The coming weeks will prove to be difficult and challenging for us all. Many of us may well rely upon our neighbours in ways we cannot have expected even a month ago. There will, it is predicted, be periods when leaving our homes may be difficult and ill advised. The Parish Council is asking everyone who is able to do so to offer support to their nearby neighbours should they not be able to get out. The support would consist of helping out with basic errands such as shopping, posting letters and collecting prescriptions. If every household were able to make direct contact with two neighbours on either side and two over the road there is a good chance that the vast majority of residents would be included within this support network. Exchanging phone numbers and email addresses would be the primary purpose of this initial interaction.

We hope to distribute this message via email through the large social organisations that exist within the village, for example, the Parish Council website, the St. Stephens ministry, the Women’s Institute, the Badgers Football Club and several others. If you are able to distribute it further amongst your social network then that would be very helpful.

In addition to 21stcentury media distribution a number of volunteers will be hand delivering this to households where, according to the 2019 Electoral Roll, there is only one adult resident.

In the event of your neighbours not being in a position to help out the following people can be contacted and they will endeavour to help.

Parish Council

Ian Parsons 01491 672312, Sarah Barnes. 07808 784300, Oliver Chadwyck-Healey. 01491 671556,

Halina Czajka. 01491 672322, Rob Greasley. 07824 644796

St Stephens

Jo Eley 01491 672442

Village

Rachel Duncan (Upper Basildon – central ) 07968 355825, Charlie Fielder (Upper Basildon – eastern). 07818 599693

Alison Lang (Lower Basildon). 01491 672178

NHS Helpline 111

The Boathouse Surgery 0118 984 2234

Lloyds Pharmacy (Pangbourne). 0118 984 2935