• Project Date: March 2, 2020
• Project Duration: On going
• Funded By: Various

Tees Valley Rural Action has been parenting East Cleveland Good Neighbours, a group of likeminded community members who began by wanting find ways to support their local community in a practical way.

From the start of the COVID-19 pandemic Tees Valley Rural Action has been parenting East Cleveland Good Neighbours, a group of likeminded community members who began by wanting to find ways to support their local community in a practical sense during the crisis and beyond.

The group formed in March 2020 and have made a real contribution to lives of the children, young people, and adults in East Cleveland, across the 13 rural communities and the surrounding areas of East Cleveland:

Boosbeck, Brotton, Carlin How, Charltons, Dunsdale, Easington, Lingdale, Liverton, Liverton Mines, Loftus, Margrove Park, Skelton and Skinningrove.

Throughout the pandemic the group rallied an army of 180 volunteers and created a positive social media space of over 2.4K members which gave hope to so many during these difficult times. Facebook East Cleveland Good Neighbours

What did the team of volunteers do from April 2020 until April 2021?

A Helpline available 7 days a week 9am-6pm – providing a network of support for the East Cleveland community and making referrals to specialist services. Received and actioned 1800 phone calls.

A Foodbank prepared and delivered 7 days a week emergency food parcels and care packages. Delivered 720 Food Parcels.

Provided 70 freshly cooked, nutritious two course meals to our isolated community members 3 times per week. Delivered 11,00 meals to 242 registered residents. 

110 Bakers’ treats per week were delivered across the East Cleveland villages to those who isolated individuals giving an opportunity to carry out well fair check. Delivered to 431 residents.

Chemist and prescription support for those who are elderly, shielding and isolating. Collected and delivered 400+.

Mail and odd jobs for the community 27 jobs undertaken.

Friendly advice and information calls Received 559 calls.

Events to support community spirit and sense of belonging to East Cleveland.  Examples such as 200 sunflower kits, 300 Easter Eggs delivered to frontline staff, VE day saw 300 residents receive an afternoon tea, a Christmas Toy drive saw over 200 families receive support with age-appropriate toys and 50 families joined in our Teddy Bears’ picnic goodie bags and virtual party. The list is truly endless.

The group have built strong partnerships across the VCSE and local communities to achieve their ambition and work closely with our partners to ‘connect communities’ together, to share skills and break down social barriers.

They have been funded and supported by many organisations: East Cleveland Villages Big Local, Ward Councillors’ funding, Co-Op Community Fund, Together Middlesbrough & Cleveland – Feast of Fun, Saltburn Rotary Club, MFC Foundation, to name a few.

Tees Valley Rural Action will continue to support the group by providing accountancy, support with funding applications and managing volunteers until they reach their next step in the journey to becoming an independent constituted group and their work and efforts will continue long into the future.