Advice for setting up a Community Response Group
We are working closely with our Partners in the Public & Voluntary Sector and would remind everyone of these invaluable services, whether seeking to use them or volunteer for them:
- Brighton & Hove Community Works - Latest Information and what you can do
- Advice for mutual aid groups including online meetings and safeguarding, etc
- Resource Centre advice for video & phone
- Locality - Information and advice to support Locality Members and community organisations during the Coronavirus outbreak
- ICO guidance on GDPR - Community groups and COVID-19: what you need to know about data protection
- The Resource Centre has put together a guide on managing funds for short-lived crisis-response groups as well as
- Government guidance for the safe use of multi-purpose community facilities
If you are starting a Covid-19 Community Response Group.
If you are starting a response group some simple measures you may want to consider:
- Use an established organisation’s contacts to log requests for support. Keep these recorded and if possible, also log the address & contact of volunteers responding.
- If delivering free aid parcels to doorstep no other checks should be necessary. Ideally phone to let people know when delivery on way.
- If resident requires volunteer to enter home, try and use volunteers with portable DBS checks or known to the organisation. Or volunteers can go in pairs from separate households.
- If payment is required, try and keep it to small amounts or process through the organisation account and keep a record.
- If delivering food to people in financial difficulty join the food poverty network to stay linked into city food redistribution plans.
- If printing leaflets, you can use The Resource Centre - you can order by email and have them delivered to you. 01273 606160 (10am - 1pm, Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri) or [email protected]
- Brighton Mutual Aid Response website & on Facebook are coordinating informal responses.
If you would like some advice or support in establishing your systems, please get in touch with us [email protected] 01273 234 769.
Safety and Safeguarding
- 3 min Video - Safeguarding Awareness for Volunteers
Established community response groups in Brighton & Hove
Some groups which TDC are already working with who you can contact directly:
- Craven Vale Community Association delivering free food to those in need in Craven Vale area. [email protected] 07774 644 375
- Pankhurst Residents Association & May Rd Area linked into local mutual aid group. Contact Amy 10am -12.30pm Monday – Thursday 07723 338463 [email protected]
- Hanover & Elm Grove Community Forum.Contact [email protected]. Here is the Elm Grove and Hanover Covid-19 Mutual Aid and Support Group Website and facebook group.
- Java Café coordinating voluntary deliveries from local shops: 01273308840 8am - 3pm Monday - Friday & 8am - 1pm Saturday.
- Hollingdean Community Association working with local mutual aid group. Contact Shirley 10am-12pm Mon- Friday 01273 236160 or [email protected]
- Hollingdean Development Trust have set up a new email address if you need help [email protected]
- Old Boat Corner Community Association working with local mutual aid group contact them at [email protected] or TDC's Claire Burchell Mon-Fri 10-2pm on 07809 829 734
- Moulsecoomb & Bevendean Joint Action. Contact Anke 10am-12.30pm Monday-Thursday on 07449 464695 [email protected]. The Bevy, Good News Shed, Chomp, MLAT. Meals delivered from The Bevy 01273 281 009.
- Purple People Kitchen offering collect & go foodbank. Will cascade information on other local group that can deliver to those in isolation. Contact Mark 10am-12.30pm Tue – Thursday on 07809830029 [email protected]
- Friends of Westdene Green are reestablishing their street rep system. [email protected]