{"id":7659,"date":"2021-04-19T12:43:17","date_gmt":"2021-04-19T12:43:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/connected\/?p=7659"},"modified":"2021-04-19T15:43:30","modified_gmt":"2021-04-19T15:43:30","slug":"supporting-the-vulnerable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/connected\/2021\/04\/19\/supporting-the-vulnerable\/","title":{"rendered":"Supporting The Vulnerable"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on the charity sector’s ability to operate. However, at the same time, charities have experienced an increase in demand due to the impact of the pandemic on the vulnerable.<\/span><\/p>\n

The second event in our online Alumni Lecture Series, COVID \u2013 Stories from the Frontline, will take place on 22 April at 18.30 (UK time) <\/strong>and will focus on COVID\u2019s social impact.<\/p>\n

Join us<\/a> as we look at the challenges faced by three organisations in the fight against the pandemic, from putting food on the table for those in need, to supporting the homeless and bereaved families suffering loss.<\/p>\n

This event will be chaired by University of Reading Vice-Chancellor, Professor Robert Van de Noort, who will be joined by Reading alumni Alison Peyton, Food Bank Manager, ReadiFood; Kirsti Wilson, Head of Marketing and Fundraising, Launchpad; and Peter Norman, Volunteer, Cruse Bereavement Care.<\/p>\n

CONNECTED spoke to Alison, Kirsti and Peter ahead of this event to find out more about how they\u2019ve been supporting the vulnerable.<\/p>\n

Putting food on the table<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\"Alison locked the doors to ReadiFood on the evening of 20 March 2020 as the first lockdown began, not knowing when she would be able to open them again.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cIn the week leading up to lockdown there was a lot of uncertainty and people were panic-buying food. We went the extra mile that week to deliver food to people who were expecting help.<\/p>\n

\n

“We doubled our number of parcels \u2013 providing a total of 430 food parcels that week. Our volunteers were determined to get these deliveries out, worried as to how our clients would cope if we couldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

However, within 48 hours of locking the door, foodbanks were deemed essential services. Alison explained: \u201cWe saw a clear increase in people needing our help during 2020: demand in March was up by 60%, April by 30%, May by 53% and June by 30.5%.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more<\/a> about how ReadiFood provided an essential lifeline to local residents throughout lockdown, and how they overcame challenges as they endeavoured to support the vulnerable.<\/p>\n

Supporting the homeless<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\"Kirsti shares how Launchpad \u2013 Reading\u2019s leading homelessness prevention charity \u2013 has remained open during the pandemic, providing vital information and support to people at risk of losing their home and to the homeless.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cThe offices at Launchpad have never shut, providing a service throughout the pandemic to ensure that people at risk of losing their homes or those who are homeless, have the support they need.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe have an amazing team who have worked tirelessly to ensure our existing clients are supported, whilst also providing help and guidance to vulnerable people being treated unlawfully by landlords or housing associations during the pandemic; and assessing and placing rough sleepers, and those in housing need, in Launchpad accommodation.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, as furlough and the eviction ban end, we predict demand for our services will only increase over the next few months.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more<\/a> about how Launchpad has kept its fundraising activities going during the pandemic with the Big Sleep Out at home.<\/p>\n

A lifetime\u2019s dedication<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Peter shares his admiration for how Cruse Bereavement Care has supported people during the pandemic \u2013 at a time when their services are needed now more than ever.\u00a0He said:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cCruse is a voluntary agency with the vision that all bereaved people should have somewhere to turn when someone dies.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"\"He explains how Cruse has remained operational throughout the pandemic by adapting and providing remote support, and talks about the charity seeing an increased need for bereavement services.<\/p>\n

Read more<\/a> about how Peter and Cruse\u2019s roles have evolved during the pandemic to ensure they could keep helping the vulnerable.<\/p>\n

Register your place at the Alumni Lecture on 22 April<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on the charity sector’s ability to operate. However, at the same time, charities have experienced an increase in demand due to the impact of the pandemic on the vulnerable. The second event in our online Alumni Lecture Series, COVID \u2013 Stories from the Frontline, will take place on 22 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":170,"featured_media":6275,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false},"categories":[5],"tags":[54,123,64,85,25,34,56,46,47,87],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSupporting The Vulnerable - Connected<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The second event in our online Alumni Lecture Series will take place on 22 April at 18.30 (UK time) and will focus on COVID\u2019s social impact.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/connected\/2021\/04\/19\/supporting-the-vulnerable\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Supporting The Vulnerable - 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