The ‘Bexley Box’ has taken off across the borough. Large and small local businesses have made generous donations, joining residents, staff and Councillors all hoping to make a difference to elderly housebound vulnerable adult residents this Christmas.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Baroness O’Neill of Bexley OBE announced the Bexley Box winter project for 2024 earlier this month and already the donations are flooding in.
The project has been established to try to address some of the impacts of the Government's Winter Fuel payment withdrawal. Approximately 34,000 older residents in Bexley are set to lose the annual Winter Fuel Payment.
Large donations have been received so far from Erith Group, Capita, Cory and Countrystyle Recycling. Schools and local community groups have offered their help and are spreading the word among pupils, parents and clients,
Councillors and staff have stepped up and donated goods ready to help fill the Bexley Boxes that will start rolling out before Christmas.
Leader of the London Borough of Bexley, Cllr Baroness O’Neill of Bexley OBE said:
Many of the Bexley pensioners that have missed out on the Winter Fuel Payment this year are fortunate enough to be active and we hope that they will be making the most of the warm spaces set up around the borough to help reduce the cost of heating their homes during the day. Others will have the support they need in place and have family and friends to rely on.
Then there are those older residents who are not able to get out and about anymore, who rely on services that come into their homes or who may go for long periods of time without seeing a friendly face. We are hoping that the Bexley Box will help them to remember that they are an important part of our community and that they are not forgotten.I have been reaching out to our local partners and organisations to see if they are able to help us provide a little something special to our most vulnerable residents during this winter and I can honestly say I have been overwhelmed by the response.
Those that can’t help have offered alternatives or have directed us to someone who can. We have had donations ranging from tins of soup and packets of biscuits to gloves and Christmas cakes.
My heartfelt thanks go to everyone who has contributed so far. It just goes to show how we operate in Bexley. I know from the Covid experience just how much our residents and local groups step up when we really need them and this has been another great example of that. There is still time to donate and we would welcome any donations big or small.”
The Bexley Boxes will be filled with essentials such as porridge, tinned goods, scarves, hats and warm socks, as well as a list of useful contacts and winter wellbeing advice and a festive treat.
Local community contacts including doctor surgeries and local groups have been helping to make the links with residents so that as many housebound elderly residents people as possible benefit from a Bexley Box.
If you would like to get involved in the scheme or if you or someone you know would like to receive a Bexley Box, please email bexleybox@bexley.gov.uk or call 020 8187 7613.
Anyone can donate items to go inside the boxes at the Civic Offices or at one of our six Council-run libraries. Find out more about what donations are needed.
Winter advice, including information on warm spaces and local support, can be found on the cost of living page and in the latest edition of the Bexley Magazine that has been delivered across the borough.