Volunteers supporting Dover residents

About

In the first phase of lockdown, over 80 local Dover people offered to volunteer which included manning the helpline phones, running shopping and prescription errands, as well as delivering hot meals and fresh food deliveries for referrals received for local families in need. There was also been a laundry service offered, together with counselling services provided by Harmony Trust Therapies. In terms of statistics, during the first wave, Together4Dover completed around 600 errands, took over 1,300 phone calls and delivered over 800 hot meals and more than 800 food deliveries.

Beneath the umbrella of Dover Big Local, Together4Dover is an initiative that works closely with organisations such as Kent County Council, Dover District Council and Porchlight to provide essential services to the community’s most vulnerable members. Direct action offered during the first lockdown by Together4Dover’s volunteers included the collection and delivery of essential shopping (up to the value of £30, for which the recipient is expected to pay) and prescriptions. In addition, Together4Dover co-ordinated referrals for Food Support or Laundry Services from authorised bodies such as Dover District Council and Kent County Council Community Wardens. Together4Dover’s volunteers are issued with ID-issued and operate in and around Dover Town to deliver help in the community to those that need it.

As shielding for medically vulnerable people has been lifted and normal retail conditions have resumed, Together4Dover has ensured the few remaining service users for shopping and prescription collection services are able to be supported by other organisation and these services have been suspended.