Coronavirus support groups to help neighbours in Putney, Southfields and Roehampton

Whilst there have been many reports of panic buying and a general unease over the initial response to the current situation SW15 neighbours are turning the negative into the positive.

?Waitrose #putney London pic.twitter.com/7MYk5IidlM

— KarenBertoli (@KarenBertoli) March 15, 2020

Various groups have been established to offer help and support for anyone who finds themselves in a difficult situation. If you know of a group not included below please email editor@putneysw15.com with the details and we will add it.

The council is encouraging residents who want to volunteer to help vulnerable people to fill in an online form on the Council website. The Council will then work with Age UK Wandsworth and other local groups to match volunteers with tasks, including walking dogs, delivering food and/or prescriptions, providing transport or just having a chat over the phone with an isolated person.

Almost 300 people have responded within 24 hours to the Council call for volunteers. Cabinet member for adult social care and health, Cllr Melanie Hampton, said: “This fantastic response proves what we always knew – Wandsworth residents are some of the most caring and community-minded in London. Many more people are already volunteering through their local community networks, charities and places of worship, and we welcome that. But if you or your organisation wants to help and you’re not sure who to contact, please get in touch.”

Putney's MP Fleur Anderson has set up a Facebook group - Putney Coronavirus mutual support group to help residents offer or look for help. She told this website: "We will get through the months ahead much better when we work together - and we're good at doing this in Putney. We're all understandably worried getting the virus and looking after relatives. But it has been heart-warming to see so many people get in touch with me and want to help their friends and neighbours. A rowing club, a mums group, several churches and lots of individuals all want to help out. I've set up a Facebook group to put people who can offer help in touch with people who need help and offer advice on doing this safely. I'll be distributing cards to people who want to let their neighbours know that they can help. Please join the Facebook group to share offers of help and see what others are doing locally".

St Margaret's Church Putney are organising a task force of volunteers to deliver essentials and run errands for people in isolation due to the COVID-19 situation as well as offering a friendly phone check-in service for residents of West Putney and surrounding areas. If you would like to receive or offer any support please contact the Vicar, Brutus Green.
email: vicar@stmargaretsputney.org or phone: 07771 548254

They have set up a crowdfunding page and would welcome donations to help buy food and essentials for those in need. Full details here. Any donations of non-perishable food can be left on the porch at St Margaret’s, Putney Park Lane, SW15 5HU

In Southfields, efforts to support people in the community through the Covid-19 pandemic are being led by an alliance of the Southfields Grid Residents Association and others. More info on where to go for help if you're in Southfields: www.southfieldsgrid.org.uk/2020/03/grid-alliance-is-here-to-offer-help



Sue Wixley the Lib Dems' London Assembly candidate for Merton & Wandsworth and Southfields resident told this website: "In terms of volunteering, we're directing everyone to this page on the Council website. Wandsworth Council is partnering with key organisations like Age UK to coordinate efforts and also make sure that support offered is safe and appropriate. It seems sensible to have one central place for this".

She continued: "The outpouring of offers to help has been heart-warming in these very difficult and unprecedented times. In Southfields, support for the local community will be provided by long-established groups like the the SGRA, Grid Mummies and St Barnabas church. I've been impressed by the leadership and coordination that has been assembled so quickly and they have my full support and backing. I'd encourage everyone wishing to help in Southfields or elsewhere in Putney and Roehampton to go to the Wandsworth Council website and sign up as a volunteer. The Council has responded very quickly and is well placed to coordinate efforts and make the most of existing infrastructure which is important because we will need to be able to rely on each other in the weeks and months to come".

Wandsworth Age UK is looking for donations to distribute to local elderly residents:

Wandsworth Council has a page on the website which is updated to help residents with their questions: "We understand that residents and visitors may have concerns about Coronavirus. We would like to reassure you that we are monitoring the situation closely and coordinating with Public Health England. We are taking all possible steps to keep you safe".

March 25, 2020