10/06/2020
TRAs have been very busy supporting communities across the borough during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is a summary of their recent activities by area.
Bury East
Topping Fold and Chesham Fold TRAs have been distributing food parcels from their communities provided by Porchboxes (the Greater Manchester charity), local councillors and other individual donations. They have linked up with Bury Council’s Hub at Castle Leisure Centre to reach people who are isolated for health reasons and those facing financial hardship due to COVID-19.
At Chesham Fold TRA, the baby bank has continued to help out parents of babies and young children who are in need of support with essential items, thanks to donations.
Prestwich/Whitefield
Victoria Youth and Community Centre have made an appeal for support, to help them continue to run essential services in their area. These include their popular Youth Club and social activities for vulnerable community members. View more information on how you can help them here.
Although Victoria Youth and Community Centre remains closed due to the social distancing rules, their community allotment has continued to plant various flowers and produce under government guidelines and restrictions. The group has been “selling” products to local people by donations based on whatever they can afford, including various flowers, vegetable plants and fresh produce. Follow their Facebook page here for more information on this.
Trust House, who operate from the centre, have been working remotely to coordinate emergency food pack deliveries and are supporting 43 households in the area. They are providing regular updates on their Facebook page, featuring advice on mental health, wellbeing, recipes and general advice.
Radcliffe
Abbey Close TRA have been a fantastic support and help to elderly members of their community and social club with welfare check calls, shopping and errands. They have also continued to keep a check on keeping their area safer and cleaner by reporting and dealing with any local concerns during the pandemic.
Chapelfield TRA have been mowing all the grass on their estate through lockdown and will continue to do so. They have also been reporting any issues, especially fly tipping as there has been a marked increase since lockdown.
Corrie Gardeners have been helping run Trinity Food Bank Radcliffe with Trinity Baptist Church and Caritas, delivering between 100 and 120 food parcels every Friday each week. Food donations have been made by Asda, Tesco, Kellogg’s and members of the public. Tesco Mobile donated crème eggs at Easter. Any perishables items that are left each week do not go to waste. A colleague from Six Town Housing’s Repairs Direct team uses the leftover veg to make soup which he delivers locally to the elderly and vulnerable. They are working together with Bury Active Women’s group who help pack and deliver halal food parcels.
The group has also been helping younger tenants and ex-homeless people to furnish their new homes with appeals for donations and delivering furniture, helped by our caretakers.
Referrals for the food parcels are mainly done by key workers, support workers etc but self-referrals can also be made by visiting Corrie Gardener’s Facebook page or by emailing: corrie.gardeners@gmail.com
Waverley Place Gardening Group are maintaining the surrounding areas of the scheme and looking after the communal garden and flowered beds, keeping it looking nice for everyone to enjoy.
North Manor
Brandlesholme Community Group are part of Brandlesholme Alliance, who are continuing to deliver a foodbank to support vulnerable people locally. You can view a behind the scenes look at the foodbank in this Facebook video. The group have recently joined forces with The BAME Project, to provide culturally appropriate food to the BAME community through the foodbank.
The group also recently launched the Care 4 Carers project, providing treats to local care home staff who are continuing to work despite the virus risk. This was trialled with Bank House Care Home with funding from Cllr Susan Southworth, with additional sponsorship from Brandlesholme Dentistry and Chunky Monkey Chocolate.
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