22 Aug Good News Stories from our Community Builders (15th – 21st August) – SAVS
Rob Carvosso, Shoebury – Sponsored by Shoebury Residents Association
It’s been a very hot couple of weeks but Shoebury has been busy. Chris over the years has been making and installing little libraries for the community. The concept is that you have a little library, leave books in them and the community can take books and leave books that they no longer want or need. The team in the workshop have been making the libraries to order and Chris along with a volunteer from the community have been decorating them, some also have bespoke designs according to the group or location.
I spent some time with Chris digging holes and putting up the libraries for the community, they are a great idea to encourage reading and engage with the community.
Chiquitta Bruce, Milton – Sponsored by Milton Community Partnership
The Royals shopping centre hosts Little Royalty Around the world which is a free kids event that happens every Wednesday throughout the school holidays. It’s a fun-packed event with singing, dancing, arts and crafts and other activities based around different countries of the world. There is even free face painting and if you stick around you get to meet a surprise guest! The adventure time is aimed at children aged 3–9 years. Chiquitta attended their Jamaican week and took part in helping the children make some mascarade masks and paper pineapples and jellyfish.
Chiquitta loves the way all children can come along and get involved, even those just passing by and hopes more get involved with this free activity.
Kayleigh Wilkins, Victoria – Sponsored by St Vincent’s Southend
I spoke to a lady called Monica in Southend town near the Odeon and she was telling me she is currently homeless and didn’t know what to do. She has lived in Southend for a while and had a house but lost it about five years ago and was staying with a friend. This fell through too and was currently staying with a different friend for a few days and then she just told her if she wasn’t back in the next hour she will find her dogs and her stuff on the front doorstep. So now she is currently homeless. She has three dogs and a 12-year-old son who is currently staying with his uncle but the dogs are with her. She has been trying to look for a room but no one is accepting her at the moment.
She said she works as a nail technician self-employed but the doctors have recently signed her off sick because of anxiety. I took her to SVP to speak to Jon to see what her options were, he said they can see if there is space in the travel lodge as they are a dog-friendly hotel and by Monday they should have made more progress to help her with more permanent accommodation. She was very thankful for this and accepted their help.
