Lambeth Covid Mutual Aid Master Doc
Hello! This is a group for Lambeth Mutual Aid in response to COVID-19.
What is mutual aid? A voluntary reciprocal exchange of resources and services for mutual benefit. Based on non-hierarchical principles. Where national government and local government are backing the ‘herd immunity’ rubbish, we want to organise to support each other.
There are resources and links below. Anything underlined and in bold is a hyperlink - you can click on it to access the document or webpage.
This document is editable, so please add anything you feel is useful or add comments! Please do use this as a template but please don’t change any of the Lambeth-specific content or delete anything!
A general ‘about’ COVID19 Mutual Aid groups. (NB: This is a general guide made by a UK wide group. It is not exhaustive, and not written by people in this group - as far as we know!)
At the moment, we are focusing on printing, postering and flyering in the community to let people know we are around and can offer support. A flyer template is here: /
If you can do this in your area, you can print off the poster or the Viral Kindness cards and add in your name and telephone number. You can post them through people’s doors (see advice below before doing this!), put posters up in blocks, community centres, at supermarkets, libraries, etc., or stick them on lamposts. This is ad hoc at the moment and isn't coordinated on a wider level, but you can update this map as you go along so we can keep track of where has been covered. There is a How To document for updating the map here.
! CONSIDER HYGIENIC PRECAUTIONS WHEN YOU DO THIS! GUIDANCE BELOW !
BEFORE YOU START PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING!
ONLINE EFFORTS!
For those who want to help out in an online sphere or can’t volunteer in person/donate money-
WHO prepared website with myth busters and graphics answering a lot of current pandemic questions that you can download and share on your socials. Link here- https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
Helping people to stay informed and avoid misinformation/fake news is extremely valuable in helping to manage this crisis.
If you want to volunteer with organisations there are efforts made by Age UK, British Red Cross, Victim Support, Muslim Aid, St John Ambulance and more in talks with the govt that will hopefully soon resort in posting plans, protocols and guidance regarding help, volunteering and ways of linking volunteers with people in need and at risk due to Covid-19. It's worth to follow them on Twitter.
Local area groups are organising on this spreadsheet - which contains the most up to date links to the various different WhatsApp groups.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN:
Other Borough Mutual Aid groups are organising locally within their wards via dedicated whatsapp groups. If folks are keen to see this happen add your name to wards you live/work/are in below and we can look to organise locally. Discussion around what this could look like could happen on the facebook page too:
*It’s really important that requests are kept safe and confidential, both for legal reasons around data management and also to safeguard the most vulnerable. People who are suffering domestic abuse, those with vulnerable migrant status or in other precarious situations might feel unable to reach out if you’re capturing data in a non secure way. Where possible, avoid unnecessary spreadsheets/storing of data and do support on a direct and 121 basis.
If you do make forms and spreadsheets, make sure that they’re protected by a password and that only a small number of trusted people in your group have access to them.
Some more advice on data storage can be found here.*
https://gdpr.eu/gdpr-consent-requirements/
Food Banks have shortages and doing rationing at national level. We must contact them and ask what they need.
contacted by sur este (see facebook post)
(Found on one of the WhatsApp groups) Brixton Soup Kitchen needs your help!
1. Financial donation to the Soup Kitchen for them to be able to buy and deliver supplies to the homeless and the elderly. Anything you can do to help would be greatly appreciated. Follow this link: https://gogetfunding.com/bsk-fundraising/
2. Volunteer to help cook and deliver food between 10am and 2pm every day. Email Solomon in advance to agree a slot for you to go: brixtonsoupkitchen@gmail.com
3. Bring supplies directly to the Brixton Soup Kitchen. They are currently in need of: pasta, rice, vegetables, tissues and hand sanitizer. Their address is 297 Coldharbour Lane.
Contact point: johannaderryhall@outlook.com
At present need food but not volunteers. Contact Rebekah Gibson - 07366574794 or rebekah.gibson@oasiswaterloo.org
Local food banks are encouraging to download an app- FOODBANK utilities. You can find there information about what’s urgently needed in a chosen location and donate!
Link- https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/foodbank/id807482869
For food donations works as well- in https://www.bankuet.co.uk
South London Refugee Association is calling out for food and toiletries donations to support those most in need during COVID 19. Donations can be dropped off Mon-Frid, 10am-4pm at SLRA office.
Contact number: 0203 490 3443
Due to fears that social distancing and isolation of whole families could exacerbate domestic violence, please be extra vigilant and attentive to anything that may be a cause for concern.
The Gaia Centre provides services for women and men experiencing domestic violence in Lambeth.
Contact number: 020 7733 8724
E-mail: lambethvawg@refuge.org.uk
The National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (Freephone, 24hr)
Markets, shops, cafes where possible to open their bathroom facilities to the public to wash their hands. Homeless people are particularly vulnerable and they need to know they can go places and wash their hands. - we could make posters of lists?
London Loo Codes: mostly central, but quite a few in Brixton / Clapham
Lambeth toilet scheme
Brixton Buzz post on what bars/public venues should be doing: http://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2020/03/brixton-bars-and-clubs-and-coronavirus-two-important-ways-to-help-keep-them-safe-for-customers/?fbclid=IwAR2l-CnOVU6AfCmJymqW521Vdo763qu_ktuEKV09SLrhQ2pXJyrCSu2GO6o
Some locations that top-up electric key and gas key credits, just in case anyone needs to on someone else's behalf:
Support numbers to share with older people in your life or people in need you will come across during volunteering efforts.
☎️ @age_uk | 0800 678 1602
☎️ @asthmauk | 0300 222 5800
☎️ @TheBHF | 0300 330 3311
☎️ @DiabetesUK | 0345 123 2399
☎️ @MindCharity | 0300 123 3393
☎️ @scope | 0808 800 3333
☎️ @TheSilverLineUK | 0800 470 8090
Council sponsored booklet listing advice centres and support, places to get cheap food etc - can be picked up in libraries, GPs
a template document for mutual aid groups considering the question of ‘What should local COVID-19 mutual aid groups be doing?’ including questions of safeguarding and handling money
‘We had a lovely group meeting today. Of course, we spoke about #Covid19 and especially what it means for our members who live in overcrowded housing and hostels and how these families are more at risk. We also talked about what we will do if we cannot have large group meetings… We checked with families living in hostels sharing bathroom and kitchen facilities if Southwark council had contacted them about #Covid19 "no, they just sent us a letter about the rent" one woman replied. What plans are in place for people living in hostels in Southwark?’
- please invite friends and help with approving new members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/214918153220011/permalink/214919036553256/
Anonymised Form letter for PAs of disabled people:
Ideas for temporary home education of children - Facebook Group
Just to add for those who want to make further documents or spreadsheets that include data of volunteers (not of vulnerable and needing support people)- we should ensure we operate in the spirit of GDPR collecting explicit consent, being transparent about how data will be used and shared and only retaining data whilst necessary.