Page 23 - br-may-2020

May 2020 May 2020
BERECONNECT - COVID19
VIRTUAL ON LINE QUIZ

I have been asked BereConnect Easter Update
to tell you about our
virtual on line quiz This is a summary of where we are with the main elements of BereConnect, the
whilst in lockdown. Bere Regis community response mechanisms we managed to put in place three
weeks ago, just as the Government announced the restrictions we are all living
under.
Since October 2014
we have held a regular quiz night once a month in The Drax Arms on first Thursday BereConnect Volunteers. There are now about 50 volunteers in the group, all being
of the month. They have always been fun and well supported so I thought why coordinated by Brenda House, who are collecting and delivering prescriptions,
cancel it just because we cannot go to the pub. The quiz is always free to enter doing shopping trips for those who are in self-isolation and connecting as Buddies
and there is no prizes. It is just for fun. to people in isolation. Actually, the demand for shopping trips was a bit less than
we anticipated, possibly because most people very sensibly enlisted the help of
So at the end of March 2020, after a few trials on Facebook (FB), I worked out good neighbours and friends. If you need some shopping done, or some fetching
how to do a live stream via Drax Arms' FB page. The live stream meant I could be and carrying, don’t hesitate to get in touch. The volunteers are eager to help. Call
seen and heard so I could read out the questions but I couldn't hear any one Brenda on 471255
listening. However there is a text box which people could use to communicate
with me by typing their comments. I could give out the answers and the BereConnect Food Bank is operating out of the Drax Hall. It has been stocked with
attendees then marked their own answers. At the end of the quiz I would then purchases made possible by the Emergency Fund. It is supplying a number of
collect the final scores and share with others. families on a regular basis. Any food or household or sanitary product donations
will be gratefully received in the boxes at the Drax Hall and by the Church porch.
At 8pm when we showed our appreciation for the NHS the on line attendees got After Easter there will be a box in the Spar shop, with thanks to Mike Moorse. If you
the dubious benefit of me playing the trombone. I even played happy birthday
to Dean Merritt! There was also a handy lesson on how to make a mask out of an need a food parcel, email popinplace@gmail.com or phone 472023.
A4 plastic envelope and a pair of glasses ( which i admit wasn't very successful). BereConnect Emergency Fund. The appeal has raised £5125. Over £700 has so far
been disbursed as loans and to buy food for the food bank. If you are in financial
It was such a success on 2nd April I had over 50 people come on line. About 15 distress, email bereconnect@outlook.com in complete confidence.
teams and/or individuals did the quiz. Some people just popped in on line to see
what was going on and just watched. One person said she felt like she had BereConnect Buddy Scheme. If you are feeling
actually gone to the pub. There were teams made up of families, friends and isolated and want to connect by telephone with
neighbours without breaking guidance on social separation. The geographical a friendly voice, call Liz on 471878 or 07956 914075
spread had attendees as far north as Stockport (somewhere north of Blandford I The Give What You Can, Take What You Need box
think!),as well as Gloucester and as far south as Cornwall plus over the border in is in regular use, outside the school. Please
Somerset. It was possible to form teams using apps such FB watch party,
continue to top it up, and take from it. I noticed a
WhatsApp and Zoom.us.
bottle of wine in there a few days ago!
As I write this article I am now planning our third quiz in April. It turned in to a Finally, and most importantly, If you know of
weekly event. Hopefully we will be allowed out again soon as I am running out of anybody you think might need help, please don’t
questions.
hesitate to contact any of us so that we can get
I would like to thank Sue Stone who has helped to write the questions. in touch with them

Keep safe and well. Hopefully we will be on the other side of this lockdown when
this article is published.
Pip

78 23