Saxmundham

COVID 19 Crisis – Town Council & partners cooperate to set up local help & support Scheme

Over the weekend, community volunteers have hand-delivered leaflets to all homes in Saxmundham setting out brief information on the new local Good Neighbours Scheme, with a help line for those in need during the emergency.

This is the text of an Open Letter from Saxmundham Town Council giving further details and information:

Sunday 29th March 2020

Dear Saxmundham residents,

The current Corona virus (COVID 19) – local support scheme:
IP17GNS Good Neighbours Scheme, covering Saxmundham & Kelsale-cum-Carlton

We have had to close the Town Council’s Office and the Market Hall due to the Covid 19 crisis, however Saxmundham Town Council is determined to support the local community at this difficult time. Please follow the Government website for requirements and guidance around social distancing and staying at home. https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

This weekend, community volunteers have been out across town, delivering leaflets to every home in Saxmundham. The leaflet provides details of how to make contact if you need help in this emergency and have no family or friend nearby who you can ask.

If you do need help, e.g. because you are running low on food, or need a prescription collecting, or need other necessary support, you can contact us:

FOR HELP
Phone 0333 335 5266 (from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.) or text to 07835 064587
Email: help@ip17gns.com

If you would like to volunteer to work for the Scheme, please use the following:

TO VOLUNTEER
Phone 0333 335 5245 (from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.) or text to 07849 139510

You can find materials and information in particular at the new website IP17GNS.com

This initiative is based on cooperation between several local bodies, including the new local charity, IP17GNS (Good Neighbour Scheme), working with Saxmundham Town Council, the Church of England, Sax’cess House, Saxmundham & District CIC (SADCIC), and the Suffolk Good Neighbours Scheme. We are also working with Leiston and District Citizens Advice Bureau, and the local Foodbank to ensure that vulnerable residents can access the help they need.

The Town Council has engaged the services of Bryony Peall to act as coordinator for the support scheme, working in close cooperation with other partners. The website is managed by Olly Hill.

We would like to thank warmly all those who have already acted as, and agreed to be, volunteers – not least the leaflet delivery team who did a huge job!

The management of the scheme is being coordinated by Saxmundham Town Councillor Diana Eastman and James Sandbach, and Kelsale-cum-Carlton Parish Councillor Tim Roberts.

County Council phone service

In addition, Suffolk County Council have set up a county-wide contact help line, for those most in need during the Coronavirus pandemic, or for families or friends to call on behalf of those who need help and support. This phoneline can be used to seek information on support for those with care needs, loneliness and to connect with volunteers in your neighbourhood. The freephone number is 0800 876 6926 and will be staffed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.

Please look after yourselves as best you can. Many of you are in “self-isolation”, and others are working for our common good, whether as workers or volunteers. On behalf of our Town Council, we thank you most sincerely.

Cllr Jeremy Smith,
Chairman, Saxmundham Town Council
Cllr Diana Eastman
Cllr James Sandbach