July 2020

44
Wanstead Village Directory
Old enOUgh tO…
In the 10th of a series of articles looking at the work of Age UK
Redbridge, Barking and Havering, Janet West explains how they have
risen to the challenge of coronavirus
We have worked hard keeping in
contact with our service users over
the last three months during these
difficult times. For most of our services,
such as advice and information, visiting,
befriending, the Wanstead Activity Centre
and falls prevention, we switched from face
to face support to providing over 8,000
telephone befriending and over 1,000
welfare check calls, helping to identify
immediate needs and putting in place
timely support. We have dealt with a wide
range of enquiries, from helping someone
get a working fridge to replacing hearing
aid batteries.
Additionally, our Di’s Diamonds service users
have benefited from their own dedicated
Facebook page and some online activities
set up by the coordinators using Zoom.
Indeed, technology has been more and
more important in reaching out to people
during these troubled times and this has
had a hugely beneficial impact on our older
residents. Additionally, Brenda, who runs
our popular art classes from the Cherry Tree
in Wanstead, has been offering support by
phone and also opportunities for students to
access her art class videos online.
Of course, not all of our service users have
access to the internet, and for them, a regular
friendly phone call has been crucial to their
wellbeing. Having someone to talk to when
you are feeling low and unable to go out
has been warmly received. We have set
up a shopping and prescription collection
service for those in need and have been truly
humbled with the offers of help we have
received from the public.
Our staff have been working from home,
which has presented many challenges, but I’m
glad to say that, thanks to their dedication, we
have managed to overcome these! Our phone
lines are still being answered as the calls are
diverted to staff at home to deal with and we
are now in the process of preparing our offices
for a hopeful return in July. Our Wanstead
Activity Centre may need to stay closed for
a little longer and services within the centre
may need to change when we do reopen.
Finally, a story from James, one of our service
users in receipt of the telephone befriending
service and Ellie, the volunteer who has been
ringing him every week, even reached the BBC
and was featured on Radio 4. It’s great to know
that our services are really helping people
when they need it most. You can listen to Ellie
and James’ story on our Facebook page.
If you would like to know more about our
services, refer someone you know for support
or join in our activities, please get in touch.
For more information on Age UK
Redbridge, Barking and Havering,
email admin@ageukrbh.org.uk, call
020 8220 6000 or visit wnstd.com/ageuk
Age UK has a fact sheet on the
coronavirus. Visit wnstd.com/ageuk-virus
To advertise, call 020 8819 6645 or visit wnstd.com