Dereham Cares and The Meeting Point were given blue plaques on March 18 by Melinda Raker, a Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk for their work during the pandemic.
We delivered leaflets ourselves to spread the word too and the pieces in the paper really helped. There was one particularly lovely piece about our help getting prescriptions and we had lots of people get in touch with us after that. Of course, not everyone has social media and we can t take it for granted that everyone has a computer or wifi. We re grateful for the press coverage we got and I think it helped people.
Community life correspondent, Donna-Louise Bishop, launched the Here to Help: Not Alone pen friend initiative
- Credit: Copyright: Archant 2020
An offshoot of that initial campaign was the Here to Help: Not Alone pen friend initiative, which saw more than 1,000 people connected across the globe through letters, postcards, and drawings via post and email to individuals, organisations, care homes, and vulnerable people.
Quiet streets during the Coronavirus lockdown in Dereham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY
- Credit: Copyright: Archant 2020
This time last year, the country was facing its first national Coronavirus lockdown. Reporter ABIGAIL NICHOLSON explores how one Norfolk town came together and fought through the pandemic one year on.
A queue for Morrisons during the first Coronavirus lockdown in Dereham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY
- Credit: Copyright: Archant 2020
It s safe to say, many of us were naive in how long we thought the pandemic would last this time last year.
But after announcing the country was heading into a national lockdown, residents in Dereham pulled together to support each other in a way that hadn t been seen before.
Published:
4:51 PM February 1, 2021
Updated:
6:19 PM February 1, 2021
Eve Francis-Smith, Assistant Practice Manager and Jake Kubala, Community Connector, with the pulse oximeter packs, pictured at Harleston Medical Practice.
- Credit: NHS Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group
Vulnerable people in Norfolk and Waveney suffering from coronavirus will now have access to potentially life-saving devices called pulse oximeters.
The small device clips onto the finger and monitors not only the heart-rate but also oxygen levels in the blood.
If the level is falling, the person with symptoms will know that their condition is at risk of deteriorating, and intervention can be sought sooner.