As we move into a new phase of this journey it is important for us to reflect on the last three months. What we’ve done, who we’ve supported, what you’ve told us you needed.
This is all new. As a community it has not been an added opportunity to push productivity and expect normality in any way. None of this is normal. We’ve leant into the advice we’ve been given, whatever has made sense and felt best for our community, families and children. Whatever has allowed us all to feel okay for the next hour, day, week, month and beyond.
As we move forward and start to open the centre again we want to say THANK YOU to everyone who has supported us and continues to support the community.
Keep a lookout for a surprise outside the centre to fully aknowledge those who have helped and continue to help.
We wish you all a happy July 4th as we continue to figure this all out together.
If you’d like to know more about what we’ve been doing, please have a read below
– You told us you wanted to help people in need with food, hygiene and cleaning products.
– You told us members of the community have lost jobs, there were delays in claiming benefits and you wanted to help. We’ve done that. 70 community members in our dedicated Peoples Pantry group have continued to donate food to Repton Connect, support their neighbours, family and friends. We’ve provided and distrubuted food to 500 people in 10 weeks, not only in Repton but all over Ashford.
– You told us that people need access to food outside normal office opening hours. We’ve secured £15,000 to provide 24hr outdoor refridgerated food lockers for people in need of food.
– The NHS told us they needed space for essential services like staff induction for people returning to the NHS. We did that at Repton Connect.
– You told us you wanted space to play games. We’ve opened our Multi Use Games Area to people, free of charge.
– You told us you wanted to celebrate children’s birthdays. We celebrated individual birthdays with posters and presents at Repton Connect.
– You told us you wanted on-line competitions. We held on-line art and gardening competitions for residents. You LOVED the art competition. You didn’t like the gardening competition so much!
– Large families and dog owners told us they wanted space to exercise and socially distance safely. We opened our 2 acres of woodland space to individual families when they needed it.
– Local businesses have told us they need to do things differently and asked us to help. We’ve adapted our space so people can go back to work more safely.
– Our staff team told us they wanted to volunteer and be part of groups and organisations set up to safely support the community. We have been volunteering and supporting through The NHS, Repton Response and Rye Mutual Aid. We’ve delivered shopping, picked up prescriptions, walked dogs and offered befriending to our own volunteers who are shielding.
Continue to tell us your news, things you’d like to see at the centre and anything we can do to help.
Take care and stay safe.
The Repton Connect Team
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Repton Community Trust is made up from members of the community like you! Please get involved and help us with putting the heart in Repton.