The Lifeboat Project - Corona virus Relief

The Lifeboat project has been set up by Changing Minds Kent CIC to support those affected by and currently living in isolation due to the effects of the Corona-virus. Our Story... Changing Minds Kent currently provides social inclusion and skills development opportunities for individuals living in Thanet from our social hub, "The Lodge" based in Westgate-on-sea. Usually we provide a safe and relaxed environment for individuals to connect with others, improve their overall well-being through our range of activities such as gardening, sports, mindfulness, cookery and much more. Right now... We have had to make the hard decision to close the lodge temporarily due to the corona virus pandemic. As much as we did not wish to do this, the health and safety of our friends remains paramount to us and as such we do not wish to risk opening up and going against social distancing recommendations at the moment. Having said this, we are not willing to sit idly by whilst we have members of our local community who are living in isolation, struggling to get to the shops, connect with other people or even get out for some exercise.  The lifeboat project has been set up by us to combat this. Our aims... We aim to provide mental health support, advice, anxiety management, food and essentials for the local community throughout the Corona virus Pandemic. *To offer free delivery of care packages for those in isolation within our local community, including food, toiletries & entertainment (Crosswords, card games, coloring books, etc). *To set up a social media hub for individuals to access for tips on combating loneliness whilst in isolation. *To grow and adapt the project alongside the ever changing situation to provide support for as many affected individuals as we can possibly reach. What we need... We have adapted our premises here at the lodge to include a special sanitization station to be used by anyone of the premises and to ensure any deliveries of care packages and provisions are placed in disinfected bags and delivered by volunteers with gloves and other PPE to a safe place chosen by those in isolation who are in need. We are collecting Food, toiletries and other basic grocery items to create care packages here at the lodge and would like to provide entertainment items such as biscuits, board and card games to keep boredom at bay! Unfortunately with panic buying and shortages being rife, this is no easy task, So we need as much help as we can get! Anything you can give right now would make all the difference to the most vulnerable members of our community. Please, let's pull together and try to help as many people as possible. Thank you! :)