Coronavirus statement 31 March 2020
In response to the impact of COVID-19, and in light of the advice from Public Health England, GTCC has taken the decision to suspend its operations of its Street Angels project with effect from 20 March 2020. This has been necessary to ensure the health and wellbeing of the public, our staff and our volunteers. We are committed to following official government guidance and will continue to review the situation on an ongoing basis.
Our Community Angels befriending project is experiencing growth in demand for its services and we are planning for further expansion as social distancing and lockdown conditions continue. We have made the decision to cease home befriending visits and replace these with regular phone calls instead, to enable us to continue to support existing clients in the community. This switch has required some re-training of our experienced volunteers and we are using this opportunity to offer Street Angels the chance to work on our sister project at this difficult time. Our experienced Angelic volunteers continue to serve the vulnerable in our community, as they have been doing since 2008.
Like many charities, the coronavirus will impact on the income stream and fundraising initiatives planned by GtCC in 2020. This is a difficult time for everyone, business, public services and the public. We can and will get through it with our continued commitment to sharing compassion, offering practical support and enabling the vulnerable to reconnect with others. Everyone here at Guildford Town Centre Chaplaincy sends you our love and best wishes over this difficult period. Our Street Angels look forward to being back out on the streets as soon as it is safe to do so. In the meantime our Community Angels continue to value your prayerful and practical support to enable them to keep serving others, tackling loneliness and social isolation at this particularly difficult time, supporting the most vulnerable in our community.
At this time Psalms 23 comes to mind. ‘The Lord is my shepherd’ It speaks of our lives as a journey. One that takes us through places of joy, rest, fear, hope, fellowship, stillness. My prayer at this time is that in whatever circumstances you find yourself, like the psalmist you will know you do not face it alone. My God’s blessing be with you and may goodness and mercy follow you all the days of your life.
If you need to speak to some one, please do get in touch
Noelle Coe
Chaplain
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