How You Can Help Your Community
Over the coming weeks, we will be using our platform to connect you to ways that you can help your community during this time. We spoke to Fiona McElroy from Covid-19 Mutual Aid UK to find out what the local groups in your area do. This is your moment, make a difference and get involved. Links to groups across the UK and Europe plus other resources you may find helpful are listed at the bottom of this post.
What is Mutual Aid?
• Over 250 ‘mutual aid’ groups have sprung up across the country to support those suffering from the effects and threat of the Coronavirus outbreak.
• 208 groups have been set up online, with volunteers coordinating via WhatsApp and Facebook groups and offering people in self-isolation help with shopping, dog walking and picking up prescriptions.
• The groups, which are being coordinated nationally by ‘Covid-19 Mutual Aid UK’, have organised online meetings, as well as taking to the streets to give people flyers detailing the kind of support they are offering. As well as practical support, the groups are offering phone calls with people who are self-isolating due to infection or increased vulnerability.
Where can I find my local group?
• Mutual Aid website www.covidmutualaid.org now has 1,500 groups registered across the UK and that’s a great place to start.
• Many have set up standalone Facebook pages and smaller Whatsapp groups which are organising in your local area and even in the street where you live. We’re also on Twitter - @CovidAidUK.
Who are the groups aiming to help in my community?
• The idea is to support mainly those who are self-isolating especially people who are alone, have underlying health conditions or a disability and those over 70 who have been asked to stay at home.
• There are also many people feeling anxious about coronavirus and the local groups can provide comfort and reassurance at this troubling time.
How do the groups work?
• These informal groups mainly work online and know their area. They are coordinating volunteers and getting the message out to vulnerable people and those in self isolation and receiving requests from those who need some help.
What can I do to help?
• #1 keep yourself safe and avoid spreading the virus by following all the official guidance.
• If you’re able to, sign-up to your local mutual aid group. There are lots of ways to help by becoming a street warden, coordinating the effort in your community or accepting requests for help. These could be running errands, bringing some shopping, delivering medication and topping up gas, electric and phone cards. Or you could walk your neighbour’s dog or give them a call to say hello which will give reassurance.
Is it safe for me to get involved with my local group?
• Keep yourself safe and follow the guidelines:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ on how to avoid catching and spreading the virus
• Most of the local organising is happening via social media channels so you don’t have to leave your home if you don’t need to. Sign up to your local neighbourhood to help and you’ll soon see what is being asked for and how it is happening.
• Always bear in mind that if you start to have symptoms you should self-isolate. Ask your group.
What other ways can I help?
• Stay safe, keep yourself busy and try not to worry. No-one should have to face the crisis alone. Your neighbours are there for you.
Other ways I can help:
• Volunteer to walk someone’s dog - you may have a neighbour who needs help or check out the borrow my doggy app to find pups in your area.
• Offer to deliver supplies or run errands for those who need to self-isolate.
• Donate to a local food bank, find yours here -https://www.trusselltrust.org/coronavirus-food-banks/
• Take clothes to a charity shop or clothing bank.
• Install Skype for older people in the community or show them how they can connect online.
• Offer your skills via online tutorials - music lessons, yoga, languages.
• Offer your support to colleagues who may be finding working from home overwhelming.
• Good cook or chef? Share simple recipe ideas with your community.
• Be kind and tolerant, it’s a stressful time for everyone.
Find out how the UO community is helping @urbanoutfitterseu and let us know how you’re getting involved. Say hi, tell us what you would like to see from us and share your community’s initiatives so we can help spread the word.
Useful Links:
Find your local group via the Mutual Aid website www.covidmutualaid.org or see below for links to local groups across the UK and Europe.
