the ‘Crosspoint
Connect’ helpline
LOCAL charity, Crosspoint, has taken over responsibility for the Neighbourhood Helpline, which was set up in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The helpline – which provides support and help for Westbury residents who were self-isolating because they were over 70 or vulnerable – became part of the charity’s ‘Crosspoint Connect’ service last week. The community service, which also offers a chat if someone is lonely, or help and signposting for other issues such as guidance with applying for Universal Credit, is now available to anyone in the community
Chair of Crosspoint, Len Clift said, “When Covid-19 lockdown started back in March, Westbury Town Council worked with LINK to introduce the Neighbourhood helpline.
“This helpline was manned by an army of volunteers ready to help with signposting, food collecting/delivery, prescriptions, or just a chat. As the town council prepares to go back to normal business, the Neighbourhood helpline has now transferred to Crosspoint Connect.
“Moving forward, we are widening the help offered by the Neighbourhood helpline to anyone in need in the community – during the pandemic it was more focussed on the over 70s – but we now want to help support anyone – so it could be help with a Universal Credit application, or a chat if someone is feeling lonely.
“This number to call is 01373 865557, and it is open Mondays and Fridays between 2-4pm and Wednesdays 10-12pm for those needing help.
This service has been running from Wednesday 1st July. It is also possible to email Crosspoint for advice on info@ crosspoint-westbury.co.uk. Westbury Churches will also open the phone line – 01373 865557 – on each Tuesday 2-4pm for people needing spiritual guidance and prayer.”
Emergency food
service at Crosspoint
As lockdown restrictions continue to ease, as part of the Westbury Community Partnership, Crosspoint is also working with the town council to manage the emergency food service – the charity will be the collection, packing and distribution centre for this work.
Len said, “The lockdown highlighted a number of needs within the town – and these needs are still there despite restrictions easing. We have many people in the community still needing help with food – even now we are giving out 35 to 40 boxes of food a week.
“At the height of lockdown restrictions, we were giving out 100 boxes a week – so whilst the need has decreased, but it is still there.
“And that need is not going to go away, especially given the way the economy is heading and the risk of unemployment rising.”
Volunteers needed for help at Crosspoint
To support the services, Crosspoint is appealing for volunteers to help with food collection, packing, delivery drivers, and volunteers to help man the Crosspoint Connect helpline.
Len said, “Now as things return to normal, we are working in partnership with a number of community groups, including the town council, to keep these services running. And we need volunteers to help us to do this.
“We will need car drivers who can pick up food from Aldi at 10am each day and take to Crosspoint.
And on Mondays and Thursdays we will need two packers at Crosspoint between 10am-12am to pack the food and receive any donations of food from the public.
“On the Mondays and Fridays drivers will be needed to help with the delivering of the food to clients. The time for this will be 11am-12 noon.
And for the Crosspoint Connect service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays – volunteers can come into Crosspoint to take calls, or the phone can be diverted to your home number.”
To enquire about volunteering or the support available, contact Crosspoint on 01373 865557 or email: info@crosspoint-westbury.co.uk, or contact the town council.
Picture: Crosspoint’s secretary, Martin Brown, mans the ‘Crosspoint Connect’ helpline.
