General rules:
Please adhere to Government guidance around not going out in public other than once a day for exercise alone or with family members who live in the same house as you. The exceptions are only for helping someone in the vulnerable category (practicing meticulous hand hygiene and keeping 3 steps or 2-meters apart and take advantage of the non-latex gloves we are supplying at the flier collection points) This translates for our group that we are permitted to continue to offer help as a neighbour, but that due process must be followed:
1. That you have written a post confirming that you are covering a particular street/s on the main Facebook group page, this can either be in a stand-alone post or in the comments relating to a particular street/s. It is easy to search for a street using the magnifying glass icon on the top right of your mobile screen or to the left on a desktop and typing a road in. If no results come up, that road hasn’t been discussed and is likely not covered. If in doubt, please directly contact either Anna Elizabeth, Claire Mitchell or Caitlin Bisknell.
2. That you have sent either Anna, Claire or Caitlin your contact number by personal message confirming which street you are covering. We will use this information to ensure that you are added to the WhatsApp Volunteer group so that if you encounter any issues relating to your offer to cover a street or any concerns regarding a particular address that you feel we should all know about, you can raise the alarm to the rest of us. The road you are covering will then be updated on our street lists which are an ever evolving document as people’s plans change!
3. That you refrain from posting any sensitive information, including personal details or controversial material which may cause alarm or offence during a time when anxiety levels may be already heightened. The admin team reserve the right to remove any posts we deem as fitting into this criteria.
Arranging help between yourselves:
The spirit of this wonderful community group is clearly understood by all those sailing in her and it is this very thing that is giving so much joy and hope to us all! However, there have been occasions when members have offered to help outside of the above process. We strongly advise against this as it leave both parties open to risk and undermines safeguards we work hard to keep in place. If you are offering help directly, PLEASE contact one of us in the first instance as we can speak to the person listed as covering that particular area and suggest that you work together.
If you become concerned about anyone who has offered to help you, please call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or if in an emergency, 999 and ask for the police. In the unlikely event that this happens, please also notify one of us so that we can put safeguards in place to ensure our pool of volunteers are kept safe too.
Offering services:
We actively encourage people willing to give their time and expertise to the cause! However, we are working hard to build up a ‘one-stop’ goods and services ‘pool’ with local agencies and individuals on the FB group and also on the website. PLEASE make any suggestions on the public Facebook group with care, as again, we need to work to ensure everyone’s safety and discourage social contact outside of the type specified above and in line with our processes.
Please refer to the Helping Us to Help You document in the ‘Files’ section of the Facebook group, or in the relevant page on our website for more information.
Thank you,
Anna, Claire and Caitlin x