Thursday 22nd August saw the opening of the long awaited Purfleet Community Pantry, on the Garrison Estate in Purfleet-on-Thames. There has been a huge amount of hard work and commitment from local volunteers, Thurrock Council, the Purfleet on Thames Community Forum, The Peabody Trust and Thurrock CVS to open this pantry, which will make a massive difference to the local community. The volunteers have gone above and beyond to make this happen and are an inspiration to us all.
Sarah Kimble, Thurrock Community Health Champion said “Part of my role as their CHC has been to support the residents with anything Health and Wellbeing related. Whilst I have helped out with various tasks to do with the panty opening date I have been working on building relationships and listening to their needs.
We came up with a list of services which would benefit the community and possible satellite clinics. Eg oral health, sexual health, health checks, speech and language, diabetes checks and Nature on Prescription which will be local to residents at the RSPB.
With these in mind–
- I have managed to get all the volunteers onsite training with the oral health team so they are now able to tell others about how to access dentist and good oral health practices.
- I have been working specifically with one family on accessibility to speech and language therapies. I have listened and informed the service leads on how restricted some families are when they rely on public transport to access these clinics. I am pleased to say that the number 22 bus will be re starting its route through Purfleet soon and will enable access to South Ockendon. And the family have been able to get an appointment in Grays which is accessible by train.
- I have been in touch with Brook Sexual Health services and they have advised us on how we can start training on C-Card and lube to be accessible in the panty or community hub.
- I mentioned Purfleet at the Integrated Locality Team meetings, explaining how health and wellbeing deprived they are, and hope that it will be considered for satellite clinics in the near future so this under resourced community has improved facilities.
My work in Purfleet on the Garrison Estate is ongoing and I am privileged to see how this community has pulled together and made a difference not only to individuals but also taken ownership of their neighbourhood“.
