CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY
Coronavirus (COVID-19) has impacted everyone and changed our organisation in many ways. From March 2020, in response to the pandemic, our services and care packages – in conjunction with government guidelines and the wishes of the client themselves – were individually assessed to meet the individual needs of each client and/or family.
Amending our Services
Strict government advice, to help reduce social contact and manage risk around COVID-19, led to the closure of local community centres, youth centres and other social venues including our Caring Café (for older people) and Saturday Club (for 8-18-year olds with additional needs). In order to continue meeting these clients’ needs, we worked creatively to amend our services, such as:
- Door-to-Door safe distance checks
- Zoom sessions (providing hours of support and guidance)
- Working with The Anglers Teddington to offer free or affordable essential food bundles and community meals
- Medication collections and essential errands
- Regular telephone calls to clients
- Regular conversations and updates with statutory partners
- Building a relationship with Tesco Teddington, so our volunteers (wearing their ID badges) could shop with unrestricted access
Nicola Wilson, Crossroads Care Manager
Our Response Service
From March to June, outside of our core services and response (as regulated providers) we reacted quickly. We worked closely with the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames Council, voluntary and statutory partners and neighbourhood groups to meet local need/demand and to support the changing needs of Carers and their cared-for, as well as those most vulnerable and at-risk.
Our response, however, would not have been possible without additional grants from our valued and ongoing supporters such as Hampton Fund and Richmond Parish Lands Charity (RPLC), and the outstanding dedication of our staff, local community, traders and key regulated volunteers.
During this time, we regulated over 50 new volunteers and upskilled 3 volunteer coordinators, who:
- Conducted almost 3,000 food shops, medication collections and deliveries
- Worked with over 5 local pharmacies with multiple deliveries, 7 days a week
- Delivered to over 500 households (over 5,200 hours of work)
- Supported over 1,250 people (approximately)
Produced and delivered 2,400 free or discounted Community Meals (The Anglers, Teddington)
Ben Walton, Manager, The Anglers Teddington
Using Online Technology
Following government guidelines and in line with our policy framework, insurances and risk assessments, we are continually amending and adapting all our services. While our core contractual services continue, our community services temporarily went online.
Online Safeguarding
To ensure that we offer a safe online space, we:
- Follow the Zoom protocol (as distributed by the London Borough of Richmond)
- Ensure that all outside providers are DBS checked
- Provide consistency for each session with the same, regular Crossroads Care staff members each week.
Our Current Services
We are currently taking referrals for all our services and aim to resume to ‘normal’ services and activities in the near future for all our community services (while adhering to government guidelines). Our community services are:
- Saturday Club: 8-18-year olds (inc. Young Carers) with SEND. Saturdays 2-5pm, Hampton
- Transition Project: 6-week life skills course for 15-18-year olds (inc. Young Carers) with SEND. Saturdays 11am-1pm, Teddington
- Carers Café: for Carers and ex-Carers. 2nd and 4th Thursday, 12.30-2.30pm, Hampton Hill
- Caring Café: for Carers caring for peopleliving with dementia. 1st and 3rd Saturday, 11am-3pm, Hampton
- Men Who Care/Dads Who Care: social groups to meet other male Carers. Held monthly (various locations)
Due to restrictions, our community services now consist of email/Zoom/telephone support/doorstep visits and small groups for up to six (6) people. For an update on new venues, timings and requirements, please contact us.
Looking Ahead
A network partner of Carers Trust, we work with service users and stakeholders to influence service innovation and growth. COVID-19 and the long periods of isolation have disproportionately affected the UK’s Carers.
It is estimated that 4.5 million people have started caring unpaid since the coronavirus outbreak began. When combined with those already providing care pre-crisis, that means there could be as many as 13.6 million unpaid carers across the UK (26% of the UK population). Source: Carers UK
It has never been more essential that the specific needs of Carers are identified, addressed, and recognised by all health and social care professions. As we face the daunting challenges within the current economic environment and move forward, fundraising, volunteering and donations are especially important.
Thank you as well to the local community and traders for supporting our organisation during such a challenging and unusual time. Your generous support is a valued vote of confidence in the work that we do.
Click here for our COVID-19 Response 2020 report
“Thank you to all our supporters and funders for your incredible assistance. Without your help, many of our most vulnerable, at-risk and shielding residents would have gone without.” Julie Da Costa, CEO
