At the start of the Covid19 emergency, a wide group of Dover organisations gathered to discuss how to work together to support the most vulnerable people in Dover. From this larger group, the Together4Dover initiative was established operating under the umbrella of Dover Big Local. A small team of representatives from Dover District Council, KCC Community Warden, an NHS Social Prescriber, a local Methodist Minister, Chair of Dover Big Local plus volunteers met. We worked together (via Zoom) to prioritize those who would need support and to ensure the necessary practical and safety measures were in place to launch the first initiative: to help people with shopping and prescriptions. We worked hard to safely mobilise the many volunteers who had offered to help through the Dover Covid-19 Facebook group, set up by a local resident. The Together4Dover Helpline was officially launched on Friday 3rd April. Shopping and Prescriptions services were suspended on 12th April 2021 due to the end of shielding requirements for vulnerable people.

Our automated phone line on 01304 892519 is now suspended as very few people now need support and those who continue to need help are now being supported by other agencies.

Together4Dover’s prescription collection, shopping and other services are now suspended. Should these services be needed again up to date information will be made available at that time.

Due to the lifting of shielding advice and the lifting of shopping restrictions, Together4Dover’s shopping collection service is now suspended. While services were live, the maximum amount for essential shopping was £30 once a week to one shop.

Together4Dover is not currently recruiting further volunteers. Due to the removal of shielding requirements, shopping and prescription collection services have been suspended so they are not currently needed.

Should we be recruiting additional volunteers in the future, the following will apply:
All volunteers must provide a character reference before they can undertake any errands. Each errand volunteer is supplied with a pack including personalised ID card (to be shown to the resident), hi-viz vest, face masks and sanitiser gel. Our Helpline Volunteers are provided with guidelines of how each service works and all volunteers can ask questions at any time. Regular feedback is sought from our volunteers so we can help them to help us improve our services. We also ensure that any concerns raised by our volunteers regarding residents are referred to the KCC Community Warden, NHS Social Prescriber or other appropriate agency.

Together4Dover covered the following areas during the Covid19 emergency until 12th April 2021: Dover town centre, Whitfield, River, Kearsney, Guston, Hougham, Eythorne, Elvington, and Alkham.

Should delivery and collection services be needed again the areas will be decided according to need and the availability of complementary services.