The Link
Issue 224b
April/May Special FREE Newsletter 2020
Covid 19 Information Polzeath-Rock-St Polzea th-Rock-St Minver-Trebetherick-Wadebridge Yes, these images really are Rock Quarry car park, New Polzeath car park and Polzeath beach on a sunny day in the Easter holidays. They were taken by St Minver Community Group volunteer Caroline when she was delivering Meals on Wheels
www.stminverlink.org - info@stminverlink.org - 01208 880714
Message from Carol Mould
Firstly I hope you are all keeping safe and well and enjoying the lovely weather. Since the last update, the Community Volunteer Group have continued their amazing efforts to deliver a range of services to help all those who have request help. Alongside the work of the volunteer group our local businesses are also doing a great job offering take away meals or delivery. A lot of council meetings are now held remotely with weekly briefings from heads of service. The refuse collection is still continuing but please do not report a missed collection if your bin has not been collected at the usual time. The teams are under great pressure but the bins will be collected. The same for recycling, more home deliveries means more cardboard and packaging so it may take a little longer to collect. There will be no deliveries of new garden waste bins or new recycling bags until further notice I am hoping the verge and footpath cutting can begin again especially the Parish Contractors but we are guided by them being able to work safely. The Parish clerk is still working and is
happy to receive e mails or phone calls as am I if you have any issues. The monthly parish meetings are still being conducted remotely. Working this way does cause an issue with members of the public attending if they have any concerns ,especially with planning. The planning process is continuing as normal but there will be no yellow notices posted although near neighbours should still receive written notification. I have received a few complaints about an increase in dog fouling especially on the pavements, so please, clean up after your dog. Lastly I would just like to say please do not be at home concerned or worried, there is help within our community and within the council, these are difficult times for a lot of people but the community spirit within our parishes is something we can all be proud of. Stay safe and well Carol Mould
Local businesses feeding NHS staff
supplies to five smaller Cornish hospitals . #Food4Heroes started elsewhere in the UK but was adopted here in Cornwall, supplying to hospitals in Bude, Launceston, Newquay, Falmouth and Helston. The St Enodoc Hotel creates 150-180 meals on weekdays, which are collected by a volunteer and taken to their designated hospital; Bude-based chef Tim Spedding works alongside Fee at weekends to ensure it’s a 7-day a week service for our frontline NHS staff. Fee told us she was also delighted to be working alongside Wadebridge and Bude foodbanks to ensure they got the supplies they
North Cornwall is renowned for its locally produced food and drink, and world-class chefs and restaurants. But this year our local producers, restaurants and cafes have joined forces to put their expertise towards local people in need during the Covid-19 crisis. Marc Dingle from the Blue Tomato, Chris and Jason from the Pityme Inn, and Paul Ainsworth from the Mariners have all contributed to the St Minver meal delivery programme, which has seen over 600 meals delivered to vulnerable residents. Rock’s very own Fee Turner, of Fee’s Food, along with the St Enodoc Hotel have also been helping those in need as part of the #Food4Heroes project. Aimed at distributing meals to frontline NHS workers, the scheme
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Cornwall Councillor for St Minver and St Endellion
07870 118001 or 01208 863692 carol.mould@ cornwallcouncillors.org.uk
needed, as well as a campaign in Newquay to co-ordinate relief for the homeless. This campaign is committed to providing 120 meals, twice a day to homeless people who are in temporary shelter during the Covid-19 crisis.
