Nailsea Community Group Lockdown Support

Nailsea Community Group was originally created in March 2020 as a result of the first national lockdown and was renamed in June 2020. The group provides local residents with support and a place to communicate.

Since its inception, the group has gone from strength to strength, gaining over 4,400 members on Facebook, responding to 9,500 requests for help, registering 220 volunteers and 142 community buddies. The group base is No.26 Somerset Square where residents can find the community larder, open Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10am-2.30pm and Saturday 10am-12.30pm.

Nailsea Community Group Services

Here are some of the key services Nailsea Community Group are offering in the current lockdown. [Information correct at time of writing 21/1/2021]

Community Buddies

Community Buddies is the biggest initiative of Nailsea Community Group. ‘Buddies’ are ID-verified local residents who provide one on one support for those who are vulnerable, isolated, shielding, or self-isolating.

Community buddy services include:

  • Prescription delivery
  • One-off shop
  • Weekly shop
  • Phone calls
  • General errands

Nailsea Support Group

Nailsea Support Group (www.nailseasupportgroup.com ), based at No.65 High Street, unites Nailsea Community Group, Nailsea Town Council, Community Hub N.65, and Tyntesfield Medical Group to provide a central hub for local residents to get the help they need. The website lists over 600 organisations and groups that offer various support.

See more: Nailsea Support Group – New Platform Launched to Support Nailsea Residents 

Laptop Lending Scheme

Children in primary and secondary schools learning from home without access to the IT equipment they need can loan a refurbished laptop from the Nailsea Community Group.

Community Larder

To discourage food waste, the Nailsea Community Group has a food larder, accessible to all those in the community. The food in the larder would otherwise be wasted. Community members are encouraged to come in and ‘rescue’ food items. There are regular posts on the Facebook group about the food available and even recipe ideas.

Donations to the larder can be made at No.26 Somerset Square during opening hours (Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10am-2.30pm and Saturday 10am-12.30pm), or at Tesco and Co-op collection points.

Community Larder – Nailsea Community Group Facebook Page

Community Food Club

For those in Nailsea who receive Working Tax Credits, Universal Credit or Pension Credit, or whose children are eligible for Pupil Premium, Nailsea Community Group offer a ‘food club’ package. Those eligible can get two bags of store-cupboard food items worth £10-£15 for £3.50. Get in touch with Nailsea Community Group to find out more (contact details at end of article).

Apply to the food club using this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe438fg9XYTPCbAaiuJN8w1AA5ySTLvh4neI0y-qHcWZoL54w/viewform

Emergency Food Bank

Nailsea residents in need of a free one-off food delivery can get an anonymous delivery from the community group. This may be due to unexpected financial problems or pre-payday finances.

Other

Under the ‘files’ tab on the Facebook group, there are a range of useful documents. The most recent is an updated document listing local businesses open during lockdown, the opening times, and services they provide.

Useful information about local support services is often shared on the Facebook page. Information about financial support, adjustments to local services, council schemes, bin collections, local highway updates and more can be found on the ‘discussion’ section.

The group also runs a puzzle library as well as festive themed trails for residents around town to take part in.

On the Facebook group there is a Friday night quiz which runs through lockdown.

Get Help From Nailsea Community Group

If you or anyone you know in Nailsea needs help during the lockdown, get in touch with the Nailsea Community Group.

Email: info@nailseasupportgroup.com

Phone: 01275 855277 (if no response, leave a message including your name, contact details and brief description of what you need)

Online form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe908VXV-3aj3i2dMAbYcZXyMIqXklhdOIIAXfPz3J-3wLQvw/viewform

Follow the Nailsea Community Group Facebook page for updates.