UK Links:
https://covidmutualaid.org/local-groups/
EU Links:
Location: Denmark
Denmark Crowdsourcing Coronavirus Pandemi & Corona Vaccine https://www.facebook.com/groups/556642475065228/
Denmark Coronavirus Danmark - Covid-19 https://www.facebook.com/Coronavirus-Danmark-Covid-19-108643930721504/?eid=ARCWQ7rnPHeg_3bf6-S1ZLvT9euPAjV9dwkhNo2yPvFtPSBerbgpLl6TAFg7p3nWZ0bjwQkrv_scUj59
Copenhagen Coronavirus Danmark - Covid-19 https://www.facebook.com/groups/coronavirusdanmark/
Location: Germany
Germany Corona-Virus | News | Verdachtsfälle & Hilfe. https://www.facebook.com/groups/496987157641788/
Germany Corona Virus Deutschland (Nachbarschaftshilfe, Ideen für Kinder usw) https://www.facebook.com/groups/202519621054923/
Hamburg Hamburg hilft sich Coronavirus Quarantäne Angebote Nachfrage https://www.facebook.com/groups/203103090968221/
Frankfurt Corona Hilfe Frankfurt Griesheim https://www.facebook.com/groups/642952249857844/
Frankfurt SOLIDARITY DESPITE CORONA https://www.corona-soli-ffm.org/de/index?fbclid=IwAR3enGGZVY7ZxwW2GADt_GYFMIzpQVPaneYhRkXVesnpf2nt291QQzEc76c
Berlin Coronavirus Nachbarschaftshilfe Berlin, Covid19 neighbourly help Berlin https://www.facebook.com/groups/598246314106273/
Berlin Corona Hilfe Berlin Tempelhof-Schöneberg https://www.facebook.com/groups/223879948979910/?hc_location=group
Nuremberg Corona-Hilfe-Gruppe Nürnberg und Umgebung https://www.facebook.com/groups/547411305889811/
Nuremberg Corona Virüs Dayanişma Nürnberg ( Paylaşim Serbest ) Arif Tzorta https://www.facebook.com/groups/2855442327858879/
Stuttgart Corona-Hilfe-Gruppe Stuttgart und Umgebung https://www.facebook.com/groups/3043340835705471/
Stuttgart Corona Virus Hilfe Stuttgart https://www.facebook.com/groups/coronavirushilfestuttgart/
Düsseldorf Nachbarschaftshilfe Düsseldorf ( zu Corona - Zeiten) https://www.facebook.com/groups/2507520242793800/
Oberhausen Corona-Hilfe Oberhausen https://www.facebook.com/groups/507531360133866/
Leipzig Corona Hilfe Leipzig https://www.facebook.com/groups/3681584235217297/
Leipzig Coronavirus Nachbarschaftshilfe Leipzig Zentrum https://www.facebook.com/groups/221601152368168/
Location: Netherlands Amsterdam CoronaVirus Amsterdam https://www.facebook.com/groups/1074641609571025/?epa=SEARCH_BOX
Amsterdam AmsterdamAgainstCorona https://www.facebook.com/groups/220595559318827/
Amsterdam Amsterdam Corona Help https://www.facebook.com/groups/AmsterdamCoronaHelp/
Rotterdam Rotterdam Corona Help https://www.facebook.com/groups/202841247615648/
Utrecht UtrechtAgainstCorona https://www.facebook.com/groups/2711673505618181/
Maastricht Corona Hulpvraag Maastricht https://www.facebook.com/groups/836706240182368/
Location: Belgium
Antwerp Antwerpen - solidariteit met ouderen en zieken - Covid19 https://www.facebook.com/groups/562608401127313/
Brussels Solidarité Solidariteit Brussels Bruxelles Coronavirus https://www.facebook.com/groups/623125888540069/
Brussels Verspreid solidariteit, geen virus! https://www.facebook.com/groups/verspreidsolidariteitgeenvirus/
Location: Spain
Barcelona Coronavirus SOS Network Group BARCELONA https://www.facebook.com/groups/205660173859590/
Barcelona Plataforma ayuda Covid 19 Barcelona https://www.facebook.com/groups/209075106821183/
Location: Paris
Paris Paris face au Covid19 https://www.facebook.com/groups/2930502257008900/
Paris Paris area Corona Community Care let’s help each other out https://www.facebook.com/groups/218508645876918/
Location: Italy
Milan milano coronavirus mutuo aiuto https://www.facebook.com/groups/597527977644015/
Location: Ireland
Dublin Dublin 7 Covid-19 Community Support https://www.facebook.com/Dublin-7-Covid-19-Community-Support-105812514383095/
Dublin COVID 19 Emergency community support group BLANCH/CLONEE/DUBLIN 15 AREA https://www.facebook.com/groups/163594334640789/
Dublin CoronavirusVolunteersDublin https://www.facebook.com/groups/2567055770205841/
Ireland Self-Isolation Helpers https://randall.ie/help/
Ireland Alone.ie https://alone.ie
Ireland crisis cover https://www.crisiscover.ie
Ireland Volunteer https://www.volunteer.ie/about-us/covid-19/
• Over 250 ‘mutual aid’ groups have sprung up across the country to support those suffering from the effects and threat of the Coronavirus outbreak.