We welcome your stories and photographs
Support for the Community Since the end of March, over six hundred meals have been cooked and delivered to vulnerable people in St Minver – dubbed ‘Friends In Need’ or FINs – by a team of volunteers. But the service is so much more than providing a hot lunch: it has become more about maintaining links within the community. One of the volunteers covering the Polzeath patch, Vickie Tolland, has said how much she enjoys being a part of it. "We love our Tuesday shift delivering meals. We have a little chat with the recipients and see how each person is doing, both physically and - as importantly - in themselves. If there ever is an issue, we have a fantastic local support network. One day a gentleman didn't come to the door to collect his meal when we rang - I called one of the local volunteers who said she'd spoken to him the previous night. Later she got back in touch to say she had now seen him and all was well." One of the FINs has also said how much she loves the personal connection. "Thank you a million times for my delicious community meal - but it's more than that. It's the excitement of what might arrive. It's a visitor. It's the comfort of knowing someone cares. I can't tell you how grateful I am." Because of the evident need, the FIN programme has grown to include newspaper delivery and now a ‘listening ear’ service. When Newslines shut, the distress to many
over 70s was immediate, but Bricknells in Wadebridge stepped in and ensured that papers and magazines could still be enjoyed by those isolating. Now up to 100 publications are distributed on three rounds, including a delivery to Trewiston Lodge Nursing Home. The ‘listening ear’ service was prompted by understanding that being cut off from family and friends can make all of us feel isolated and lonely or in need of a friendly call and support. The service is open to anyone and is run by volunteers who have experience in the field and who operate under strict guidelines, maintaining confidentiality at all times. One user commented, “I do not want to worry my family so talking to someone outside was wonderful. I could be honest about how I felt.” Others have also stepped forward to donate to the programme and also to the volunteers – many of whom are simultaneously homeschooling their children. Fee Turner has donated cakes to the FINs and our two St Minver care homes, Nat and Jax Buse at St Enodoc Asparagus have supplied bunches of their premium asparagus , and Sharp’s Brewery has given beer, as a thank-you to those giving up their time and effort. If you would like more information on any of the services offered by the St Minver Community Group, contact Morwenna stminvercommunitygroup@gmail.co.uk or ring 07731552904
Superheroes don’t wear capes
During the Covid-19 crisis, we all know that superheroes don’t wear capes: they wear scrubs, masks and gowns. And because of the tremendous strain the NHS is under, those items are in short supply but are vital. The St Minver SeaGirls WI were asked by Lindsay of Linterior Designs in Wadebridge for help with making scrubs and masks for frontline NHS staff. WI members with sewing machines stepped up to the plate and started creating masks. A team of experienced sewers were formed, led by SeaGirls secretary Gemma Webster and nicknamed the Sewing Bees. Within three days the number of requests
for PPE had hit 200 from local healthcare professionals. As word spread through social media that the SeaGirls were beavering away, many other people in the community dusted off their sewing machines, ready for bolts of fabric arriving for scrubs. 40 metres of material was provided which needed to be used as efficiently as possible. The pattern had kindly been printed on A0 paper by Chris Hewitt Photography. The Sewing Bees currently comprise an army of 28. To join the effort, please contact Lindsay from Linterior Designs on 07974 190663.
Visit our website - www.stminverlink.org
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If you would like to make a donation to the St Minver Covid 19 Initiative, there are several ways you can do it: Send a cheque , made out to St Minver Link to: St Minver Link, Undertown Barn, Trevigo Farm, St Minver PL27 6RB Make a BACs payment to: St Minver Link, Sort code: 20-74-20 Account number: 50787566 For more information email stminvercommunity@ gmail.com or ring Morwenna on 07731552904 Alternatively, you can make a donation to the St Minver Community Hub. Thank you
North Cornwall Cluster of Churches
The church buildings are closed but the church is more active than ever! We have established resources online for all those who would like spiritual support and guidance. Our facebook group is a space where people who are unable to get to church can chat together, share updates and ask for prayer. Our website has downloadable resources for people to use to pray from home ,every Sunday we hold a worship service over YouTube. Find more details and upcoming services at: www.northcornwallclusterofchurches.org.uk And join our facebook group at: www.facebook.com/group/ northcornwallcluster If you need help setting up a facebook account, get in touch with Revd Rose. We are offering pastoral support and prayer by telephone, and we may be able to help in practical ways as well. Contact Revd Elizabeth . Please be assured of our prayers for our whole community and especially those who are most vulnerable. Revd Elizabeth Wild – 07758 407661 elizabeth-wild@live.co.uk Revd Rose Jones – 01208 592353 revrosejones@gmail.com Revd Geraldine Ashton – 07957 609085 gezzalou@aol.com Thanks to Nick at Whitewater Gallery, Polzeath for printing this newsletter
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What’s Available in St Minver? So many of our local shops and businesses are providing a fantastic service to ensure everyone in St Minver is well looked after. - Nursery Stores Rock (863328) and SPAR Polzeath (862913) are both open as usual and are also offering a mail order and delivery service. - The Fish Shop (862422) is open as usual and will deliver to those self isolating - Lewis’s (863531) is offering pre ordered collections - Fee’s Food (862271) - free delivery of prepared food, and other provisions - Baker Tom’s mobile van is outside the Perceval Institute every Tuesday at 9.30am - The Pityme Inn (862228) is offering take away Sunday lunches and fish Fridays; basic food boxes and a selection of fresh and frozen food delivered. www.pitymeinn. co.uk - Local Farm Produce ( end of Keiro Lane) 07966 201945 a wide range of local fresh produce , sausages and pork. Deliver or collect from stall - Watts Butchers -(862239) Open as usual; phone ahead if possible and order will be ready. -Trevathan Farm Shop (880164) - open as usual, will deliver within 3 miles. - St Minver Post Office - open every day from 9 until 12 -Restharrow Farm Shop, Trebethericknormal opening hours
Hardship Fund
There are a range of ways the St Minver Community Group can help you if your income has been affected by the Covid 19 crisis. The money has been generously donated by members of our own community who really want to help. email: stminvercommunity@gmail.com for more information. All contact will be treated in the strictest confidence