Cloudesley Association – May 2020 Update
Hope you are all keeping well in these uncertain times and thank you to all our neighbours who are abiding by the government’s guidelines.
It has been about two months and most of us will have settle into a routine but below are a few tips that might help.
Islington support
Are you struggling to cope at the moment, or concerned about a friend or neighbour?
If you or someone you know needs support, then help is available. Islington Council, voluntary sector and mutual aid groups are working together to provide support. This could include help with getting food or medicine, online group activities, legal advice or a friendly phone conversation.
You can contact the organisations directly or call the We are Islington helpline on 020 7527 8222 or minicom on 020 7527 1900. Lines are open every day from 9am to 5pm. For British Sign Language (BSL), use Signvideo. Lines are open Monday - Friday from 9am to 5pm, Saturday from 9am to 1pm, Sunday closed.
You can also email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
You can also get in touch with our local councillor, Rowenna Champion: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Looking after your well-being
These are uncertain times and we will all react differently. If you find you are struggling a bit, you are not alone and there are resources out there to help, so do reach out.
Try https://mentalhealth-uk.org/help-and-information/covid-19-and-your-mental-health/
The NHS has a page dedicated to mental health: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-staying-at-home-tips/
Helping others
The Union Chapel has become a COVID-19 community emergency response hub for those most in need on North London. They are raising money through crowdfunding and have raised already £42,611 out of their £50,000 target! see https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/union-chapel-needs-you?dm_i=4UJH,C7EH,OSSWC,1D4WI,1 if you are able to support their cause.
There is also a charity collection of clothes, toiletries, food and books by Under OneSky https://www.underonesky.cc organised at the Margin Project at the Union Chapel. Drop off are Monday-Thursday 10-12m at the back entrance of the Chapel on Compton Avenue.
Although websites have been provided below, the instragram or facebook pages are usually more up-to-date. Best thing to do is to search for your favourite venue, artists etc. on facebook and instragram and you might be surprised and find out an artist is doing live performances for instance, or that restaurant you liked now does deliveries.
Fresh Food and Delectables
Rollo from the farmers market is delivering food to N1 on Sundays. These must be ordered on-line. If you are missing the lovely Isle of White tomatoes for instance, you can have this delivered straight to your door or, since last Sunday, picked-up from 15 Canonbury Lane between 10am and 4pm on Sundays only. This includes vegetable box, asparagus, eggs, butter, olives, coffee, fruits, flour with more produce added regularly. Have a look at https://www.nourishedcommunities.com. They will also send you a lovely newsletter with some community news.
Steve Hatt, the fishmonger on Essex Road does collection. You ring them on 020 7226 3963 the day before to place your order. When its ready they will call you, take payment over the phone and you go and collect to the shop without needing to queue. Their facebook page is more up-to-date than their website and you will not be limited to the fish listed on their website.
Still looking for flour? Middletons Delicatessen on Amwell Street has some lovely Wessex Mill bread flour. Although bit further out but still walkable or cyclable distance away: the Spence bakery in Stoke Newington and Tufnell Park sells flour and yeast. http://www.thespence.co.uk. These things change though so best check before setting off.
Meal delivery / collection
• Leon has developed a ‘feed britain’ programme: https://feedbritain.com/ for vegetable / salad box and ready meal including a vegan option.
• Cote Brasserie has developed ‘Cote at Home’: https://coteathome.co.uk, for something a bit fancier. And Salut! on Essex Road also does a three course meal delivery.
• More local, ’the Alpaca’ next to Steve Hatt on Essex Road operates as an off-license and makes chilled meal to make at home: https://www.thealpaca.co.uk
• Fancy a different cuisine: Delhi Grill on Chapel Market and Zaffrani on Cross Street do collections, and also delivery. Gallipoli has opened their windows to collections.
• A bit further afield but a nice walk away, The Scolt Head in De Beauvoir has set-up 'frozen glory' that also offers ready meals, as well as mini kegs of beers and ice creams. https://www.thescolthead.co.uk
• Or check the following article for more: https://www.hot-dinners.com/Features/Hot-Dinners-recommends/best-feed-delivery-takeaway-takeout-islington-highbury-holloway and keep an eye out as more ‘open' regularly.
Exercise
Everyone will know about PE with Joe that’s available on Youtube live at 9am Monday to Friday.
Online Pilates: Karmen Pirh does short videos to follow on YouTube including a 15 min. stress relief routine and a 15 min killer ab workout. Go onto Youtube and search for Karmen Pirh. There are loads more by many people and if you know of any to recommend, let us know and we can add this onto the website version afterwards.
Culture
Quite a few organisations have developed on-line programmes:
Check out BBC Culture in Quarantine: https://www.bbc.co.uk/arts there is loads on there including a ‘draw along’ every Wednesday with Pete McKee and a ‘Meet and Make’, dance, music, theatre, interviews and documentaries. Missing a bit of nature, they had a programme on sheep gathering in the lake district. There is really something for everyone.
The Royal Albert Hall has set up the ‘Royal Albert Home’ with performance streamed from artists’ home from across the world.
To bring a bit of Spring into our lives, especially for those without a garden or who might not be able to venture out: The Royal Botanical Garden in Edinburgh is posting videos of the garden: https://www.rbge.org.uk/visit/virtual-spring/virtual-spring/
Our Website
We update our website at www.cloudesleyassociation.org on a fairly regular basis with articles about the area, past and present. For example, check out this new article about the history of Barnsbury: https://www.cloudesleyassociation.org/cloudesley-history/places/251-how-barnsbury-was-built. And feel free to add comments - we’re always interested in learning more.
And finally, remember to be vigilant for fraudsters. The following website gives some tips: www.takefive-stopfraud.org.uk
These are only a few of the many available resources. If you wish to share your favourite one, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will add it to the list.
As ever, if you know of any neighbour who is not on the Cloudesley Association e mail distribution list, please pass this e mail on and/or ask them to provide me with their contact details (to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) so that they can be kept in the loop.
Amanda and Florence
On behalf of
The Cloudesley Association
(email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
(website: www.cloudesleyassociation.org)
