Thursday 19 March 2020

Oratory Outreach

One of the realities of the current public health crisis is the effect it has on the most vulnerable in our Oratory family. A large number of elderly and those with health conditions will have to self isolate, a number of whom will not have a family support network to hand. Much of the provision for homeless people in Oxford has been required to cease and such people are hungry and more in need that usual.

A number of people have asked if the Oratory can co-ordinate a response to these problems and so on an ad-hoc basis for the time being we are launching ‘Oratory Outreach’. We need your help to make this happen.
At present we need volunteers for the following activities:

Breakfast Run

Street Activity
Mon - Fri from 8:00am. This run serves hot drinks and breakfast items to those on the streets.
3-4 volunteers. Volunteers can help with delivery or simply making up supplies in the kitchen.

Sandwich or Soup Making

At the Oratory
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun afternoons. Making up sandwiches for up to 20 people to be distributed. Possibly making soup to distribute as well.
3-4 volunteers.

Soup Run

Street Activity
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun from 6:00pm. This run serves hot drinks, sandwiches or soup to those on the street.
3-4 volunteers. Volunteers can help with delivery or simply making up supplies in the kitchen.

Phone Support

Volunteer from Home
As needed. Keeping in touch with those self-isolating to check-in or offer assistance. Needs can then be referred to the team if necessary.
No limit to volunteer numbers.

Shopping / Pharmacy pick-ups

Out-and-about
As needed. Doing shopping or collecting prescriptions and delivering them.
No limit to volunteer numbers.

If you would like to volunteer your time please sign up here: volunteering sign-up form.

If you know of someone in need, please give us their details here: referral of someone in need form.

Those helping and those we serve at home must be parishioners of the Oratory, and their need must be because of the present crisis. We are sadly unable to help others at present.

For more information or if you have any questions please contact our team leaders at outreach@oxfordoratory.org.uk.