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All About Community: new report celebrates Lunch Positive
During 2020, HIV lunch group Lunch Positive supported more people in more ways than ever before, and the successes of its unique Covid response appear in a new strategic report published by the Sussex Health & Care Partnership.
Stronger Partnerships, Stronger Communities and a Stronger Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector explores how the voluntary sector in Sussex has responded to the Covid-19 pandemic and draws out themes, learning and recommendations for future work.
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Along with the rapid adjustment to provide a Covid-response for people in the greatest need, Lunch Positive has also adapted and continued, where measures allow, its pre-Covid core work and undertaken many new developments that will continue during 2021 and beyond.
During 2020, Lunch Positive prepared and served more than 22,000 meals to people shielding, selfisolating, and with other support needs. The charity provided practical, social, emotional and mental health support to 247 people, many who were unwell, lonely or socially isolated. More than 600 hours have been given in 1-1 telephone befriending. Crucially all this support has been given by a team of volunteers who have worked tirelessly throughout the year. During the year the volunteer team gave almost 9,000 hours of their time to support others.
Key Findings in the Report:
• The initial team of 27 volunteers responded [to the pandemic] with maturity, relishing the increased responsibility and with that, a sense of empowerment
• Lunch Positive has been through a steep learning curve since March 2020, adapting existing and developing new services. Learning, at pace, they have scaled up their nutritional support both in terms of quality and quantity.
• The befriending service was developed and delivered rapidly in response to urgent need. Drawing on the expert resources of local befriending charity Together Co, they have developed appropriate delivery frameworks, safeguarding protocols, delivered induction and training to volunteers.
• Lunch Positive adapted and scaled up their provision in response to not only the additional needs of their clients but also the increasing numbers of people being referred to the services from local primary and secondary care services, particularly clinicians.
Gary Pargeter, service manager at Lunch Positive, said: “We were delighted to share our work during this most challenging year.
Gary Pargeter
“As a very small charity, actively working with volunteers and on a shoestring budget, it is a fantastic example of the contributions that the voluntary sector makes to the health and lives of people with HIV. We are an authentic grassroots charity, community-based, with the people we serve are always at the absolute heart of everything we do.
“2020 was exceptionally tough; we’re pleased to have reached and supported so many whose needs have been wide ranging and diverse. In addition to the essential supply of food to people with need, we have continued to support people through times of loneliness and anxiety, emotional distress and often poor mental health. Our volunteers in all their roles have been truly amazing, giving more time this year than ever before. Our work has grown, and we are deeply grateful to service users, volunteers, friends and supporters, and partner organisations.
“As always, we want to reach more people who might benefit from our support. Everyone can help by pointing people to us, looking at our website to find out more and encouraging people to get in touch.
“Inspired directly by our members’ feedback and their own words, our new motto is ‘all about community’ which we think says so much, and we thank you all for caring and supporting.”