• 208 groups have been set up online, with volunteers coordinating via WhatsApp and Facebook groups and offering people in self-isolation help with shopping, dog walking and picking up prescriptions.
• The groups, which are being coordinated nationally by ‘Covid-19 Mutual Aid UK’, have organised online meetings, as well as taking to the streets to give people flyers detailing the kind of support they are offering. As well as practical support, the groups are offering phone calls with people who are self-isolating due to infection or increased vulnerability.
Where can I find my local group?
• Mutual Aid website www.covidmutualaid.org now has 1,500 groups registered across the UK and that’s a great place to start.
• Many have set up standalone Facebook pages and smaller Whatsapp groups which are organising in your local area and even in the street where you live. We’re also on Twitter - @CovidAidUK.
Who are the groups aiming to help in my community?
• The idea is to support mainly those who are self-isolating especially people who are alone, have underlying health conditions or a disability and those over 70 who have been asked to stay at home.
• There are also many people feeling anxious about coronavirus and the local groups can provide comfort and reassurance at this troubling time.
How do the groups work?
• These informal groups mainly work online and know their area. They are coordinating volunteers and getting the message out to vulnerable people and those in self isolation and receiving requests from those who need some help.
What can I do to help?
• #1 keep yourself safe and avoid spreading the virus by following all the official guidance.
• If you’re able to, sign-up to your local mutual aid group. There are lots of ways to help by becoming a street warden, coordinating the effort in your community or accepting requests for help. These could be running errands, bringing some shopping, delivering medication and topping up gas, electric and phone cards. Or you could walk your neighbour’s dog or give them a call to say hello which will give reassurance.
Is it safe for me to get involved with my local group?
• Keep yourself safe and follow the guidelines:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ on how to avoid catching and spreading the virus
• Most of the local organising is happening via social media channels so you don’t have to leave your home if you don’t need to. Sign up to your local neighbourhood to help and you’ll soon see what is being asked for and how it is happening.
• Always bear in mind that if you start to have symptoms you should self-isolate. Ask your group.
What other ways can I help?
• Stay safe, keep yourself busy and try not to worry. No-one should have to face the crisis alone. Your neighbours are there for you.
Other ways I can help:
• Volunteer to walk someone’s dog - you may have a neighbour who needs help or check out the borrow my doggy app to find pups in your area.
• Offer to deliver supplies or run errands for those who need to self-isolate.
• Donate to a local food bank, find yours here -https://www.trusselltrust.org/coronavirus-food-banks/
• Take clothes to a charity shop or clothing bank.
• Install Skype for older people in the community or show them how they can connect online.
• Offer your skills via online tutorials - music lessons, yoga, languages.
• Offer your support to colleagues who may be finding working from home overwhelming.
• Good cook or chef? Share simple recipe ideas with your community.
• Be kind and tolerant, it’s a stressful time for everyone.
Find out how the UO community is helping @urbanoutfitterseu and let us know how you’re getting involved. Say hi, tell us what you would like to see from us and share your community’s initiatives so we can help spread the word.
Useful Links:
Find your local group via the Mutual Aid website www.covidmutualaid.org or see below for links to local groups across the UK and Europe.
