Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Coronavirus in Harringay? a practical thread about looking out for our neighbours
So the inevitability of tighter restrictions on public gatherings looks only days away; with school closures, enforced working from home, overstretched essential workers suffering all very real consequences.
Beyond the immediate concern about ourselves and those we live with **and keeping perspective for a moment - most of us under-65 and without any underlying & serious health conditions/weakened immunity are going to be ok ** the more important concern to my mind is of its further transmission and spread: what happens during the coming weeks to those of our neighbours that become housebound because they either have the virus or are self-isolating out of fear due to being in a vulnerable group?
Rather than hopelessly speculate on 'what if' scenarios, I have a practical suggestion and plan for how HoL could come into its own and facilitate some real community spirit and solidarity. The aim being to keep an eye out for our neighbours, helping each other out. With the NHS almost at breaking point even before this came along, it becomes crucial that we do something at a community level now as we wont be able to rely on others to do it for us.
And it wouldn't take much effort...
If one, two or more residents on each street were to volunteer to fetch some shopping or medical supplies for a neighbour on their road once or twice a week, we would be making both a great individual and a wider social contribution to slowing the spread of the virus and reducing the strain on the NHS. If that same act gets replicated across the area in dozens, you can imagine over the days and weeks how this could mitigate the wider spread in a very small but nonetheless essential way. And foster plenty of community goodwill in the process.
If Hugh/HoL admin agreed, we could keep a pinned post of the street reps (HoL users) that could be contacted by DM here if someone goes into self isolation - or knows a neighbour that has. For various reasons it wouldn't be a good idea to publicly post which people or households are self-isolating, but street reps could keep each other updated and help across streets if need be.
Would anyone be interested in being involved as a street rep for shopping or other essential errands?
Constructive suggestions and improvements to the idea are definitely appreciated! - apathy and sarcasm won't be (there's a whole world of social media out there for that!)
UPDATED TO ADD (16.03.20)
Thanks to Hugh there is now a dedicated area on Harringay Online for the duration of the epidemic for local resources and contacts if you need help and to be visited to your door by a Street Rep
UPDATED (14.03.20):
To volunteer as a Street rep text 07980 591375 or email harringayneighbours@gmail.com. If you have WhatsApp follow this invite to join the Street reps organising group for the HoL area https://chat.whatsapp.com/LxCuIy1BcZvBMunk1JZBMy
ALSO:
Similar initiatives are springing up across London and Haringey. If you live beyond the immediate HoL area, you can give offers of help elsewhere in the borough here.
Tags for Forum Posts: coronavirus, coronavirus volunteering
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Geraldine B on
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Hugh, to make this great idea even easier how about a temporary new Forum topic called Coronavirus. Just a thought. Being wheelchair bound i cannot volunteer for Hermitage road
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oops i meant Coronavirus in Harringay
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Permalink Reply by Dermot on
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Agreed Tris. I am gathering details from everyone that volunteers as a WhatsApp group just for Street reps is the plan. There are one or two that haven't got that or don't want to be added. That's fair enough, we'll work with what we get!
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Thanks Yvonne - we're now connected so look forward to hearing from you!
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Permalink Reply by Fi on
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Sent you an email to the new address.
Can I suggest editing your original post with the contact email details to be immediately visible?
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Dermot, one of the most positive proposals here on HOL for a dozen years. A few years ago I'd have been eager to help. Now more likely to be on the receiving end sometime in the uncertain weeks and months ahead. A most generous offer to my wife and me from my good neighbour on Wightman first thing this morning. We'll try not to abuse her generosity !
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on
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My lovely neighbour has offered her help if we need it. I know we’ve all seen how examples of selfish behaviour are what make the news, but what doesn’t is the quiet kindness of most people.
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Permalink Reply by Alison P on
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Great idea, thank you. I’m in (and my partner) - on Seymour. Will dm you.
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