East Bergholt Community Support Update.

Since our first meeting in mid-December the Cost of Living Crisis group has began to get the ball
rolling, there have been a few speed bumps (as to be expected when building a group consisting of
many different people from the ground up).
The group has had three meetings so far, held over Zoom, It has been decided that the name of the
group change from “Cost Of Living Crisis Group” to the “East Bergholt Community Support” the long
term aim will be to slowly formalize in to an official committee with a TOR.
I personally have been incredibly grateful for the support, commitment, enthusiasm and
encouragement this group has received from its members and the village, below will hold show the
upcoming/next steps for the group to take.
NEXT STEPS
-Starting Wednesday 25
th
Jan, the Lion has kindly agreed to open as an afternoon warm space,
offering a free cup of soup & chance for conversation, this will be supported by lion staff and EBCS
Volunteers. (3pm – 5pm)
-every two weeks the CAB will come out to the lion during these afternoons and offer drop-in
sessions for concerned residents of the village.
-A meeting will be held on the 13
th
January with Rev. Steph and Fiona Trott to come up with an
action plan for how the EBCS can support Church initiatives and how EBCS & Volunteers along with
the church can create an additional warm space at St. Mary’s
-A Supply donation drive will commence mid-January, calling for residents to donate any spare
toiletries, blankets, feminine products and pet supplies. Drop off points will be available at, East End
Butchers, Lion & the Primary School. Supplies will be regularly collected by volunteers and brought
to a storage area, there volunteers will create “supply packs” which can be distributed to those most
in need in the village, be available for pick up at the warm spaces and be donated to the churches
“Pantry in the Porch”
-Val James will be meeting with EBCS in Jan for EBCS to offer support for Constable Hall initiatives
and to discuss ways to link/further village support.
-Funding will be requested to the PC/Charities
-an information leaflet (along with a communication plan) will be agreed and printed, volunteers will
distribute leaflets across the village (this will include the work from other services currently active in
the village)
-The WI have added to their Jan agenda and will hope to send a representative to link the WI and
EBCS for future initiatives.
-Current call for volunteers is underway, Volunteers are also reaching out to people in their local
area as “familiar” faces to begin to identify where specific need (if any) is and how can EBCS reach
out.

The next meeting for the EBCS will be held, Tuesday 10
th
January 2023 at 6:30pm, Location will be
the Lambe School, M Hurley will include an update from this meeting when presenting this update
to the EBPC.