How you can help with Covid-19
We know that you may want to help out at the moment and there are a number of different ways that you can do this. When doing any of this volunteering please take care regarding your safety in terms of infection control and personal safety and make sure you are comfortable with what is being asked of you. Also please do check the rules of the group that you are volunteering for and make sure someone knows where you are going and when you will be back. It is really important that this kind of response is as co-ordinated as possible so that duplication and gaps can be avoided. Here are a number of organisations/ ways you can get involved at a local level:-
Swansea Council for Voluntary Service
Register with SCVS (Swansea Council for Voluntary Service) who are mapping need across Swansea county and can match volunteers to where they’re most needed. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/uac9aup
Swansea Local Area Co-ordinators
Swansea Council have people on the ground in different areas in Swansea supporting the local community and organising street level volunteering. Find out who your Local Area Co-ordinator is and how you can get in touch with them here: https://www.swansea.gov.uk/localareacoordination
Local COVID-19 groups
There are lots of local COVID 19 groups coming together – In Swansea we’d suggest contacting the Local Area co-ordinators first but if they do not cover your area or if you are not in Swansea you can find out if there is one in your local area here: https://covidmutualaid.org/local-groups/
Red Cross
The Red Cross is co-ordinating a national response and has eight ways you can be kind to yourself and your friends here: https://www.redcross.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/uk-emergency-response/coronavirus-and-the-power-of-kindness
and you can become a Red Cross community reserve volunteer here https://reserves.redcross.org.uk/?fbclid=IwAR2T3iC4puV4SLVpJVqS_qnpMdt_D4JkVaE7lcXsA2Df77CFlYZZaT-gzic
NHS Volunteering
The Government has issued an urgent call for a quarter of a million people to register as a volunteer for the NHS to help tackle the coronavirus crisis.If you’re fit, healthy and current have no coronavirus symptoms then you could be the perfect fit to join this “army” of volunteers. It’s simple and easy to apply to join the push for help, all you need to do is go here https://www.goodsamapp.org/NHS to register. This is just in England for now but we are expecting an announcement for something very similar in Wales soon.
Volunteers needed: Treboeth
Volunteers are needed to help with leafletting the Treboeth area over the next couple of weeks. Volunteers would drop off leaflets giving people details if they are in need of support due to self-isolation. If you are able to help please contact Beth Pike, Local Area Co-ordinator directly, 07469 412175 or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethpike.clasela
Food banks
The current situation has meant a massive drop in donations for most foodbanks, they are also struggling to buy supplies from supermarkets. Foodbanks across the country are calling for people to donate items and one of the ways that you could help is to donate items to your local food bank. If you are wanting to donate please do check with your local food bank first about what they need. To find your local food bank please go here https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/ or go direct to these Swansea foodbanks
Clase Food Bank –Clase Food Bank is running dry and needs donations. They are particularly in need of tinned soups, tinned meats, rice, pasta. Anyone that can donate to them needs to contact Beth Pike, Local Area Co-ordinator on 07469 412175 or Bethany.Pike@swansea.gov.uk to arrange a drop off/collection.
Sketty Park foodbank – donations desperately needed. Items they need: sugar, squash, orange juice, washing up liquid, toothpaste, washing powder, jams/marmalades/spreads, UHT milk, tinned potatoes, tinned vegetables (not sweetcorn), tinned fruit, tinned soup, tinned tomatoes/tomato puree, cereals, tinned meats, tinned fish, desserts, evaporated milk, rice, noodles, pasta sauces, toilet roll, veggie options – they don’t need pasta or baked beans. If anyone can donate then drop off is at Sketty Park Community Centre 11-1pm Wednesday only or Sketty Club between 9-12 daily.
Swansea Together- Tackling Coronavirus
This is an emergency collective effort of volunteer groups, agencies, health care professionals and council departments that provide regular support for the vulnerable community, especially the homeless. Together they are coordinating a collaborative effirt to see food prepared and distributed safely on a daily basis for some of the most vulnerable. They are actively seeking donations. To give a one off financial donation go here: https://matthewshouse.org.uk/ or to give a practical donation go here https://matthewshouse.org.uk/give-practically-to-swansea-together/
STOPP (Swansea Takes on Period Poverty) campaign
The Swansea Takes on Period Poverty Campaign is providing supplies of sanitary products for people who are self-isolating and anyone else in this difficult time. If you would like to keep their supplies topped up you can donate easily through their Amazon wish-list and the products go directly to the STOPP Campaign: http://tiny.cc/STOPPList