Village Groups

On March 13th 2020, village resident Heidi Conroy posted on the Our Place Wye Facebook group that ‘we should set up a support system in the village’ in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Facebook group members responded enthusiastically. After discussion, members of the Our Place Wye Management Team decided that it was important for Our Place Wye to lead on this.

We decided to divide the village into these groups:

Group A: Abbots Walk, Ramsfield, Churchfield Way, the Forstal and Gregory Court
Group B: Little Chequers, Longs Acre, Martin House, Luckley House
Group C: Upper Bridge Street, Bridge Street, Dennes Mill, Kemps Place, St Ambrose Green, Stonegate
Group D: Chequers Park, the Close, Oxenturn Rd, Orchard Drive
Group E: Bramble Lane, Harville Rd, Havillands
Group F: Village Centre, Church Street, High Street, the Green, Vicarage Gardens, Cherry Garden Lane, Jarman’s Field
Group G: Scotton Street, Olantigh Rd, Silks Lane, Withersdane, Amage Road
Group H: Naccolt and Hinxhill

Through the Our Place Wye Facebook Group we asked people to support people within their areas. People also did this with friends, family, neighbours and along their own streets.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your ongoing kindness and neighbourliness in Wye.
We welcome ideas, suggestions, comments and feedback. Please do feel free to contact:
Maria Stuttaford - Covid19 Coordinator
Our Place Wye CIC
email: coordinator@ourplacewye.org.uk
Tel: 07561 600889

Please listen out for information about local safety measures and regularly consult the Government Guidelines

• We must keep 2 metres apart from people who are not from our household or someone who supports us. 2 metres is about the distance between our fingertips when we stand with our arms outstretched from our sides.
• If it is not possible to keep 2 metres apart from people (for example when shopping and on public transport) then there are some things we can do to keep safe, such as:
• stay at least 1 metre away from other people
  • wear a mask that covers our nose and mouth
  • turn our face away from other people’s faces
  • wash our hands as often as possible
  • do not touch our face

Stay safe when supporting others

People have helped each other with essential shopping, prescription pick up and door-step conversations. Some of these connections continue and we encourage people to follow these guidelines:

1. Only offer assistance if you feel well enough and are not shielding, self-isolating or in a high-risk group.
2. If you start to feel unwell do not feel bad about needing to postpone or cancel doing something. It is better everyone stays safe.
3. Wash your hands often for 20 seconds at a time.
4. Stay at least 2m away from people you’re helping. Where 2m is not possible, stay at least 1m apart with precautions, including wearing a face mask.
5. Suggest people with particular needs contact one or more of the organisations listed below.
6. If you’re trying to help someone with very serious issues, don’t be afraid to flag with appropriate statutory services.
7. You might also need support and the organisations listed below will be able to support you.
8. Support family, friends and neighbours by phone, video call, writing letters.
9. Offer to run errands for people but stay outside of people’s homes.
10. Let family and friends know what you’re doing.
11. Don’t take on too much - it's often better not to offer at all than to let someone down.

Further advice can be found at: ncvo.org

Trusted Points of Contact

In response to requests from Wye residents for helpful numbers to call so that we know we’re not on our own, the following list has been put together. There are many government organisations, charities, societies and local groups active in Wye and all of these add to the friendly and neighbourly character of the village. Everyone is encouraged to be involved as little or as much as they wish. We hope the following are useful and everyone feels there is assistance when needed.

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"I need a little extra help with companionship, support or everyday tasks"
Contact: Wye Community Companions
We are ready to assist anyone living in Wye
Website: ourplacewye.org.uk/activities/community-companions/
Tel: Richard: 07547 321046.

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"I am feeling anxious, depressed, worried, stressed, have suicidal thoughts"
Contact: Release the Pressure
Website: kent.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/health/release-the-pressure
Text the word Kent to 85258
Tel: 0800 107 0160

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"I feel I am on my own, lonely, anxious, depressed"
Contact 1: The Samaritans
A Samaritan can be called anytime on: 116 123
Website samaritans.org

Contact 2: Mind
Mind is just one of many charities providing information about mental health. They can also advise you on where to go for help
Website: mind.org.uk

Two other organisations where you can go for assistance are:

Contact 3: We Are With You
Website: wearewithyou.org.uk

Contact 4: Insight
Website: insighthealthcare.org

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"I am a young person (10 to 16 years old) and I need support and advice"
Contact: Kooth
Website: kooth.com

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"I need a little extra help with meals, getting together with people, washing and ironing, information and advice, living on my own"
Contact: Ashford Age UK
Website: ageuk.org.uk/ashford
email: sm@ageukashford.org.uk
Tel: Louise or Jenny on 01233 668765

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"I need dementia support, information and advice"
Contact 1: Alzheimer’s UK
Website: alzheimers.org.uk
Tel: 0333 150 3456

Contact 2: Admiral Nursing
Website: dementiauk.org
email: helpline@dementiauk.org
Tel: 0800 888 6678

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"I need help with transport and I’d like to talk with friendly people"
Contact: Ashford Volunteer Centre
Website: https://ashfordvc.org.uk/services
email: contact@ashfordvc.org.uk
Tel: 01233 665535

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"I’d like to get involved in Wye clubs and societies"
Contact 1: Our Place Wye
We can provide a ‘Welcome Pack’ of what is available. Contact Maria Stuttaford:
email: coordinator@ourplacewye.org.uk.
Tel: 07561 600889

Contact 2: Wye Parish Council
WPC maintain a directory of local organisations and events
Website: wyeparishcouncil.gov.uk

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"I care for someone and I need care myself"
Contact: Carers’ Support East Kent
Website: https://carersek.org.uk
email: support@carersek.org.uk
Tel: 0300 302 0061

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"I need advice on benefits, work, debt, money, consumer issues, family, housing, law and work, immigration or health"
Contact 1: Citizen’s Advice
Website: citizensadvice.org.uk
General advice: 0344 848 7978

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Contact 2: Universal Credit
Tel: 0800 144 8444
Consumer helpline: 0808 223 1133

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"I need advice on benefits, bills, finances and homelessness, I am finding it hard to cope with isolation and loneliness, accessing food, accessing medication"
Contact: British Red Cross
Website: redcross.org.uk
Tel: 0808 196 3651

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I need assistance with making a complaint (e.g. for poor service), filling in benefit forms, communicating with a government agency, communicating with my landlord.
Contact: CROP Crop provides assistance with citizens rights for older people.
Website: cropkent.org.uk
Email: lenham@cropkent.org.uk
Tel: 01622 851200

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