Providing crucial support and advice during the COVID-19 lockdown

Meeting the needs of the community during lockdown

BAVO’s Community Navigators support the ‘Building resilient and connected communities’ programme. They help individuals to access community-based activities, information and advice that has a positive impact on their lives to prevent their circumstances from deteriorating to a point where they might need higher level health or social care support.

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns, the Navigators’ role has changed to meet the needs of the community, providing crucial individual support and signposting to vulnerable people.

BAVO’s Community Navigator met with SB who suffers with severe depression, anxiety and personality problems. She also has cervical spondylitis which causes severe pain and affects her mobility.

SB's story

“I was struggling with my mental health and finances when I first contacted BAVO and spoke to Gail. A recent change in my medication had left me with very low mood and I was struggling on a day to day basis. 

“The foodbank parcels that Gail was able to access for me and deliver were a godsend. It was lovely to see someone on the doorstep and knowing that there was someone to call if I had a problem that I couldn’t deal with.

“I use my computer to shop online and stay in touch with my God-daughter a lot and over the summer it stopped working, which put me in a bit of a panic if I’m honest. Gail found me a repair shop that could pick up and return the repaired computer. The repair was done in a couple of days, which was great and meant that I wasn’t out of touch for very long and I wouldn’t have to ask for any extra help with things.

“Gail has kept in touch with me over the phone – checking how I am every now and again. It’s nice to have someone at the end of the phone, even if I don’t answer it’s good to hear a message from someone.

“My spondylitis affects my hands and legs and I am starting to struggle to get up and down stairs and jobs around the house are getting really difficult. It was a relief when Gail suggested she get in touch with the Common Access Point Team to see if they could help by making changes to my house. The Common Access Point team got in touch the same morning and I am now in touch with Care & Repair and waiting for some work to be done.

“Over the past couple of months, I have been coping much better – I’m not crying all the time. Gail has supported me by talking through practical ideas to solve any problems I’m having – she always gives me an option no matter the problem.”