At a time when frankly most of us are feeling lost and confused, it’s heartening to see communities pulling together.
One of the ways many people are reaching out to those who may need help, is by popping a contact card through neighbourhood doors.
There’s no shortage of individuals generously offering their support on local social media groups, with a number of new groups forming to offer extra support.
Here are a few links and local groups which you may find useful:
Pregnancy to Family Life
Antenatal and Postnatal Education and Support North East: a new group with information and videos to help pregnant women and new mums in the current unusual and stressful circumstances.
Lockdown Babies: Support for Pregnant and New Mums: North East: a group for mums-to-be and new mums to share experiences and help and support each other along the way.
Babba Club (The Nest Low Fell): a group for new mums – for current, past and future Babba Club parents! Instead of the weekly Babba Club at The Nest, for chat, advice and getting to know other parents in the same boat.
The Snowdrop Story Parents Group: free support group for sharing homeschooling ideas and for parents to ask questions. There are a number of teachers in the group who are willing to answer any questions.
Families Sticking Together – North East: group all about positivity, sticking together, sharing activities, ideas and support and keeping our children happy and safe.
Chase the Blaydon and Winlaton Rainbow: group for local residents – display a rainbow picture in your window so that children can go rainbow spotting whilst out for walks.
Support by Area
Birtley and Kibblesworth COVID-19 Mutual Aid Support Group: group to share information and discussions around how to best support communities in Birtley and Kibblesworth.
High Spen and Chopwell COVID-19 Mutual Support Group: providing information and resources and connecting people to their nearest local groups, willing volunteers and those in need.
Lobley Hill COVID-19 Mutual Aid: group to offer help and support to the local community.
Pelaw Bill Quay Wardley COVID-19 Mutual Aid: group for people to help each other out in Pelaw, Bill Quay & Wardley, including with accessing food, completing errands and sharing local information.
Rowlands Gill and Highfield Covid-19 Mutual Aid Group: local volunteer group to help co-ordinate support for people during the Covid-19 crisis, particularly more vulnerable people.
Gateshead Covid-19 Mutual Aid: group for people to help each other out, including with accessing food, completing errands (shopping, dog walks, gas and electricity top ups and more) and sharing local information.
Gateshead Area Making Scrubs and More: group to help with supplying essential equipment to key workers.
Gateshead Council Website: official advice, local updates and useful links, including health advice, service updates, schools, and advice for businesses and claiming benefits.
Coronavirus North East England Community Support Group: group offering communication and community support to help people and local businesses.
CoronaVirus North East England: group sharing the latest updates and information on the Coronavirus outbreak, with participation from members re local support and issues.
The Inspire Network: longstanding group for business owners in the North East to network and share advice within a fantastically supportive community.
Also further afield…
Plan C: for parents and caregivers to support each other by sharing entertainment ideas for kids.
COVIBOOK – free short book to support and reassure children regarding COVID-19, aimed at under 7s and suitable to print so children can draw on it.
I hope you find this useful. If you have a suggestion to add to the list please get in touch here.
If you’d like to keep up to date when new resources are added, please click here and like the Gateshead Mumbler Facebook page 🙂
