Stone Community Hub

“AMAZING TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS AT HUB”

Stone Community Hub, which is situated in the Frank Jordan Community Centre in Lichfield Street, has been one of the many organisations across the country which has continued supporting their community during the pandemic, albeit in different ways to the norm.

Here is an update all about the hub from manager Emma Walton:

Things have certainly been different at Stone Community Hub since March 2020. When the pandemic struckand thefirst lockdown announced, most of our normal services had to be postponed and it became apparent, very quickly, that demands for our food bank support would very much increase, both in Stone and surrounding villages.

Indeed, in the whole of the previous financial year, we provided around 300 parcels, since March 2020, the Hub has provided almost 3,000 parcels to local families who need support withfood and other supplies.

The service has only been possible with the support of an amazing team of volunteers who have tirelessly and cheerfully worked throughout the pandemic packing parcels, sorting stock levels, holding donation points outside their houses as well as delivering parcels to peoplewho have been shielding. We are so grateful for their support and would have not been able to achieve what we have without them.

Since the latest easing of restrictions, we are seeing aslight reduction in the numberof parcels requested although demand still outweighs by far the levels seen pre-Covid. As the Government has now announced that community centres can reopen, we are now putting plans in place for agradual return to our previous services prior to the pandemic.

We are very much hoping to be able to resume our Job Club from mid June where we can offer guidance and assistance to people looking for paid employment. We can help with writing applications and CV’s,searching for suitable vacancies, giving support and guidance forpreparing for interviews as well as general support with claiming benefits. We will also be open for individual support in areas such as claiming benefits, combatting social isolation, housing issues, applying for passports, Blue Badges etc. These sessions will be by appointment only due to Social Distancing restrictions.

Hopefully, if Government guidelines allow,wewill then be reopening our drop in sessions at the end of June, followedbycraft sessions at a later date,finally our Hub Grub provision will return towards the end of summer.

You will appreciate that most of our usualfundraising activities have had to be suspended, we have been very fortunate withfinancial support from emergency Covid funding from avariety of sources as wellasfabulous support from local residents, supermarkets, businessesand other organisations, both financially and with donations of supplies.

This support hasmeant that we have been able to maintain stocks in the food bank throughout the pandemic, for which we are very grateful. People can support us by becoming a member and giving aregular financial donation via our Golden Giving facilityonthe website or by contacting us.

If anyone wouldlikeany further information on our services, would like to make a donation, is interested in volunteering for us or becoming atrustee, please visit our website www.stonecommunityhub.org ,telephone 01785 812417, email Emma Walton (Manager) manager@stonecommunityhu b.org or visit our social media pages.