Community Support
Coronavirus (Covid-19) has had and will continue to have a huge impact in so many ways. During the early days of lockdown, the Hub set-up a temporary ‘Fauldhouse & Breich Valley Coronavirus Help’ Facebook group as a quick response to ensure the community had a way to allow people to offer and receive help and share relevant information. Everyone has been amazing using this group, sharing, supporting and helping each other in these very difficult times. This page has served its purpose and has now been closed
Going forward we want to ensure we can help and support our volunteers and the community with the impact of Covid-19. For many, the impact is life-changing and sadly for some absolutely devastating.
F&BV CDT is still supporting the community through difficult times.
In the coming months, people will need support and help in so many different ways. We opened Eastfield Development Centre, slowly to start and more as government guidance has changed. Initially we asked for food donations to be dropped off. These donations, along with other supplies were used to help everyone in need including, but not limited to, families and individuals struggling financially, elderly isolated individuals, people in isolation due to bad health, illness and disabilities and people with Covid-19 symptoms.
As we move on, we will use Eastfield Development Centre as a ‘central hub’ for help and support, not just food. We will update here and on our Facebook page @eastfieldcentre as we go. We want to ensure the Fauldhouse and the Breich Valley have the support it needs and deserves.
Food Support
On Fridays EDC is still open for The Community Food Larder from 12-1.30pm.
If you need help with food then please get in touch. (Please note that a new monthly membership is being trialled which is only £1/month with a £1 entry fee each week.)
The Bridge Project has a representative, at Eastfield Development Centre once a month (first Friday/month) during The Community Larder between 12 and 1pm and they are at The Hub from 1-2pm to help give support and advice with wellbeing and to anyone struggling financially.
Referrals
The Anti Poverty Worker at Eastfield Development Centre can refer families to the following organisations for help so please get in touch if you need it.
- Kids Love Clothes help supply good quality preloved clothes for children up to the age of 12 years.
- River Kids Charity in Broxburn work with us to help Families in Fauldhouse with items for nursery, toys for birthdays and clothing.
- Kidzeco in Bathgate and Livingston have a Kidzstart project aimed at helping new mums and mums to be with a starter pack full of clothes and essential items for their baby.
- The School Bank supply both primary and secondary school clothing and shoes for families who have exhausted all other avenues.
- West Lothian Food Bank parcels can be accessed through a referral from the Advice Shop or CAB.
Employability Support
The Anti Poverty Worker (Sharon, usually based at Eastfield Development Centre) has also started an Anti-poverty and Employability Support session in The Hub on a Tuesday between 9.30 and 11.30am.
Eastfield Development Centre staff can be contacted at 01501 229 645, emailed at eastfield@fauldhouse.org.uk or messaged on facebook @eastfieldcentre
F&BV CDT would like to say a huge big thank-you to everyone who has responded to this crisis, to the volunteers and to the local people, local groups who have all rallied round to support their communities. It’s been fantastic! We know there is still much to do as the full impact of the current Covid-19 crisis hits our communities in addition to the cost of living and fuel increases. Together we will work to do all we can to make sure we can meet the challenges to come.
