HNCC and coronavirus

See also: Coronavirus Outbreak

Highgate Newtown Community Centre shuts services but opens crisis centre
17 March, 2020 — By Dan Carrier

The Highgate Newtown Community Centre has shut all of its services for people in the neighbourhood – and is planning to relocate on to the Whittington Estate, Dartmouth Park Hill, and set up a crisis centre in the Tenants and Residents Associations office.

Centre director Andrew Sanalitro told the New Journal that staff and volunteers have been told they could no longer run their range of classes, workshops and get togethers – so were now concentrating on helping the vulnerable in the Highgate Newtown area.

He said: “We are relocating there and the staff will be on new, pay-as-you-go phones so people can contact them. We are going to run a system of shopping for older people, topping up gas and electricity keys, getting newspapers – and making sure no one feels they are left on their own.”

The centre has also applied for a grant to set up a dedicated meals on wheels service, delivering hot food for those unable to cook. Schools in the neighbourhood will also be the focus of their aid efforts.

Mr Sanalitro added: “When the schools close – and we have to assume that they will soon – we are working to help children who rely on free hot meals with food parcels. We are looking to help any one who lives in our ward who needs us.”

The New Journal will be publishing contact numbers for the HNCC crisis centre when they are made publicly available, for both volunteers and those who need aid.