NAZ DURING COVID-19
The impact of COVID–19 on us as an organisation and on our service users became very clear in the first week of the lockdown. The casework team spoke with 301 service users living with HIV in under 72 hours who were all extremely worried about the likelihood of self-isolation and loss of income, which in turn created great anxiety. There is anxiety around long term housing and the impact this would have on their economic ability to provide for themselves and dependants inside and outside the UK.
Since the lockdown, NAZ has been actively supporting the immediate needs of clients; providing food, referrals, advice on welfare and benefits. This has been a crucial service for clients who do not have English as a first language or are not confident accessing benefits for themselves. The intensity of 1:2:1 support has been profound. Our early data shows there are differential impacts of the lockdown among our HIV positive, LGBT, migrant, refugee and women clients.
“…this has been a tremendous help. I have no job, I have four children, I have been struggling since the lockdown and your help providing me with this food on a regular basis has been a godsend. Bless you. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Without your help I don’t know what I would have done, I am really struggling.”
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Male client, PLWHIV, East London
COVID SERVICES
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Weekly food and toiletries drop off
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Case support to access funds, benefits and housing.
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Open Mic – Call and speak to us about what’s on your mind.
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Counselling service – Free counselling service.
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Campaigning – Making sure key stakeholders are aware of the impact of COVID-19 on our communities and are held to account on how they respond.
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Each week, NAZ provides culturally-specific food and essential services to NAZ clients and to the wider community.
Thank you very much to Willesden Pakistani Community Centre, Brent Mosque, Muslim Hands and the Adventist Development Relief Agency (A.D.R.A.) for your help in supporting the weekly, culturally appropriate food drop to clients across London.