A COMMUNITY project led by a town theatre is helping to alleviate loneliness. The Point Eastleigh s Call and Create project links participants with artists for a series of relaxed weekly chats over the telephone. After five weeks, the artists will have created a song, story, poem or piece of music based on the conversations. The project is aimed at people feeling fed up and frustrated at home that need something extra to brighten their day. Previous participants have spoken of the “warm glow” created by their involvement with Call and Create. Call and Create has been funded by the Government’s Coronavirus Community Support Fund and is supported by Eastleigh Borough Council, which owns and operates The Point.
A HOSPICE has been able to increase its support for bereaved people thanks to Government funding delivered through the National Lottery. Butterwick Hospice Care has experienced a sharp rise in demand for support for bereaved people during the coronavirus pandemic. Now, the charity’s support services have been boosted by a £68,000 grant, provided by the Government’s Coronavirus Community Support Fund, and distributed by the National Lottery Community Fund. The charity has used the money so its bereavement support services can be adapted to provide support remotely. “We have seen an increase in requests for bereavement support, partly due to people having reduced levels of contact with friends and family, as a direct impact of lockdown restrictions,” said Dianne McKenzie, Butterwick’s Head of Family Support.
Matthew Green, Technology and Data Director at The National Lottery Community Fund, explains how the programme, which included moving to mobile devices and leveraging technologies like Microsoft's O365 and Teams, meant that by the time of the first lockdown in March 2020, the organisation was well set up to cope