15th March 2020
Grosvenor Avenue COVID-19 WhatsApp Group
Blog
Join the mirrored Facebook Group
Take the Survey - a few basic questions, all of which are optional. If you haven't taken it already, please do - the answers held build a picture of GA that augment the data at the link below
Grosvenor Avenue Data (I have disabled this link temporarily pending agreement on a better model that doesn't expose the most sensitive aspects to everyone)
WhatsApp only permits a limited description, a limit which I've already bumped up against - so I'm turning to an approach that allows me to write a little more. I think it's important that we agree on how this group should be used and set a few ground rules - I'm open to suggestions, but I'll put a few thoughts down on a strawman basis.
The COVID-19 outbreak is going to impact every one of us in some quite fundamental ways - and no-one is in a position to predict how it's going to unfold. What is clear to me, however, is that some members of our community are particularly vulnerable - the elderly and those already with immunological conditions in particular. I personally feel that we all have a responsibility to support each other, for no other reason than that we live on each others' doorsteps, are best placed to do so and because showing the best of human behaviours feels a lot more comfortable to me than some of the absurdly selfish nonsense that we are all seeing elsewhere. My motivation has no religious context and rests in no more than a belief that we all need to be nice to each other at a time when many are choosing to be quite the opposite. I've arbitrarily chosen to create a group focused on the whole of our road, Grosvenor Avenue; it feels like a sensible number, is relatively manageable and is focused on a small bit of the community to which we all have some natural allegiance. I'd like to think we can get most of the road engaged in due course.
What's the Group For?
Some proposed ground-rules:
You can send a link to this page to your neighbours if you have an email address but no mobile - they can complete the form at the bottom and I will add them to the group, once I have confirmed their status. I will publish this page on local facebook groups to widen awareness, but will not add anyone to the group until I am happy they live in our road
I will try and map the degree of coverage we manage in time, so we can be clear on gaps - which might represent those most in need. If the degree of engagement warrants it, I will publish the roadmap with names and house numbers, but not mobiles. I will not publish anything outside of the WhatsApp group, nor without allowing individuals the right to not be named. We will not get the whole road in here I am sure - but I would like to ensure that we attempt to involve everyone who wants to do something positive in this hugely challenging situation. To that end, please do add your neighbours and direct them to the description in WhatsApp (which links to this page). No-one has to stay if they don't want to.
timfg
Join the mirrored Facebook Group
Take the Survey - a few basic questions, all of which are optional. If you haven't taken it already, please do - the answers held build a picture of GA that augment the data at the link below
Grosvenor Avenue Data (I have disabled this link temporarily pending agreement on a better model that doesn't expose the most sensitive aspects to everyone)
WhatsApp only permits a limited description, a limit which I've already bumped up against - so I'm turning to an approach that allows me to write a little more. I think it's important that we agree on how this group should be used and set a few ground rules - I'm open to suggestions, but I'll put a few thoughts down on a strawman basis.
The COVID-19 outbreak is going to impact every one of us in some quite fundamental ways - and no-one is in a position to predict how it's going to unfold. What is clear to me, however, is that some members of our community are particularly vulnerable - the elderly and those already with immunological conditions in particular. I personally feel that we all have a responsibility to support each other, for no other reason than that we live on each others' doorsteps, are best placed to do so and because showing the best of human behaviours feels a lot more comfortable to me than some of the absurdly selfish nonsense that we are all seeing elsewhere. My motivation has no religious context and rests in no more than a belief that we all need to be nice to each other at a time when many are choosing to be quite the opposite. I've arbitrarily chosen to create a group focused on the whole of our road, Grosvenor Avenue; it feels like a sensible number, is relatively manageable and is focused on a small bit of the community to which we all have some natural allegiance. I'd like to think we can get most of the road engaged in due course.
What's the Group For?
- To ensure we are all aware of those needing support in Grosvenor Avenue.
- To alert others to our status - if you're self-isolating, let us know. Not compulsory obviously, but it will help us all understand who may need some extra help
- To ask for help - whether that's with shopping, paracetamol, a chat on the phone, whatever
- To offer support where you can - some of us are much better placed than others
Some proposed ground-rules:
- Please don't use the group for general chat - a side-effect of this may be that we all get to know each other a little better, but let's try and keep it to what it exists for please.
- WhatsApp exposes peoples phone numbers. I did think about whether it was the best medium for this reason, but it's prevalently used and doesn't need people to set up accounts etc. Nevertheless, I am very conscious that some people in the group have eg medical skills - and by being a member potentially expose themselves to approaches for medical advice. Please DO NOT take advantage of people's contact details in this way.
- Please avoid posting general information relating to COVID-19 unless 1) it comes from a source that is verified and 2) is genuinely useful to disseminate to the group. I do not want to discourage the posting of useful information but I am very conscious that a lot of 'useful info' is being spammed over social media which, with a few moments googling, turns out to be completely made up. This is a good example - I have seen it several times on Facebook already. It's nonsense.
You can send a link to this page to your neighbours if you have an email address but no mobile - they can complete the form at the bottom and I will add them to the group, once I have confirmed their status. I will publish this page on local facebook groups to widen awareness, but will not add anyone to the group until I am happy they live in our road
I will try and map the degree of coverage we manage in time, so we can be clear on gaps - which might represent those most in need. If the degree of engagement warrants it, I will publish the roadmap with names and house numbers, but not mobiles. I will not publish anything outside of the WhatsApp group, nor without allowing individuals the right to not be named. We will not get the whole road in here I am sure - but I would like to ensure that we attempt to involve everyone who wants to do something positive in this hugely challenging situation. To that end, please do add your neighbours and direct them to the description in WhatsApp (which links to this page). No-one has to stay if they don't want to.
timfg
The form below allows you to request addition to the WhatsApp Group. If you're looking to complete the survey, please click here.