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Dear resident,
I wanted to start by thanking each and every one of you for the work you are doing to combat the coronavirus and to help our community. Thank you for volunteering in record numbers to provide support to vulnerable people, for looking out for your neighbours, and to our NHS staff, emergency services and other key workers for continuing to go above and beyond the call of duty.
Most importantly, thank you all for doing the most important thing you can do: following the advice by staying home so that we can save lives and protect our NHS.
Sign up as a volunteer to support your community in tackling coronavirus:
To the small minority of residents who flout those rules, I urge you to follow that advice and help protect your friends and neighbours. It is not acceptable to gather together in our parks or open spaces and you will be putting peoples’ lives and the NHS at risk if you do so. We will work with the police to enforce this to help prevent the spread of the virus.
This week, we saw the tragic death of 13-year-old Ismail Mohamed from Brixton. If ever we needed a reminder that this virus is deadly and does not discriminate, this was it. As his family said in their moving statement, please listen to the guidance and stay at home.
Delivering food and supplies for vulnerable people
Coronavirus requires an unprecedented effort from us all – and the council and our partners has stepped up to deliver that in Lambeth. In little over a week, we have established three hubs across the borough to organise food and supplies for hundreds of vulnerable residents. Through our longstanding relationships to partners like New Covent Garden Market and other businesses in the borough, as well as a strong network of organisations we were working with on food poverty like Lambeth Larder, we have been able to make more than 600 food deliveries to our most vulnerable residents. Many of those people had no food left in their houses due to having to stay at home and having no support network to bring food to them. We have even been able to help out neighbouring Southwark with some food parcels yesterday. In times of crisis we pull together.
I want to say a huge thank you to everyone that is helping us so far – without you this vital support for those who are not able to leave the house would not be possible. The Coronavirus is testing us all in ways we could not have imagined but the strong partnerships and networks we have fostered and nurtured over years are standing strong so far.
But we know that this effort needs to be sustained for a period of many weeks - and we need to harness the energy of our community to help those in need. Please volunteer at lambeth.gov.uk/volunteer to take part in this enormous community effort.
All sorts of skills and talents are needed and there are all sorts of challenges that are being thrown up - If you have experience and expertise working with parents or young people we need you; if you have a legal background and help support people who need it; if you can support organisations to communicate through modern technology then Lambeth needs you.
If you’re unable to volunteer but would still like to help out, why not make a donation to the Lambeth Food Bank fund: There is a Lambeth-wide fundraising drive for our food banks. Donate via gofundme
Vulnerable people helpline
We've launched a helpline for people in Lambeth who are vulnerable, don’t have support, and urgently need help. This helpline allows us to identify those who need our support in addition to the information the council holds. So far through the hub and the helpline we have supported more than 1200 residents from across Lambeth. Anyone can call 020 7926 2999 on behalf of a vulnerable person and lines are open every day from 8am-8pm.
Visit our website for more information about getting urgent assistance for you or someone you know.
Are you experiencing domestic abuse?
Survivors of domestic abuse may feel particularly alone and at risk during self-isolation. If you’re in Lambeth the Gaia Centre can help. Confidential advice & support by phone, text or email – whatever’s safest. Please telephone 020 7733 8724 or email: lambethvawg@refuge.org.uk.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve seen the best of our neighbours, community groups, emergency services and council staff. Now, we need to continue to drive Lambeth’s efforts to protect our residents and help to turn the tide against this awful virus.
Best wishes and stay safe,
 Cllr Jack Hopkins
Leader of Lambeth Council
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