Can NEST help you? The amazing charity that supports vulnerable people in Tendring.

NEST was founded during my role within the fire service. I was an active firefighter, crew and watch manager for over 36 years, but am now sadly far too old and grey for active duties. For choice of words, cast aside like a well worn wellington boot 😂. During retirement, I chose to volunteer within the local community. I have now taken the lead as a community safeguarding officer. This involves following up on concerns raised by firefighters, ambulance personnel, police and members of the public. My role involves me visiting hoarders, people with dementia, children with problems, victims of domestic abuse, people with vulnerabilities including mental health issues, end of life.

Initially I visit with the eyes of an experienced firefighter, looking at fire safety and prevention. I will then consider how support from the community may be beneficial, source funding to support deep cleans, or hoarding clearance, talk to children and signpost to opportunities to change lives and create safer and better living conditions for the most vulnerable within our community.

I have built a huge portfolio of organisations, charities, teams and individuals within the community I can call on to help.

Some years ago I had a call to visit a family in Clacton. Whilst checking the property, I was allowed to look into the children's bedroom. I noticed that there were clothes, paper, broken toys, crisp and sweet wrappers all over the floor. There were also 3 single quilts, none had quilt covers, all were threadbare, old and filthy. Most shockingly, they did not have any beds.

When I spoke to Mum she was totally unapologetic and said that as a single mum with a unsupportive father, she could not feed her children without the support of food banks and relatives. Her children were loved, clean and happy. Beds she said, were well down her list of priorities. 

I should have reported this to social care, but this action would have caused a loving and struggling mother to have a lot of stress and panic. It would not have put beds under these children.

I went home that evening and put on Facebook that I had found a struggling family where there were no beds for the children and requested any donations. Within 20 minutes, I had three clean preloved single beds, new bedding, pillows and mattress covers. I collected all the next day and delivered them to a very grateful and happy family. I was also able to sign post them to other charities and family support.

Two weeks later I visited an elderly couple living in Walton on the Naze. The gentleman was in late stage palliative care, his wife and carer had late stage dementia. She would wander all night leaving the door to their flat open and sleep on the sofa all day.

They did already have beds with quilts because the flat was so cold. A look under the quilts revealed that the beds were filthy, wet and stained with urine and faeces. 

Once again Facebook came good and new beds and  better bedding were quickly provided. I was also able to get support from the local church the couple frequented earlier in life and social care arranged a care package to further support.

It was these stories and many more similar that inspired the creation of NEST.

NEST consistently gives around 200 beds a year to children and babies sleeping on mattresses on the floor. For adults in need we collect donated clean, preloved beds, chests of drawers, bedding, towels, tea towels (there are families within our community drying themselves on a tea towel) crockery, cutlery, saucepans, toasters, kettles, microwaves. We never ever charge everything we give to people completely free of charge.

During lockdown we were incredibly busy. NEST prepared, cooked and delivered over 7,000 meals to elderly housebound vulnerable people in our local community. More importantly, we knocked on 7,000 doors with a cheery "Hello how are you"  to those most isolated during this period. We followed up with safeguarding visits where necessary.

We provided hot meals for families struggling without free school meals. This gesture developed into the Slow Cooker Club, where we gave a free, new slow cooker, weekly recipes and all the ingredients to cook a wholesome meal for their families for 6 weeks.

This has grown so much that we have now provided Slow Cooker Club to over 300 families across North Essex.

We also run a similar scheme for housebound, vulnerable elderly people. We provide a small slow cooker with freshly prepared beef, chicken or vegetable casseroles. This allows carers to pop a casserole into the slow cooker on a morning visit and then serve a homemade, wholesome meal with fresh meat and fresh vegetables on their afternoon visit .

At the start of winter, we collect, sort and display new and pre-loved winter clothing, shoes, boots, socks, hats, gloves and bedding.

We set up pop up shops, over a 5 day period, in Harwich, Clacton and Colchester. From here, people are invited to browse and pick what they need and are welcome to take as much as they want COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE.

Last year, we collected, sorted and gave away over 25,500 items of clothing and bedding.

Nest provides a free service to support those leaving hospital. We will relocate furniture from upstairs to down, create space for palliative care beds and space for any hospital equipment maybe required. This allows people to spend the remainder in their own home surrounded by those they love.

We regularly provide money or food to support people in crisis situations.

We collect and pass on mobility products, walking aids, rise and fall recliners, even on several occasions mobility scooters.

We pass on brand new warm indoor clothing, onesies, pyjamas, socks, hats, thermal underwear, blankets to families and vulnerable elderly people unable to heat their homes.

Finally, who is Les?...

 I am a large 72 year old Grandad with a face that reflects 56 years of playing rugby, battered limbs, missing teeth and crooked fingers.

I am also the proud owner of nearly 700 new and pre loved prom dresses and 150 boys suits. Children from poor families cannot afford to attend their prom and some working families get into debt, having borrowed money to buy their child's outfit.. Every year we set up prom dress shows. In church halls and community centres we display prom dresses, suits, shoes, handbags and bling. These events are held across North Essex. Teenagers and their families are encouraged to come along, choose, try on and take away their prom outfits. All clothes are gifts and as such are completely free.

This year we held 4 events and happily gave away over 500 dresses, and 150 prom suits. Children are more than welcome to keep their outfit or hand it to someone else that may be in need the following year.

When I was a serving firefighter I believed I had the greatest Job in the world. The bells would ring, the crews would slide down the pole and jump in the fire engine, to the fire We would put the fire out. We would stop the situation from getting any worse to peoples relief.

Nowadays, working within the local community has it's similarities. The dis-stress calls will come in by email, telephone or letter. My firefighters are social workers, charity workers, health workers, community agents or simply wonderful community volunteers. We attend situations and stop circumstances from getting any worse. We listen, advise and guide people to solutions. Where possible we will take direct action ourselves, wherever permitted. We turn tears into smiles :)

How lucky am I to work within and support our local  Tendring community? 

NEST was set up to allow direct, efficient action. We pride ourselves, with our network of likeminded charities, to be able to offer immediate support to those in need.