Project workers, a lifeline to the community

The Afghan Association of London (Harrow) is a charity delivering free confidential and impartial advice and information services to the Afghan community within Harrow.

Overnight the Covid-19 crisis had an enormous impact on the 5000 residents within the Afghan Community.

At the height of the pandemic, the BAME (Black, Asian, Minority and Ethnic) community accounted for 11% of those hospitalised with Covid-19 with over a third hospitalised in critical care units.

The Afghan Association was awarded a grant from Harrow Giving to fund two-part time project workers.

These project workers have been a lifeline to the community – providing an essential befriending service through a fleet of volunteers. They acted as a vital support mechanism helping and supporting people with specific issues, e.g. accessing food, prescriptions and getting help during isolation.

They set up a WhatsApp group to help the community with practical and emotional support. This group became vital as the UK entered lockdown, where many families temporarily closed their businesses or continued to work with the risks posed by Covid-19, like Mahmood.

Mahmood, a father to 3 children, is a taxi driver who, despite the known risks (social distancing is extremely difficult in a taxi), felt compelled to continue work to provide the basic necessities for his family.

He was also particularly anxious as family members were being treated for Covid-19 at Northwick Park Hospital. Mahmood benefited from the befriending service, where they listened to his worries and helped alleviate some of his concerns.

With the exceptional work the Afghan Association of London is undertaking, they estimate they are now reaching 1500 people like Mahmood within the community with their invaluable service.

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