With Tenterden Town Council using video-technology to get back to work, and the Helping In Tenterden (HIT) team reporting 230 calls for help in the past three weeks, Covid-19 continues to make its impact felt on the community.
Encouragingly, the 21-strong admin team co-ordinating HIT’s work – from collecting prescriptions to signposting ways to help for those in financial difficulties, from dog walking to providing a friendly voice on the end of a phone – no longer requires further recruits, unless there is a major change in circumstances.
HIT combines the knowledge and commitment of Tenterden Town Council, Tenterden Social Hub, Tenterden Community Hub, St Mildred’s Church, My Tenterden and a number of young volunteers.
More than 200 volunteers have now been signed up, with their duties being co-ordinated by the HIT team which operates a rota system from 8am-2pm seven days a week.
HIT has received several calls from social services and care charities seeking to share information, while member Cllr Sue Ferguson said that the phone call service, called ‘Check In & Chat’, was likely to prove more popular the longer lockdown went on, particularly with self-isolating elderly residents.
Town Clerk Phil Burgess said: “The community has come together in a remarkably effective way, but there may still be some people who need help, and if they phone 01580 761060, HIT will respond.”
There is a continued urgent need for non-perishable food to be donated, and there are collection points at Waitrose, Tesco, St Michaels Post Office Store, and St Mildred’s Church.
Meanwhile, the Town Council is resuming its full schedule of meetings via the Zoom videolink. There is a special meeting of the planning committee and internal and external committees on Tuesday, 14 April, beginning at 7pm, and a planning committee on Tuesday, 5 May.
Residents wishing to attend via Zoom should contact townhall@tenterdentowncouncil.gov.uk or telephone 01580 762271 for log in details before 12 noon on the day of the meetings. For those wishing just to listen in, the council will be streaming live audio as normal via http://www.audiominutes.com/p/player/player.html?userid=tendntc