LR Peterlee Town Council Winter 2020 - Flipbook - Page 28
Local Interest
‘Community Spirit’ in name and nature!
Community Spirit was formed in 2018 by a
group of neighbours in the Hilton Drive
area of the Dene House Ward who wanted
to brighten up their neighbourhood by
planng spring bulbs.
Aer geng the support of both Durham
County Council and Peterlee Town Council,
fund raising events were held including a
very successful ‘Tea on the Green’ in Hilton
Drive. Blessed by ne weather in August,
tea, cakes, and good company were enjoyed
all aernoon and into the early evening. The
bulb planng went ahead that autumn and
residents were rewarded in the spring with a
great display of crocuses that will keep
growing year on year.
Encouraged by the local enthusiasm for
these events, Community Spirit started
other schemes to improve the area,
including lier picking in the streets and
woods. In just a few hours one day
volunteers collected nearly 20 large bin
liners of lier and a shopping trolley!
Volunteers sll collect lier in the area
almost on a daily basis and it is good to see
that other people are joining in and the
problem is diminishing.
As a result of COVID ‘lockdown’ in early
spring 2020, Community Spirit had to
suspend its normal acvies but realised
that many elderly and vulnerable people
were unable to get out as normal and they
couldn’t do their own shopping. Within a
few days, yers were sent to every home
and volunteers were shopping for those
people who could no longer manage
themselves. A ‘chatline’ was set up so that
people who were anxious could have a
regular friendly phone call.
Demand grew rapidly once Peterlee Police
started publicising the service on their
Facebook page and we quickly realised more
help was needed. Fortunately, the task was
made a lile easier when an applicaon to
Durham County Council’s Area Acon
Partnership was successful and a grant of
£2,000 was awarded. Equally valuable,
Peterlee ASDA began recognising our
volunteers as key workers, allowing us to take
advantage of their special opening hours.
Soon, coverage was extended to the whole
of Peterlee. At one point, Community Spirit
was asked by Age UK, County Durham if we
could take over their clients in East Durham
as they had lost volunteers and so clients in
South Heon, Murton and Seaham were
added to the list.
The decision was made to formally
constute Community Spirit as a charity,
with a group of Trustees who set about
introducing Health and Safety measures and
Safeguarding procedures to protect
vulnerable people. What had started as a
low-key neighbourhood venture, for a while
became a full-me job for some of the
volunteers.
In early September 2020 Age UK resumed,
so Community Spirit was able to take a
break. Of course, we hope that there will not
be a resurgence, but it is heartening to know
that the volunteers are sll available to help
again, should the need arise. In the
meanme, we look forward to being able to
resume our ‘normal’ acvies when
restricons are relaxed.
If you’re interested in nding out more, nd
us on Facebook searching
@VolunteersinPeterlee to nd our page, or
contact the Communicaons Secretary,
Councillor Louise Fenwick on (0191)
7160775.
For support, please contact us on 0191 586
3208.
It has already been quite the year – and at
The Salvaon Army, we have been
connuing to support the community in
Horden oering praccal support and hope
to people when they most need it.
Horden Salvaon Army has transformed its
frontline service to support the most
vulnerable in our community by delivering
essenal food parcels for struggling families,
people who are shielding and door step
friendship for isolated and lonely older
people. While this Christmas looks a lile
dierent, we are already preparing our
Christmas Present Appeal which helps bring
joy to children who might otherwise go
without a present. Last year we distributed
some 400 gis and this year we expect this
number to increase. You can support us by
donang to Horden Salvaon Army’s
JustGiving page
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/horden
corpsthesalvaonarmy1, you can drop a
toy or gi o at Lloyds Bank or the Salvaon
Army charity shop {aer the 2nd December
when restricons are lied} while out on
your weekly shopping trip or by contacng
us through our web page
www.salvaonarmy.org.uk/horden
Our garden (completed with help from
Tesco’s Bag for Life scheme) has been
transformed in the past year and when
possible will be a welcome place to bring
the community together in a socially
distanced way. We are sll working on the
garden as the pandemic has delayed
progress, but it has brought pleasure to
people and created a sense of pride and
condence for our volunteers, many of
whom are learning new skills by working
with us.
If you would like to support Horden
Salvaon Army or want to be involved in any
way, please get in touch.
The Salvaon Army has worked for over 150
years transforming lives across the Brish
Isles and in more than 130 countries
worldwide. There are some 650 churches
and centres at the heart of communies,
where anyone can nd a warm welcome
and compassionate support.
To nd out more about your local Salvaon
Army please visit
www.salvaonarmy.org.uk/ndachurch
28 Peterlee