COVID UPDATE
Lockdown 2 – and the Vineyard Community, November 2020
Continuing to provide Help in Crisis and Hope for Life – in these challenging times!
In response to the recent increase in the prevalence of the Coronavirus, and the measures introduced by the Government, we are announcing the following changes to our services:
Drop-In
Until further notice our Drop-in Sessions for homeless people and others in crisis are continuing on Mondays to Fridays between 9.30 and 11.30 at the Vineyard Community Centre – although there is no hot food available.
Charity Shop
Our Charity Shop is closed from Thursday 5 November until the restrictions are lifted.
We will not be accepting donations of items for sale during this time.
Community Café
Our Community Café remains closed – BUT -aiming to reopen in December.
Our new kitchen extension is nearly complete!
Foodbank
The Foodbank delivery service continues – please telephone 07516935655 if you are unable to afford food and require a food parcel. Deliveries are usually made on Mondays and Thursdays.
If you have been issued with a foodbank voucher these can still be redeemed at one of our walk-in services which, for the time being, remain open:
Vineyard Community Centre, (Richmond)
Mondays and Thursdays 12.30 – 4 pm
Castelnau Community Centre, (Barnes)
Fridays 9.15 – 11.15 am
Bridgelink Community Centre (Isleworth)
Mondays and Thursdays 9.30 – 11.30 am
Whitton Community Centre (Whitton)
Fridays 9.30 – 12.30
Donations for the food bank will continue to be gratefully received at:
All Saints Church Hall, Hampton Mondays and Thursdays 10.30 – 2.30 pm
The Vineyard Community Centre, Mondays and Thursdays 12.30 – 4pm
Phone 020 8940 0274 for more info.
or email foodbank@vineyardcommunity.org
Works of Love
The Works of Love craft and needlework sessions at Dickson House are suspended until December.
If you require assistance or need support during this time please telephone 020 8439 9735
WOLsewing@vineyardcommunity.org
Winter night shelter
Covid restrictions mean that the borough’s winter night shelter is being replaced by Central London provision. However, the Vineyard is acting as host for registered evening meals for rough sleepers, every night for six months from November 9th.
Please join us in prayer – that God will deliver us from evil and the harmful impact of this virus.
Mark Palframan
Chief Executive
Our story
How we help
Our services are available to anyone in the community who needs support. They include:
Find shelter, food and support.
Opening times: Mon-Fri. 9:30am-11:30am.
Please note. Due to Covid we regret that our services are limited and may involve queuing or appointments. We will endeavour to meet all priority needs during these difficult times and apologise that ‘open house’ for all comers is not currently possible.
Get advice from our case workers and medical support from our community nurse.
Opening times:
Care and support: Monday-Friday 9:30am-11:30am
Nursing service: Monday and Wednesday 9.30-11:30.
Learn new skills in our Roots and Works of Love groups that can help you flourish in life with confidence or support you towards employment.
Please Note: Our Roots programme is closed due to Covid and pending reopening to be announced.
Over 200 local front line care agencies refer to the Richmond Foodbank, part of the national Trussell Trust foodbanks. Due to Covid we are also operating a delivery service to the borough from our Hampton depot.
Opening times at the Vineyard: Monday and Thursday 12:30-16:30. From Oct 19th
Other times and drop-in distribution centres : see website
contact: foodbank@vineyardcommunity.org
Donate and purchase used goods.
Re-Opening November tba:
Monday-Friday 10:00-16:00pm.
Lunch closure 1.15 to 2.15pm.
Please note: A second nearby shop will open in November. Watch this space!
Drop by for lunch or afternoon tea.
Re-opening November tba:
Monday-Thursday 12:30-16:30
Please note : Our cafe kitchen is being replaced and enlarged and we expect to reopen in Novemeber …to be announced!
Enrol and learn both basic and expert sewing skills and earn an AQA accreditation.
Please contact WOLsewing@vineyardcommmunity.org
for future course dates.
Overcoming crisis
We have broad experience helping people tackle all manner of personal crises, including:
- Addictions
- Loneliness
- Mental health problems
- Homelessness
- Financial issues
Help us
There are dozens of ways you can help us, from running a fundraiser to volunteering on our site.
Run a business?
Local businesses often lend us their time and raise money on our behalf. See how your organisation can help us.
Why we exist
Richmond is known as an affluent borough but it’s also home to thousands of vulnerable people. We help these individuals in times of personal crisis and along the road to recovery. We also strengthen our community by widely engaging with local volunteer and corporate support to help us in this work.
Richmond in crisis
- There were 3,985 rough sleepers in the capital at the end of 2019, a 26% increase on 2018
- In the last quarter of 2019, 52 were recorded in Richmond, of which 27% were women. 23 were new rough sleepers
Source: Chain-reports
- Richmond Foodbank has over 2,500 annual referrals from over 200 front-line care agencies
- The average weekly income of people referred to foodbanks is just £50 after housing costs
- Almost 20% of people had no income at all in the month before visiting
- Almost three-quarters of people at foodbanks have a health condition
- 22% of people at food banks are single parents – compared to 5% in the UK population
Source: The Trussel Trust Nov 2019
For an in depth review of social needs in the London borough of Richmond see the independent report:
On the Edge