Stronger together
– because people need community

County Wide Warm Packs and Warm Banks, Warm Welcome 2023/2024

 A powerful network

Alford Hub is able to offer support across the whole county of Lincolnshire. 

With over 100 active volunteers; working closely with local resources, Alford Town Council and other government bodies, Alford Hub forms a strong and reliable network.

This allows us to advocate in the local community by working directly with the people we serve.

Alford Hub also operates "Satellite Hubs" within other organisations across Lincolnshire, as we believe access to support should not be dependent on your postcode.


Everyday support


We pursue close relationships with local schools, GP services, national and local government, existing community groups, and third party organisations to identify support needs as early as possible and offer assistance.

Alternatively, you can refer yourself or a family member to Alford Hub by contacting us directly.


Connection

Supporting people, requires direct communication, connection and assistance.

That’s why our volunteers work hard to develop and maintain social relationships with the people they serve.

Through face to face, telephone services and our online virtual community centre at www.facebook.com/groups/alfordhub. We are able to connect and support people, provide them with trusted information and signpost on, where necessary. 

 Befriending Service

The Outreach and Wellbeing team offers both telephone and socially distanced face to face visits, to members of our community who are facing loneliess.

This service is not age related, as many things can contribute to loneliness. This can include losing a job, being a stay at home parent or simply moving to a new area.

The telephone befriending service was an important lifeline to many, during the national lockdown. Something as simple as a friendly voice at the end of the line, can help someone feel part of the wider community and alleviate fears in these uncertain times.

The face to face befriending service operated throughout lockdown, providing a vital resource to Lincs Wellbeing Teams, Merton Lodge Doctors, Charities and Community Nursing, in assisting them with a "boots on the ground." approach to make wellbeing checks on vulnerable and isolated members of community.

Since restrictions have lifted slightly, our befriending team is now helping people integrate in a safe way. We still conduct socially distanced home visits but we are also able to offer accompanied visits into the town, stopping off at the local cafes and shops. This is all done at a pace that the individual client feels comfortable with and working within the Government Policies, relating to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Befriending Respite Sitting is perfect if you need a Befriender to sit with your loved one, whilst you attend an appointment or just need some time to yourself. 

The Telephone Befriending Service offers weekly telephones calls and also daily "Check-in calls" at a time that is convenient to the client. The daily Check-in calls provide peace of mind for the client and their families.

Alford Hub is registered with the National Befriending Network.

Referrals can be made through ELDC, Merton Lodge Doctors Surgery and also by self referral.

All Befrienders have DBS and identity checks, undergo full training including safeguarding and are supported by a Supervisor.
Email

Alford Hub Uniform and Baby Bank

Alford Hub Uniform and Baby Bank

Alford Hub Uniform and Baby Bank - 15 South Market Place, Alford (Opposite the Library.) 


This is open every Wednesday and Friday between 9am - 12 noon. We provide free baby clothes and equipment and free school uniform for the schools in the area. We are passionate about stopping clothing going into landfill and supporting children and their families. Afterall, they say " It takes a whole community to raise a child!" For further information on the Baby and Uniform bank, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

Contact the Alford Hub Uniform and Baby Bank.

Thank you for contacting us.


We will get back to you as soon as possible.

The Alford Hub Uniform and Baby Bank is located at 19 High Street, Alford, Lincolnshire LN13 9DS (opposite the Butchers) 


Opening times: Wednesday 9am - 12 noon and Friday 9am - 12 noon. 


Appointments can be made outside these times at the descretion of the Volunteers. 

Please note that Alford Hub Uniform and Baby bank is run like a Swap Shop. All items are Free but must be returned to Alford Hub when you no longer need them. They must not be sold.

Citizen Signposting and help.

Citizen Signposting Contact Form

Citizen Signposting is a key service of Alford Hub. We are able to help you or signpost you on to organisations both locally and nationally that are able to help you. 

This includes:

Form filling

Debt and Financial Signposting

Scam and Trading Standards Advice

Police Awareness

OpCourage

Internet and telephone help

Social Prescriber referrals

Adult and mental health referrals

Young Carers referrals

Carer First referrals

Age UK referrals

Youth support both locally and nationally

Council signposting

Anglian Water Priority list referrals.


Alford Hub is the registered partner organisation for Alford and for Anglian Water and Trading Standards. 


The Citizen signposting desk is also used by other national organisations who wish to connect with the community. 


Call 01507 464901 Mon- Fri 9am - 12 noon to make an appointment either in person or over the phone.



Alford Hub office is situated above the Library at 5 South Market Place, Alford. Lincolnshire. LN13 9AF


Alford Hub is proud to support the whole county of Lincolnshire.


 Free Prescription Delivery Service

 Alford Hub Provides a FREE prescription delivery service for the housebound in Alford only.

Although the services of Alford Hub cover the whole of Lincolnshire, it is not possible for the volunteers to delivery prescriptions outside of Alford, except in extreme emergency conditions. 

If you need your medication and you are unable to collect yourself, simply give us a call.

All Alford Hub Volunteers wear Identification Badges.

Please note that we are only able to take delivery requests on the day that your prescription needs collection. We are unable to take advance notifications. 

All prescription deliveries are at the discretion of Logistics Coordinator and will depend on the availability of volunteers on the day. 
Telephone or Email

Visit the Virtual Community Centre at www.facebook.com/groups/alfordhub

The VCC is used on the Facebook platform as the virtual notice board but also as a virtual interactive community centre.

