At the beginning of 2020, Highgate Newtown Community Centre (HNCC) was in the midst of change. The organisation itself was about to move into a new community centre, marking a new chapter for the organisation, and was at that point operating its services from six community-based churches in North London.
When lockdown was announced, HNCC was essentially homeless due to construction work to the new community centre being put on hold. However, lack of accommodation didn’t stop the organisation providing for its community.
HNCC made the decision to stay open and create new services. It supported more than 1,000 people in Highgate and the surrounding areas through the three lockdowns of the Covid-19 pandemic. Within a week of all face-to-face services being suspended in March 2020, staff and volunteers had established a Food Bank, Meals on Wheels service, telephone befriending, prescription and shopping collections and support for parents and carers with young children. The ethos was the creation of a service of equals, all of whom can offer help when they are able and ask for help when they need it, providing a lifeline for many vulnerable people.
Through funding from John Lyon’s Charity, HNCC was able to tailor its funding to benefit the needs of the community. HNCC set up a new call centre from scratch to help coordinate operations and employed a new staff team to manage it. Through Meals on Wheels, HNCC sourced, packed, and distributed food parcels and the collection and delivery of medicines, as well as maintained contact with isolating individuals. Throughout lockdown HNCC continued to bring the community together, attracting over 100 local volunteers who generously and tirelessly gave their time for those in need. All operations ran seven days a week to ensure all communities were reached, valued and understood.
Now lockdown is easing, the HNCC’s new community centre is only the beginning. The Community Centre will continue to play a vital role by providing essential support via a range of services within North London, including the new services that evolved out of lockdown.