Time to phone a friend...

Author

Mark Gale, CEO Gloucestershire Gateway Trust

"Life is tricky and it’s getting trickier for lots of people in these exceptionally uncertain times. However even in this current COVID-19 crisis there is much to celebrate in our communities.

GGT has for years been promoting the importance of neighbours helping neighbours, kindness and recognising that everyone has skills and knowledge to share. In fact we know that good neighbours and friends are what people in our communities value most. Sometimes the hardest thing for people is being confident enough to offer or ask for help. Well in the last few days we have seen a tidal wave of people stepping forward to connect people up, helping and looking out for each other. 

​There is self help action in almost every area.  Although we must always follow the governments health guidance in order to protect ourselves and others, I urge you to step forward and get involved.  Call a friend, relative or neighbour who might be in isolation, or volunteer to get some shopping or collect a prescription for someone who is housebound.  If we do this then despite all our worries now our communities will come out of this crisis stronger and more connected than ever before.

Gloucester Services is a great example of communities seeing opportunities in adversity, changing the M5 from something that caused pollution and accidents into a community asset. Together we can now generate new opportunities to connect people as neighbours and friends, helping us all to build stronger communities now and for the future."

For more ways to support your community during the current COVID-19 health crisis, as well as help accessing food and more - check out our resources page.