Daily virtual Toddler Time sessions - You can join in, with your toddler from the comfort of your own home. These sessions are led by one of our volunteers who is a qualified teacher and author, who brings stories and songs to life. Each session has an educational thread running through it, so that learning can be fun! This takes place within our virtual "ROOM" tab. Simply press join and your will join the session via video chat.

Weekly virtual Knit and Natter sessions - You don't have to knit or natter to join in. You are quite welcome just to be present and enjoy the company. This takes place within our virtual "ROOM" tab. Simply press join and your will join the session via video chat. This session is led by volunteer Admin, who facilitates the session and keeps the conversation flowing. This has been a great source of comfort for many, whilst in lockdown and for those living on thier own.

Weekly Coffee and Chat sessions - Bring your own cuppa (biscuits optional!) This is a great way to make new friends, have a laugh and forget the worries of the day. This takes place within our virtual "ROOM" tab. Simply press join and your will join the session via video chat. This session is led by volunteer Admin, who facilitates the session and keeps the conversation flowing. This has been a great source of comfort for many, whilst in lockdown and for those living on thier own.

Daily Support Posts - Every morning the Admin on duty will open a support thread, where you can ask for help, request a prescription collection or ask a question. The Admin will either answer you, or signpost you on to someone who will be able to help you further. If you ask for help or a prescription delivery, then the Admin on duty will contact you privately through messenger to comply with our Safeguarding proceedures. We ask that you never share your address or personal details on the main thread under any circumstances.

Daily Question of the Day - This conversation post is a firm favourite amongst our members, as it gives you a chance to interact with members of the community. The questions could be anything from " What was your favourite toy as a child?" to the weekly  sharing of your favourite photographs.  It is a policy of the Hub that every post on this thread receives a response by the Admin on duty, so that everyone is valued for their contribution.

Free Webinars - From time to time, we invite national charities to lead free webinars, which we feel would be of interest to our community. We have covered subjects like Benefits, Debt Management, Budgeting and Financial Help.

Basic Computer Skills - We will be running internet and basic computer training sessions, to help you get the most out of your computer or smart phone.

Virtual Job Fayre - We currently have a "JOB VACANCY UNIT"  which promotes local job vacancies free of charge. Alford Hub will also host virtual job fayres from time to time.

Information - All the latest national and regional government, NHS and third party information is shared on the page. All the information has been verified from a trusted source.

Local Information - Alford Hub also keeps you up to date with local community group news and information.

Shops and Businesses - During a national or local lockdown, we keep you up to date with the delivery services available in Alford and the surrounding areas. We also will advise if there is a problem with a service in town, so that you don't make a wasted journey.

Local Services - We work closely with the local schools, youth groups, foodbank, doctors, pharmacy, churches and Alford Town Council. We share information and can signpost you on to the services that they provide.

We currently have nearly 1,500 members on the facebook VCC and we have had 41,890 interactions to date, since March 2020.

If you would like to join the group and you are unsure how to use it, please contact us and we will be more than happy to send a volunteer to socially distanct to teach you. We will be hosting training sessions, when we are permitted to meet in groups. These will be held in Alford.




Community Crisis Response

The COVID-19 Pandemic has highlighted a need to community based Crisis Response Teams, who are trained and will provide a measured response.

Many of the Alford Hub Coordinators, Trustees and Volunteers are trained in crisis response either through distaster management or working in the Armed Forces or Emergeny Services.

The Alford Hub Coordinator, work closely with the County Emergency Centre in Lincoln and the Resilience Teams, to ensure that the Alford Hub Volnteers are up to date with community emergency response training.

Being prepared for the worst, whilst hoping for the best ensures that the Crisis response can be deployed at short notice.

It is hoped when restrictions allow, that all Alford Hub Volunteers will be offered and have completed Crisis Response Training by the end of 2021.

Commnity Crisis Response works alongside the Emergency Services,County Level Response Teams, Alford Town Council, ELDC and LCC, with local knowledge and people- power. It does not replace or detract from the statutory emergency response.

Information Hub

Information is only useful, when it can be understood.
Muriel Cooper

We live in a world where we are constantly bombared with information, through multiple television channels, the internet, radio and social media.
Unfortunately, not all the information is genuine and when information gets passed from one person to another so freely, it can become distorted.

If there are any major changes to policies regarding COVID-19. Members of public can ask the Alford Hub Coordinator or the Admin on duty for further information.
The Hub Coordinator will then seek the answer on your behalf from people who hold the answers.

This often means asking the question at Government level or within the relevant NHS department. Clarification will be published if they affect the whole community or personal contact will be made, if it affects only the person enquiring.


Alford Hub prides itself on being the official virtual noticeboard for Alford and the surrounding areas.
This means that the Hub Coordinator is the main point of contact at Alford Hub for local and national government, charities, local schools and doctors and other third party organisations, to send their information to.

All the information is verified before it is shared on this website and on the virtual community centre at www.facebook.com/groups/alfordhub  or signpiosted on to local agencies.

It is also vital that any information posted by members of the Alford Hub Admin Team also shows the name of the person who posted it. This is so you the reader, knows straight away that the post is genuine and has come from a trusted source.

Alford Hub work closely with Alford Town Council and other community leaders, to ensure the sharing of local information on the Hub which is of benefit to the residents.


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