly exercise classes
- P1: Ensure equipment and contingency equipment is in place to deliver the 'chair' exercise through a large screen
- P1: One weekly class of 20 unique participants split into two classes for 12 weeks
- P1: Each class is 30 mins long and the class will rotate with another 10 participants
- P1: Communication, legal and sign-off required from participants, families and specialist
- P1: Sign-off to ensure Covid-secure
- P1: Video and reporting of the event to signed-off by all parities
- P1: Follow-up with specialists after each class to discuss lessons learnt, adaptations and any other feedback
- P2: Touch base with online ethic food basket supplier and discuss requirements for the 70 vulnerable members
- P2: Arrange calendar dates to deliver on specific time slots and dates to ensure safeguarding is practised with members
- P3: Investigate which lawyers and specialists are available in the community to support advice zoom sessions.
- P3: Discuss zoom session with specialists and ideally have experience within Black African communities.
- P3: Discuss calendar dates, fees and timescales and follow-up for Q&A sessions and information and client bookings.
- P3: Book as per availability in Eventbrite and begin communication and promotions within the community
We understand this fund is to support 'space' in the community however we feel any initiatives put in place will not be beneficial due to the current lockdowns which do not have any end dates.
With the lockdowns in mind, it is causing real heartache and issues to our most vulnerable community members; our Windrush Generation.
While we as a charity (Board of Trustees and volunteers) discussed ideas to utilise spaces in the local areas during our revamped 2021 Staff Zoom 'day' out, the conclusion and consensus between us all, was the funding should be utilised for the real issues currently being voiced in the community and anything else would not sit right with the group.
Therefore, our HANDS projects focuses on the vulnerable BAME members from the Windrush Generation who are suffering from the lockdowns and Covid.
They are isolated, need support and their families need the support through counselling to deal with the harsh realities of after death and its requirements.
