Gosport residents are boosted by activity and food parcels as charity continues to support isolated people

Activity and food parcels for 50 people were handed out by the Close Encounters Project run by Gosport Voluntary Action (GVA) and Age UK Portsmouth.

Items including seeds, books and puzzles will keep residents and socially isolated older people entertained during lockdown.

Food for the parcels was donated by Tesco, Fareham and Gosport Basics Bank and Morrisons vouchers funded by Hampshire County Council.

Jade Diamond, community champion at Tesco Alver Village, said: ‘During these times of isolation, it is important to us that we can reach out and all support each other within the local area.

‘Donating soup and pasta to GVA meant that I could help feed some socially isolated older people during these unprecedented struggles that none of us expected to be facing on what was a promising year.’

The first parcel delivered was to an older local person who was living in food poverty. The following week with their consent a referral was made to the Basics Bank and a week’s worth of food was subsequently provided.

There was some really positive feedback from the volunteers who delivered the parcels, along with a written thank you letter from a grateful recipient.

SEE ALSO: Gosport community group fundraising for a new van to support food deliveries

She said how she had planted the seeds and was looking forward to watching them grow.

One man, known as Mr M, received an activity and food pack which included items to help him continue his hobby of painting, with plans to display his work in his front window.

Angela Gill, GVA project manager, said: ‘It's great that during this time of continued social isolation particularly amongst Gosport's older residents, the Gosport Food Partnership and Tesco are working with GVA's Close Encounters Project to make a real difference and bring some practical support and happiness to those who need it most at this time.’

Help is still available from GVA during this lockdown, and the charity is looking for more telephone befrienders to sign up to support socially isolated older people.

The new Community Compass listening and signposting service is operating via telephone to offer a free, confidential telephone consultation for up to 40 minutes with a trained volunteer.

Visit gva.org.uk/compass for more information or phone (023) 9260 4683.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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