The Covid-19 Pandemic
The PFC Trust's Response
The impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on individuals and communities was both immediate and life-changing. The PFC Trust had to be proactive in responding to the challenges that the pandemic presented. Consequently, funds were quickly made available to a number of organisations throughout Hartlepool.
Alice House Hospice
Pictured is Alice House Staff member Paula Tempest (Clinical Lead) with one of the Samsung tablets which were donated by the PFC Trust. The Hospice decided to use these to aid their fundraising campaign. One was won as a prize in their first ever 'Virtual Balloon Race', a really successful event which raised £445 – effectively a different kind of raffle. The Hospice plans to continue to utilise the others as future prizes in either events once they resume, or in another balloon race.
"We are really grateful for the support from PFC and also received donations of PPE and a smart TV via Carl Jorgeson and Shaun Hope respectively, earlier this year. Both of which were of huge value to us."
Greg Hildreth, Communications Senior Manager, Alice House Hospice.
Reengage Hartlepool
The work of the Hartlepool branch of Reengage was known to one of the trustees who at the start of 2020 approached the board about helping the volunteers in providing company and an afternoon tea for isolated people within the town.
The board was keen to help and, after meeting with their Hartlepool manager, we agreed to provide financial help with transporting guests to venues and to pay for an afternoon tea per month. We also wanted to help the group to be able to accept more people so we offered to provide additional volunteers through our charity.
Unfortunately this was all halted due to Covid-19 so in summer we provided take away afternoon teas to the volunteers to deliver (Covid-19 safely of course) so that they knew we hadn't forgotten them.
Once it is safe to do so, we will make good on our promises to help the Hartlepool branch of reengage help those who are isolated in the town.
Hill Care Group
"Our Hartlepool and Teesside care homes were deeply touched to receive the donation of tablets from the PFC Trust. At the beginning of the pandemic, when families couldn’t visit their loved ones, the devices provided an effective way for residents to continue talking with them virtually. While it could never replace physical contact with their families, it helped to ease any feelings of isolation and kept everyone connected. When not being used for video calls, our activities coordinators have downloaded apps that enable residents to access webcams and go on voyages of discovery observing nature around the world.
We would like to say thank you to the Trust for helping us to make a difference in these challenging times."
Jules Walker. Customer Relations Officer, Hill Care Group
Our connection with Queens Meadow Care Home was featured in the Northern Echo on Wednesday 9 December 2020. To read the full article online, please click here.
In May, at the height of the first national lockdown, we provided over 100 sets of pyjama’s and hundreds of toiletries for patients in North Tees Hospital because families were unable to visit their loved ones. These were also donated to residents of Hartlepool by local people and businesses via the Poolie Time Exchange, which was made possible by the strong partnership links we have made with the Voluntary Sector within the town.
We supported The Poolie Time Exchange and St Aidens Soup Kitchen through lockdown by providing additional fridges, cooking equipment and paying for fuel so that they could deliver meals to those who were shielding, self isolating or who just needed help to feed their families. Our Chair also arranged for the local Further Education College to assist by loaning buses to transport the food and, as the need for food grew, use of the College kitchens. This was an amazing team effort that showed the importance of linking organisations and working together.