Whilst recent government announcements and the success of the vaccine programme can give us hope that the end may be in sight, our community is still struggling from the economic shock of the pandemic. More and more people are struggling to get by, and many remain socially isolated.

If you live in and around Putney Hill, Burdwood Court, a sheltered housing scheme, are looking for volunteers to help older people with their shopping. If you are able to help, please email fleur.anderson.mp@parliament.uk.

Regenerate RISE do fantastic work to support older people, but are short of donations and volunteers at the moment. You can donate by dropping off supplies at the Platt Christian Centre, Felsham Road, SW15 1DA between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. They are particularly in need of milk, cheese, bread, tea bags and coffee. Regenerate RISE operate a wonderful service delivering cooked meals to older people who are isolated in their homes. Having a warm meal is fantastic for raising people’s spirits – if you are able to help by delivering meals please get in touch with Mo Smith at mosmith@regenerate-rise.co.uk.

Just Shelter are providing toiletries packs to asylum seekers, who, having to live on such low incomes are often without the essentials. If you’re able to help, find out what they need here https://www.justshelter.co.uk/toiletries-appeal . You can drop donations off at 26 Waynflete Street, Earlsfield by placing them in the black tub with a yellow lid in the front garden, or you can donate money online.

Wandsworth Age UK is a lifeline for many older people in Putney, Roehampton and Southfields. They are looking for befrienders who can help someone feel less socially isolated and digipals who can help people get connected and make the most of the online technology we’ve all come to rely on more and more. Please sign up and find out more here: Age UK Wandsworth | Volunteer with us https://www.ageuk.org.uk/wandsworth/get-involved/volunteer.

Positively Putney presents Putney’s first recipe e-book celebrating the restaurants & cafes in the BID, featuring 20 eateries in SW15. The project is raising money for the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability. You can get your Putney to Plate cookbook here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/putneytoplate.

Like many pubs, the fantastic Bricklayer’s Arms has struggled to survive. The Pub has been through a lot in its 200-year history, but nothing has been as challenging as Covid-19. They are looking for funding to help us keep the pub alive for decades to come and also invest in some critical work to get the pub “covid ready” for the coming months. If you’re a regular and would like to see the pub open again, you can donate to the Crowdfunder here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-bricklayers-arms—independent-putney-local.

Researchers from the University of Roehampton and the University of Bath are investigating the experiences of working couples in Wandsworth and Richmond during Covid-19. The researchers aim to study the immediate challenges faced and strategies developed by couples to respond to changes in their working and family lives; forms of employer support; and forms of support and access to resources offered by the borough and utilised by local families during the pandemic. They are looking for couples who are willing to be interviewed together via zoom or by phone. The interview will last approximately 90 min. Couples will be offered a compensation of £40 per couple for their time. If you would like to participate in this study, please register at https://workingcouplesresearch.wordpress.com/. If you require more information, please get in touch with the researchers at workingcouplesresearch@gmail.com.

Thank you very much for all your help and support over the last year. With Spring coming and the days getting longer and brighter, I am hopeful that we’re coming to the end of this very difficult period. Each day as the number of people vaccinated increases, I am more hopeful that we can open up and get back to meeting our friends and families.

Please stay safe, and if you’re contacted please get your vaccination – it’s the best way to protect ourselves, our families and our communities.