August update: Honiton Community Volunteer Coronavirus Support Network

Since our last update there have been a great deal of changes in the Government's Covid-19 guidelines; mostly focussed on making the transition out of shielding and lockdown and back into a more normal everyday life.

With these changes, many people that were on furlough have returned to work which has reduced the pool of active volunteers.

Alongside this, the acute needs for shopping, medication deliveries, food and easy access to up-to-date and local information have lessened and with that the groups and organisations involved in this support network have eased back on their specific Covid-19 work or in some cases stopped completely.

For the most part these organisations are prepared to "step up" again should the local need ever arise including Devon Freewheelers, Trip, Beehive Volunteer Information line and the various food provisions.

Our Honiton Coronavirus information line run by volunteers from The Beehive will aim to keep going until 7 August. Following that if there has not been an increase in calls, (average at the moment a handful each week) they will stop it and just check the answer machine messages.

Most things are winding down and actually there is very little in the way of services to point people in the direction of e.g. no Random Kitchen, no prescription collection service, no EDDC support.

Trip have identified a need to keep up the shopping service for some more vulnerable individuals and they are gradually introducing some of their previous services like the ring and ride and some social outings - within the current guidelines for physical distancing.

Honiton Memory Café is also moving in this direction with "garden visits" and some small group walk and natter sessions. Whilst The Random Kitchen has mainly pulled back from offering free cooked meals, St Michaels, The Food Bank and The Food Project all offer various ongoing services to help with either the more vulnerable or people and families in a situation of Food Poverty.

Suitably sized venues for community gatherings are in short supply in Honiton so we very much hope that The Beehive will be able to open in due course and that the weather stays kind for outdoor/garden meetings within the recommended guidelines.

The ongoing issues of our physical and mental health wellbeing are now been actively addressed by various groups in Honiton across the voluntary and statutory sectors and the youth and sporting organisations including Honiton Leisure Centre.

Honiton Health Matters along with Parent + are taking a lead on various initiatives around mental wellbeing and Honiton Surgery are working on a new multi-agency approach to offering a more local community mental health and wellbeing service.

The shared experience of living through a pandemic has put the spotlight on many aspects of our community life, some that was been done well and some that needed improving.

We have learned that we need our neighbours, our families, our friends and our community to help us stay healthy and to feel connected, safe and secure.

The challenge now will be to harness all the positive energy arising from these experiences; the well-established groups have much to offer and the newer groups with their enthusiasm and energy have the potential to bring some fresh ideas and new initiatives.

Our thanks and gratitude goes out to the many individuals and groups who have given so much of their time, skills and energy to bring together from a standing start in March 2020, a comprehensive network of support that many have benefitted from in a time of need.

We also give thanks to the many financial contributions that came in from individuals, groups and local charities including the Allhallows Charity, Honiton Lions, Honiton Round Table, Chamber of Commerce, the Elizabeth Beaumont Charity and Honiton Hospital and Community League of Friends in addition to grants from East Devon and Devon County Councils.

So long as we can practice what we preach and keep connected, share our ideas, plans, hopes, fears and aspirations, sometimes have differing opinions but always maintain an open curious mind with respect for ourselves and others then maybe at least some good will come from the challenging and for some life-changing experiences of living though this Covid-19 pandemic.