Dover District Community Hub is providing vital help and support to families and individuals across the district, as a range of community partners continues to work closely together to support people in these unprecedented times.
The hub was set up to prioritise help to the most vulnerable, and make sure people who are not already receiving support can get urgent help during the coronavirus outbreak. It coordinates a range of support, and Dover District Council is working with Kent County Council, other district councils, Kent Fire and Rescue, community and voluntary groups, and a variety of other community partners.
DDC has redeployed over 100 staff to support the hub, and we’ve signed up over 200 volunteers!
The hub has been successfully delivering help to the community with:
- 8,500 - around 8,500 meals delivered in Dover District, with 88 urgent food parcels delivered
- 7,000 - more than 7,000 contacts made to our support groups
- 1,278 – calls made from the hub
- 633 - calls to the hotline, with 290 referred to the hub
- 900 - other contacts completed including shopping/prescription and other services
- 317 - food bank vouchers completed & deliveries made from Dover and Deal Food Banks
- 92 – people referred to Kent Coast Volunteering for a befriending service
- 216 - amazing volunteers recruited.
A range of community and voluntary organisations is providing fantastic support, including Dover and Deal Foodbanks, Kent Coast Volunteering, Connect Well East Kent, Age Concern, and many others. This includes Together4Dover who, under the umbrella of Dover Big Local, are providing hot meals for vulnerable people in Dover.
DDC has launched a £50,000 Community Fund to support our amazing local charities and community groups, as well as a corporate and a public fundraising appeal. If you want to get involved as a volunteer, please see our local volunteer register.
The hub’s work includes enquiries cascaded down from the Kent Together 24 hour helpline, a collaboration between KCC and partners. To contact Kent Together for help, please call 03000 41 92 92 or see www.kent.gov.uk/KentTogether
Cllr Trevor Bartlett, Leader of Dover District Council said: “As lockdown continues, we do understand the challenges that communities are facing. We are working hard with all our partners to provide help and support to those who need it most, and we would like to say a big thank you to everyone who is working so tirelessly to help.”
The Dover District Community Hub operates 9am-5pm, seven days a week. To contact the Community Hub, please email Covid19@dover.gov.uk or call 01304 821199.
Posted on 01 May 2020