From helping thousands of people with shopping and food parcel deliveries to making wellbeing calls to the vulnerable, an Epping Forest charity has reflected on the wide variety of ways it has helped the community in the past year since lockdown.
Voluntary Action Epping Forest (VAEF) quickly adapted its services from the beginning of the lockdown in March 2020 to make sure isolated and vulnerable residents in Epping Forest remained supported during the Covid-19 pandemic.
A wide-ranging package of care was quickly organised to help residents that were self-isolating. The organisation recruited volunteers to help with food shopping and delivery, collection and delivery of medical supplies, telephone befriending, advice and information support. Help was given to new and existing clients of VAEF with activities, regular wellbeing calls, benefits enquiries, gardening, community group support and volunteering.
Seventy new volunteers were recruited by the organisation
As well as continuing with ongoing projects to help the community, Voluntary Action Epping Forest also managed to provide help directly in response to the pandemic. The charity:
Recruited 70 new volunteers
Referred 120 volunteers to support local organisations
Supported 16,749 local residents with shopping and food parcel deliveries
Collected and delivered 2599 essential prescriptions
Provided 922 other supportive interventions
Made 9709 wellbeing calls to vulnerable clients
Provided 2073 hours of volunteer support to local vaccination sites
The charity helped elderly clients celebrate milestone birthdays
In addition, VAEF was able to surprise elderly clients on milestone birthdays, all socially distanced and in a safe way, to ensure those who were isolated and unable to share it with families continued to feel valued while remaining safe.
A number of factsheets were also created for membership groups and local organisations to give help and advice to people affected during this difficult time.
Partnerships were formed with local businesses such as Ongar Dairy, as well as ongoing partnerships with Epping Forest District Council, West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group and Essex Welfare Service.
To find out more about Voluntary Action Epping Forest, visit www.vaef.org.uk
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