UK Links:
https://covidmutualaid.org/local-groups/
EU Links:
Location: Denmark
Denmark Crowdsourcing Coronavirus Pandemi & Corona Vaccine https://www.facebook.com/groups/556642475065228/
Denmark Coronavirus Danmark - Covid-19 https://www.facebook.com/Coronavirus-Danmark-Covid-19-108643930721504/?eid=ARCWQ7rnPHeg_3bf6-S1ZLvT9euPAjV9dwkhNo2yPvFtPSBerbgpLl6TAFg7p3nWZ0bjwQkrv_scUj59
Copenhagen Coronavirus Danmark - Covid-19 https://www.facebook.com/groups/coronavirusdanmark/
Location: Germany
Germany Corona-Virus | News | Verdachtsfälle & Hilfe. https://www.facebook.com/groups/496987157641788/
Germany Corona Virus Deutschland (Nachbarschaftshilfe, Ideen für Kinder usw) https://www.facebook.com/groups/202519621054923/
Hamburg Hamburg hilft sich Coronavirus Quarantäne Angebote Nachfrage https://www.facebook.com/groups/203103090968221/
Frankfurt Corona Hilfe Frankfurt Griesheim https://www.facebook.com/groups/642952249857844/
Frankfurt SOLIDARITY DESPITE CORONA https://www.corona-soli-ffm.org/de/index?fbclid=IwAR3enGGZVY7ZxwW2GADt_GYFMIzpQVPaneYhRkXVesnpf2nt291QQzEc76c
Berlin Coronavirus Nachbarschaftshilfe Berlin, Covid19 neighbourly help Berlin https://www.facebook.com/groups/598246314106273/
Berlin Corona Hilfe Berlin Tempelhof-Schöneberg https://www.facebook.com/groups/223879948979910/?hc_location=group
Nuremberg Corona-Hilfe-Gruppe Nürnberg und Umgebung https://www.facebook.com/groups/547411305889811/
Nuremberg Corona Virüs Dayanişma Nürnberg ( Paylaşim Serbest ) Arif Tzorta https://www.facebook.com/groups/2855442327858879/
Stuttgart Corona-Hilfe-Gruppe Stuttgart und Umgebung https://www.facebook.com/groups/3043340835705471/
Stuttgart Corona Virus Hilfe Stuttgart https://www.facebook.com/groups/coronavirushilfestuttgart/
Düsseldorf Nachbarschaftshilfe Düsseldorf ( zu Corona - Zeiten) https://www.facebook.com/groups/2507520242793800/
Oberhausen Corona-Hilfe Oberhausen https://www.facebook.com/groups/507531360133866/
Leipzig Corona Hilfe Leipzig https://www.facebook.com/groups/3681584235217297/
Leipzig Coronavirus Nachbarschaftshilfe Leipzig Zentrum https://www.facebook.com/groups/221601152368168/
Location: Netherlands Amsterdam CoronaVirus Amsterdam https://www.facebook.com/groups/1074641609571025/?epa=SEARCH_BOX
Amsterdam AmsterdamAgainstCorona https://www.facebook.com/groups/220595559318827/
Amsterdam Amsterdam Corona Help https://www.facebook.com/groups/AmsterdamCoronaHelp/
Rotterdam Rotterdam Corona Help https://www.facebook.com/groups/202841247615648/
Utrecht UtrechtAgainstCorona https://www.facebook.com/groups/2711673505618181/
Maastricht Corona Hulpvraag Maastricht https://www.facebook.com/groups/836706240182368/
Location: Belgium
Antwerp Antwerpen - solidariteit met ouderen en zieken - Covid19 https://www.facebook.com/groups/562608401127313/
Brussels Solidarité Solidariteit Brussels Bruxelles Coronavirus https://www.facebook.com/groups/623125888540069/
Brussels Verspreid solidariteit, geen virus! https://www.facebook.com/groups/verspreidsolidariteitgeenvirus/
Location: Spain
Barcelona Coronavirus SOS Network Group BARCELONA https://www.facebook.com/groups/205660173859590/
Barcelona Plataforma ayuda Covid 19 Barcelona https://www.facebook.com/groups/209075106821183/
Location: Paris
Paris Paris face au Covid19 https://www.facebook.com/groups/2930502257008900/
Paris Paris area Corona Community Care let’s help each other out https://www.facebook.com/groups/218508645876918/
Location: Italy
Milan milano coronavirus mutuo aiuto https://www.facebook.com/groups/597527977644015/
Location: Ireland
Dublin Dublin 7 Covid-19 Community Support https://www.facebook.com/Dublin-7-Covid-19-Community-Support-105812514383095/
Dublin COVID 19 Emergency community support group BLANCH/CLONEE/DUBLIN 15 AREA https://www.facebook.com/groups/163594334640789/
Dublin CoronavirusVolunteersDublin https://www.facebook.com/groups/2567055770205841/
Ireland Self-Isolation Helpers https://randall.ie/help/
Ireland Alone.ie https://alone.ie
Ireland crisis cover https://www.crisiscover.ie
Ireland Volunteer https://www.volunteer.ie/about-us/covid-19/