Coronavirus Support

Meldreth Coronavirus Community Support ‘MCCS’ Friendship and Support

Christmas Cheer Box Fundraising Meldreth Coronavirus Community Support is aiming to raise £1000, to provide boxes of basics and Christmas cheer to those in need, both young and old. Please contact Roger James on 07808235873 or use this link: https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/meldrethcheerbox Thank you to all who’ve already donated.

At the time of writing we are in a new national lockdown. Whether or not the restrictions change on 2nd December, and while there is no requirement this time to shield, MCCS is geared up to help anyone who is self-isolating or stuck at home and without a support network.

Meldreth Calling Friends

If you need help with essential shopping or prescriptions, or if you’d just like a friendly chat, please feel free to pick up the phone and call your neighbourhood coordinator – either they or one of the neighbourhood team will be able to help. And please get in touch if you’d like to join the team.  Kneesworth Road, West Way, Burtons and Fenny Lane:

Bev Cottrell, 07773 592838  Elin Way and Howard Road Zone: John Crawforth, 07595 627684  Whitecroft Road, Chiswick End, Oakrits, Melrose:

John Crawforth, 07595 627684  High Street, Flambards, The Grange, Woolpack Way, Station Yard and Road: Helen Munday, 07712 555598  Bell Close and Gables Close: Cathy Walston, 07757 086380  North End, Brewery Lane, Malton Lane, Cam Farm:

Bev Cottrell, 07773 592838 and Ian Mitchell, 07726 936635

Meldreth Walking Friends

Under current lockdown rules we are permitted to run this group with paired walks, which meets the government guidelines allowing people to meet outside with one other person. If the lockdown continues, we will need a pool of people who would be keen to join others for short walks around the village on Tuesday or Saturday mornings. If you would like to participate for a walk and a chat, please contact Paul Inman on 07976 256121 for Saturday walks or Joan Gane on 07711 803861 for Tuesday walks, or email meldrethccs@gmail.com. Along with this, we would encourage you to use the outdoor public spaces in Meldreth to keep in regular contact with your friends and relatives as permitted under the current regulations. If the weather looks patchy, remember there are covered spaces with windbreaks at the pavilion, the bus stops and the war memorial. We are also looking to see if these facilities can be extended.

As and when restrictions are eased, Meldreth Walking Friends will adapt. We hope to keep walking through the winter months and into spring.

Meldreth Community Food Bank

If you are experiencing food or essential items shortages and are unable to fund their purchase, then we encourage you in all confidence to visit the Food Bank at the Annex, The Gables, 69 High Street, opposite the British Queen on Tuesdays from 10.00am to 12 noon or Thursdays from 2.00-4.00pm. Or simply contact Food Bank Organiser Anne Bobeckyj on 07592 355279 at any time and we’ll work out an arrangement to suit. Any donations of food and supplies basics, or Christmas treats, would be gratefully received – please drop off in the box outside 69 High Street, or contact Anne as above.

A Big Thank You from Screenbank

Screenbank has surpassed all expectations, having now provided around 200 refurbished second-hand computers, laptops and tablets to Melbourn and Bassingbourn Village Colleges to ensure that no student is lacking IT set-up for home study and for community use. This would not have been possible without the many locally donated computers and the months of total dedication by our volunteer team led by Andy Thomas and supported here in Meldreth by Ian Mitchell, David Coton and Ian and Oliver Sharp, and in Bassingbourn by Rob Stanford. There

is much experience to be shared, with other communities looking to launch a similar endeavour.

An enormous thank you to all as we wind up this project and celebrate an incredible collaboration.

We do still have a number of computing devices which have been earmarked for use in the community, in particular for anyone who is isolated and taking extra care to avoid the shops and is ready to embark on the quest to take-up internet shopping and family contact via the screen. Please contact Ian Mitchell (details above) if you think you’d like to give this a try. Thank you to all our volunteers and for all friendship and support in the community.

Contact Us

Any questions? Please see our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/MeldrethCoronavirusCommunitySupport, email meldrethccs@gmail.com or contact us on the numbers below. County Councillor Susan van de Ven 07905 325574 District Councillor Jose Hales 07703 262649

The current national restrictions, in place until at least 2nd December, are available here: www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from5-november

Remember - ‘Hands. Face. Space’

Hands – wash your hands regularly and for 20 seconds Face – wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet Space – stay 2 metres apart from people you do not live with where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place (e.g. wearing face coverings or increasing ventilation indoors)