By Tamu Samaj UK
Tamu Samaj UK is a charitable organization formed in 2007 and was registered with the Charity Commission on December 2012. Our Executive members, trustee members, life members and volunteers are primarily from the Nepalese community. The organisation has launched numerous humanitarian projects to deliver public benefits. Last year we organised a National Lottery Funded project which aimed to bring people together to help address the issues of isolation. Aside from charitable projects, the organisation has also hosted cultural programmes and entertainment activities throughout the years to bring people together.
The key objective of the organisation is to address poverty among the minority and migrated groups and provide various sources of advice, support and essential skills to integrate them to the British society.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tamu Samaj UK has worked hard and swiftly to ensure that all our members remain safe. This is an unprecedented time and we’re doing our utmost to ensure that our members understand the guidance and procedures that put in place by the Government and NHS. Recently we received a fund from the National Lottery Community Fund to support our community members affected by COVID-19. We would like to give a big thank to National Lottery fund for this financial assistance. The Tamu Samaj UK also raising fund from it’s members to cover the unexpected cost of Community.
We have a dedicated team of 14 members of volunteers, Mr Shivachandra Gurung (President), Mr Shiva Kumar Gurung (Vice President) Mr Harka Bahadur Gurung (Gen Secretary) Mr Yam Bahadur Gurung (Treasurer) Mr Chitra Bahadur Gurung (Founder President and adviser) Mrs Bindu Ghale (Chairperson of Mother Group) Mr Suresh Ghale (Member) Mrs Meera Gurung (first lady/ Member) Mr Gyan Bahadur Gurung(Adviser) Mr Arjun Kumar Gurung(former President /Adviser ), Mr Kanya Prasad Gurung (Vice President) Mr Khem Bahadur Gurung (Com-Member), Mr Amrit Gurung (Member) and Mr Karna Bahadur Gurung(Adviser). This COVID-19 support team are providing key services to community members in different ways, especially to the vulnerable members of our community. We have started providing the supports to the community members who are self-isolated and in a difficult situation in the current crisis.
Following funding from National Lottery Community Fund, we used the money to provide a safety net for our most elderly community members. To protect the most vulnerable people, we provided essential safety items such as face mask, sanitiser, anti-bacterial wipes and hand wash liquid. To ensure our community members has all the necessary information regarding COVID-19 to protect themselves, we provided English to Nepalese translated clinical awareness guide.
Our volunteers are in the front line of the community to provide moral support and deliver essential items during this outbreak. Our team of 14 volunteers are available to help and discuss any specific needs to those who require our services. The affected community members, especially those in self-isolation can request the help directly from our executive members. As of today, our volunteers have provided several of these COVID-19 support services to 56 houses. With full backing of Tamu Samaj UK, this team will continue to work during this difficult time and support anyone who needs help.
Through this Covid-19 support team’s work, we found that most of our elderly members were in good health and well looked after by their immediate families. With few elderly members reporting minor illness, they are being closely monitored and regularly contacted to ensure they have access to appropriate services that is provided by Tamu Samaj UK and the NHS.
We would like to thank the volunteers for their selfless support during this difficult time and the ‘National Lottery Community Fund for providing funding for this essential service. We also encourage our volunteers to provide friendly supports or suggestions to get through this pandemic as a community.
Tamu Samaj UK will continue to monitor and support their members during this COVID -19 lockdown.
