We're still collecting donations
On the 27th February 2023 we'd raised £47 with 2 supporters in 42 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
Mutual Aid Road Reps CIC
by Kate Belmonte in Gillingham, Medway, United Kingdom
Total raised £739
raised so far21
supportersMARR's core aim is to bridge the gap of isolation with simple kindnes and friendship. Protecting People, Communities and the Planet
by Kate Belmonte in Gillingham, Medway, United Kingdom
Mutual Aid Road Reps (MA|RR) was set up in March 2020 when we leafleted every home across Medway. We quickly became the largest volunteer group in Medway, with over 270 volunteers who were on-call supporting the elderly, vulnerable and self-isolating households. Helping to collect and deliver food, prescriptions and supplies.
We launched our befriending service at the same time, allowing those in isolation to speak to others in their community via the telephone.
We continue to successfully apply for project based grants, and have just finsihed our second UK Shared Prosperity Funding, which allowed us to host more than 1000 user sessions in just 7 months.
We now run 3 sessions every week in Rainham and Gillingham as well as our monthly sessions in Rochester and across Medway's Green Spaces.
To continue these sessions we require funding to cover the cost of feeding our beneficiaires and to continue employing our 2 Group Facilitiators Kieran and Zoe to run these sessions.
Please give what you can and be part of the fight to end loneliness and isolation.
Some quotes from service users have been
‘Thank you so much for your help & kindness. It is a wonderful thing you and your band are doing at this difficult time.'
‘Want to give a big shout out of thanks to MA|RR. What a fabulous bunch of people, they got me some milk, bread and potatoes last week as I have been shielding for the past 3 weeks as a vulnerable person… I can’t thank them enough for their kindness during such a tough time. Well done guys, stay safe.’
‘Our community is undergoing a rapid transformation and where once we passed each other on the street, without even a smile, we are now virtually embracing each other, day after day. Mutual Aid Road Reps is providing the tools to help our neighbours so that we can bridge the gap of isolation through simple kindness and friendship, reaching out beyond our front doors. I feel like we have launched a revolution, against the status quo and are rediscovering how to support ourselves, by working together. We call on everyone in Medway to join us on this amazing journey and fight the fear with love and compassion’ Kate Belmonte - MA|RR Director
Rewards
This project offered rewards
£7 or more
Buy a tea and a cake for a vulnerable person
Our Coffee, Chat & Connect sessions welcome those within our community who are experiencing loneliness and isolation. We provide free tea, coffee and biccies or cake at all of our events.
£10 or more
Help us stay insured
Each year we pay in the region of £240 to ensure that all of our operations and projects are fully insured protecting both our beneficiaries and our volunteers.
£15 or more
Help us pay staff
As a growing initiative we are now having to look at our sustainability and this means paying for staff. Whilst we have fantastic volunteers their availability is not always inline with when certain tasks, such as funding applications and administration is needed. If we are to survive we need to be able to pay wages.
£20 or more
Keep our phone line running for an extra month
We use a VOIP system to ensure that individuals can contact us no matter where we are. Our team could be shopping or attending a coffee, chat & connect session but if someone needs to contact us we are available 5 days a week between 10am and 5pm. The VOIP system also stores voicemails left at times when we are not available ensuring no one misses out.
£72 or more
Buy coffee and cake for 10 vulnerable people
Our Coffee, Chat & Connect sessions welcome those within our community who are experiencing loneliness and isolation. We provide free tea, coffee and biccies or cake at all of our events.