Community group awarded Pride in Medway Award for tackling loneliness
ITV Meridian's report is by Charlotte Wilkins. She's been speaking to Co-ordinator, Shila Jassal and participants, Julie Myan, Brian Holmes, Michael Burke, Narendra Patel and Mary Treasure.
A group that was started in Medway during lockdown to help combat loneliness has won a Pride of Medway Award. The Let's Get Chatty service has grown in popularity and is continuing to help people who may feel isolated.
It started as a one-to-one befriending service at the start of the pandemic. Now, Let's Get Chatty has around 70 members and many meet for regular get-togethers, like today's walk around Capstone Park in Chatham.
26.07.22
Sandy Flemming from Rainham News talks to LGC volunteers about their success at the recent Pride in Medway Award 2022.
09.05.22
Let's Get Chatty wins 'Pride in Medway' Community Services Award
On the 22nd April 2022 Let's Get Chatty was chosen from 48 outstanding Medway organisations and individuals to win the Pride in Medway Community Services Award 2022. LGC Team Coordinator Shila Jassal & LGC Administrator Stephen Parrett attended the award and were both shocked and over the moon to collect the award on behalf of the Let's Get Chatty team of volunteers. The group which was set up by Kate Belmonte, the co-founder of MARR, was set up at the start of the first covid lockdown to reach vulnerable and isolated members of Medway's vast community. Kate thanks every single volunteer and beneficaiary for their dedication and support over the past 2 years. She cannot stress enough how honoured she is to work alongside such amazing individuals, all of whom are helping to bridge the gap of isolation with simple kindness and friendship. Kate also passes her congratulations on to the other nominees of the Pride in Medway awards saying “Medway would not be what it is without you!”
22.04.22
We're delighted to announce that MARR and our Let's Get Chatty initiative has been chosenby the Co-op as a member of their Local Community Fund!
Everyone within a 15 miles radius of our registered address (ME86BN) can choose MARR as their community cause. Which means that whenever you shop in the co-op & you swipe your coop membership card you can help raise funds for our future community coffee mornings and walk & talk events.
To register us as your cause please click here once you're logged in you can choose us as your community cause (pretty pretty please with a cherry on top) if you're not already a co-op member you can join for just £1 and earn points, which will more than cover the one off cost of the card.
Please do consider choosing us as your local community cause for 2021-2022
Kate Belmonte, Co-founder
21.10.21
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Mutual Aid Road Reps (MARR) gears up for new initiative. Its aim? To bring Medway’s coronavirus fractured community back together.
MARR, a mutual aid community group in Medway has secured vital funding via the Test Bed Fund and Medway Voluntary Action, allowing them to launch their ‘Coffee, Chat & Connect’ sessions later this month across Medway.
The sessions are to be targeted at those who have been isolated throughout lockdown and will serve as an important process of reintegration for shielded individuals back into our community. Initially, MARR intends to host these events twice a month in venues across Medway.
Let’s Get Chatty co-ordinator and initiative lead Shila Jassal had this to say:
“This is an opportunity for our service users who have been feeling lonely and isolated, and struggling with the lack of social contact over the past 6 months, to finally have the opportunity to meet face to face in a public setting - and to connect with others who have gone through the same experience. Many have expressed how relieved they feel that this service is being set up. If you’re interested in attending, or would like to help, please contact us.“
The first session will take place at a local cafe on Saturday 19th September in Rochester, followed on Saturday 26th September in Rainham.
To express an interest in attending future sessions please email your details to [email protected] or call 01634 907045.
About MARR
MARR was formed in March this year as a direct reaction to the pandemic. The organisation has helped hundreds of residents across Medway through the efforts of 270 volunteers, working tirelessly within their communities.
“As lockdown has ended, volunteers have been returning to work and we have been rebuilding our volunteer base. If you’re interested in giving back to your community, and can commit even a couple of hours each week, please get in touch with me via [email protected] for more details.” -
Kate Belmonte, MARR Co-founder.
07.09.20
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