Since March, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have been working in different ways. The Carnegie Building has been completely closed to the public and staff have been working from home. This was in line with government advice to slow the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
Below are examples of how we have continued to provide services to our community in different ways:
- Telephone contact with families who use our services, and those referred to us by others, to identify their needs and concerns
- When the need was identified we have issued foodbank vouchers and delivered food parcels, toiletries, household cleaning product, baby formula and nappies. In some cases we have provided IT equipment for children and course participants to get online
- Telephone support for people who want to apply for settled status
- Online courses for women to build their resilience and support each other
- Online groups for parents and their young children
- Five Ways to Wellness daily health and wellbeing campaign and activities on social media
- We have given out information about where people can get support and activities
- We have worked with others to make sure that information about Covid-19, including social distancing advice, is in languages and formats that people who don’t speak English or can’t read can understand
Now and the future
We are now able to offer appointments within the Carnegie Building for people who want support to apply for settled status so that they can remain in the UK after BREXIT (European Union Settled Status). We have created a Covid safe environment to ensure the wellbeing of both staff and the public. This is by appointment only (ring 07943 197249 to make an appointment).
During the school summer holidays, we will be providing activity packs for children and some online activities; we are also hoping to provide access to food to help families to meet increased costs of having children at home. We are working in partnership with many other organisations in Newcastle as part of the Best Summer Ever scheme. Given the restrictions that are in place this year we are thinking more along the lines of ‘Best summer possible’. We will do our best to help local children get the most out of their summer break!
Our summer programme will be on our website and social media in the next few weeks.
From September 2020
We will not be holding any groups or training within the Carnegie Building during the autumn; this is due to the difficulties that social distancing will pose and also because we will have building works on-site from July to November. We hope to use the Carnegie Building to hold most of our activities as usual from January 2021.
We will be posting our autumn programme on our website and social media early in August. As mentioned above, most of the groups and training will be online. The programme will include activities for young children and their parents as well as a comprehensive training offer. Look out for our Autumn programme of activities.
Finally, by the New Year, we hope to welcome more organisations into the Carnegie Building to join Riverside, Search, Success4All, Play in Newcastle, Action for Children and Involve NE, once our extension is complete. This will mean that residents will be able to get more services within our community hub.
How to get in touch with us
EUSS
Telephone 07943 197249 or Email EUSSadvice@riversidechp.org.uk
Children’s Activities
Telephone 0191 2260754 or Email ayshea@riversidechp.org.uk
Training
Telephone 0191 2260754 or Email toni@riversidechp.org.uk
Migrant Support (Czech/Slovakian)
Telephone 0191 2260754 or Email petra@riversidechp.org.uk
Migrant Support (Romanian)
Telephone 0191 2260754 or Email gabriela@riversidechp.org.uk
For anything else
Telephone 0191 2260754 or email admin@riversidechp.org.uk