Battersea Coronavirus Angels – Update (25Jun20)
Canon Simon Butler, Vicar of St Mary’s Battersea (and a trustee of KLS), is writing a weekly e-news to the Coronavirus Angels volunteers. As we’re a partner in this venture we thought we should reproduce it here as it’s full of interesting and relevant stuff!
Dear friends,
We’ve reached 450 individuals helped this week, not including the 50+ people we are befriending. We have recorded a brief ‘promotional’ video this week, with input from various people including our MP Marsha de Cordova, encouraging local people to direct us to those still in need of help. We’re committed to another month at least of doing all the practical things – and we all know we’re not out of the Covid-19 woods yet – so we stand ready to up our energy again should lockdown come back.
Daily July Reflections
Anthony Lobo, a member of the Salesian Community in Battersea, is looking to prepare a series of daily reflections, based on the experiences of local people who have been connected with one another through Angels. Anthony is an experienced media person, and is keen to have about 20 individual interviews (of about 5 minutes length) with people who can tell their stories about what the past few months have been like. These can be either Angels volunteers, or those we have helped, and they will be edited with a Thought for the Day around each one. These will not be narrowly faith-based but will have an appeal to people of all faiths and none, so Anthony and I are keen to involve as broad a range of people as possible. If you might be interested in taking part in this project, which will be shared via the Angels twitter feed and other social media outlets, please email [email protected] as soon as possible. Anthony will then be in touch with you and can make himself available at your convenience. It will be a great way of reflecting on what we have been doing together for the common good in Battersea.
Gail
Gail (pictured above) is a lady we’ve been supporting with shopping and other help in recent weeks. She has recorded her own folk songs. Gail is partially sighted, and her befriender is Cal. With Cal and her family’s help they have uploaded the songs onto a crowdfunding page and donations go to KLS- Gail wanted to give back something to those who have supported her during the lockdown. https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CalAlphonse – please donate!
Dons Local Action Group (DLAG)
DLAG is still going strong delivering food parcels to local people and are looking for more volunteers to help at their stalls in Wandsworth (Marks and Spencer in St Johns Hill), Clapham Junction and outside Sainsbury’s at Southside, Wandsworth. They are also looking for delivery drivers to help out of their Southfields depot. Shifts are 10-2 and 2-5/6 – 7 days a week, so let them know your availability. To volunteer contact them below and they will advise how you can help.
Please send us a photo to [email protected] of your volunteering – we would like to share it with a wider audience!
Telephone: 0203 301 4511
Email: [email protected]
Facebook – Dons Local Action
Twitter – @DonsLocalAction
Instagram – @donslocalactiongroup
Socially distanced games
KLS’ Love to Learn programme, which works with children and young people from refugee backgrounds, is looking for a young female volunteer with experience or interest in working with young people to help do socially distanced visits in Battersea – playing games and activities/sports with a small group.
It’s a great opportunity to get direct experience working with young people in the local area. If you are keen, please write to Josh with a short paragraph about yourself and why you are interested. His email address is [email protected]
Brightside
One of volunteers will be in this month’s edition. Watch this space!
Writers
we are still looking for some writers to record lockdown history- please contact [email protected]
Help for Filipino Migrants: We have had a request from Father Salvador Telen, who works at All Saints’ Battersea Fields with the Vicar there, Fr Anand Asir. Fr. Salvador works with Filipino refugees and reports that Filipino migrants are among the most productive workforce in UK but some of them end up as victims of work-related abuse, forced labour, exploitation and human trafficking. Others are politically persecuted in the Philippines. They end up seeking asylum in UK. However, many of them do not know what their rights are and how they can seek legal assistance especially on areas related to immigration. If anyone with a legal background can advise on a pro bono basis in this way, especially on immigration matters, please can you contact Simon at [email protected]
Churches Open
Local churches open again for public worship from Sunday 5th July and everyone is very welcome at either St Mary’s or Sacred Heart. You can visit St Mary’s outside service times if you would like to (weekday mornings, Wednesday 3-6pm, Sunday 9am-11am) and you will in all likelihood meet Simon, Aaron or David B. We would love to meet you to thank you in person if you are passing.
KLS – needs your help
The Settlement is having its summer fundraising campaign to support its Love to Learn Refugee Project. You can find out more from this special video that has been prepared by Fiona and Claire (https://youtu.be/cGXRkoR035Q) and you can donate here.
Best wishes,
Simon Butler
Canon Simon Butler
Vicar of St Mary’s Battersea
Prolocutor of the Lower House of the Convocation of Canterbury & Member of the Archbishops’ Council
Senior Treasurer, Clergy Support Trust
07941 552407
stmarysbattersea.org.uk
Contact
If you need a bit of help from the Angels then do call us on 07394 856 557 and email [email protected]