We have continued to support the Gateshead Roma community during the Lockdown.

Every Thursday we have been delivering food from a local food bank to families complying with the government’s social distancing rules.

We have responded to telephone and online inquiries.

We have continued to pass on vital information about subjects including the following:

Information about the easing of the Lockdown Information about how a Public health expert warned that the North East was just a small step away from new Covid outbreak and lockdown Housing benefit information from Gateshead Council Mental Health Awareness Information New information about face masks Information about staying safe Information about catching Covid-19 from surfaces Information about recycling Practical information about handling waste A lot of information about mental health and keeping well and helping others

We have continued to develop a Who’s Who Board where local service providers could describe what they do and how they can help people.

Some of our funding from Awards for All this year was originally to develop a Who’s Who Board at the kavarna drop-in, helping clients to learn more about the service providers we work with and how they can help our clients. This has not been possible as the kavrana has been closed since March due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However we have continued to develop this online now and have had four contributions including new contributions from NE First Credit Union and Citizens Advice Gateshead

We are planning putting more contribitions from other service providers.

Here are some of the things we have been helping people with in July:

We have distributed food from Fareshare
Facebook advice for Universal Credit, council tax, housing and issues regarding landlords.
Referral to Children Society regarding EU Settled Status.
Women’s group online – this has been a big help with the mental health of the women involved

Helping people to claim Universal Credit

In recent weeks we have helped to resolve a domestic violence issue

Due to the Lockdown people are spending more time at home so we have had conversation with individuals regarding domestic violence, that they should open up and reach out if they are experiencing any sort of domestic violence. We have left people with contact details and information to help them.

We have liaised closely with Northumbria Police to help members of the Roma community to know what is happening, during the Covid-19 Crisis.

Many thanks to Fareshare, Northumbria Police, Citizens Advice Gateshead and all our other partners and supporters.

Peter Sagar, Company Secretary, A Living Tradition CIC, and Irma and Zaneta Karchnakova, interpreters and workers, September 2020