We have found new ways to respond to thousands of people seeking support during COVID-19


Adelaide, as well as offering an online chat service. Experienced counsellors have been checking on the mental health and wellbeing of people in isolation and providing counselling support if needed.


The impact of COVID-19 has been immense, and our community still faces challenging times ahead. Fortunately, with the incredible support of donors like you, Uniting Communities has acted swiftly and decisively to provide support where it’s needed.


As you would have read in our COVID-19 update letter, our dedicated team has been hard at work adapting our services to best support community need, whilst also ensuring the safety of our clients, staff and the wider community during COVID-19.


Reaching out by phone has been one of the most important and effective ways to help our community during this time. Since establishing the SA COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line in the first week of April, we have received 1,100 inbound calls and made more than 4,500 calls to more than 3,000 people in hotel quarantine in


Isolation has been particularly hard for many members of our community, especially for older people who have been unable to easily access essential food items.


Our Fresh Meal Delivery Service is going strong, with many people embracing the opportunity to have nutritious meals freshly prepared by Blanco Horner Hospitality delivered directly to their homes. To date, we have delivered over 9,000 meals to more than 200 suburbs across Adelaide.


“


Receiving my delivery is like a ray of sunshine


in isolation,” said one happy client.


Isolation, family and financial pressures means relationships are under pressure more than ever before and sadly, we have seen an increase in domestic violence. Uniting Communities has


Written and produced by Uniting Communities 43 Franklin Street, Adelaide SA 5000


Support during unprecedented times, thanks to you


adapted its service delivery in certain programs to best respond to additional need for Financial Counselling of Financial Counselling, Domestic and Family Violence and Emergency Support Services.


Lifeline has seen a dramatic surge in calls with more than 90,000 calls taken across the network in March and again in April. This is an increase of over 20% and the highest demand levels ever experienced in Lifeline’s 57 years of operation. Now, every 30 seconds, someone is connecting with our Crisis Supporter team concerned about isolation, job losses and lack of connection, and increasingly worried about what the future may hold. Thanks to your ongoing support, our trained Crisis Supporters are there to provide support.


We will continue to look for new and innovative ways to respond to community need and are closely following what’s happening in other states to ensure we remain prepared to support the community in whatever way we can.


Now more than ever, our community needs generous, kind-hearted people like you. Thank you.


Lifeline is answering calls and saving lives


| Ph: 08 8202 5110 | giving@unitingcommunities.com.au


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As COVID-19 began to take hold earlier this year, calls to Lifeline went through the roof. In our 57-year history, the demand was unparalleled.


Lifeline took a call every 30 seconds from someone in desperate need. Calls had already increased after the devastating loss and grief of the summer bushfires across many parts of the country - then as COVID-19 took hold, those calls spiked again, with fear and anxiety around the health risks and then the isolation caused by lockdown.


Last month nationally, the Lifeline network answered 71,000 calls. In Adelaide during August alone, there were more than 70 calls a day. In all, demand for our service is 20-30% higher right now.


Throughout the pandemic period, Lifeline Adelaide has remained open as an essential service. Volunteers continue to give their time to supporting community members in distress, with many increasing their shifts or providing support at requested times to support the network to respond. There has been a significant increase in calls from Victoria, and Lifeline Adelaide has been there to help.


“


So much has happened in our own country and across the world. People are feeling lonely, confused, uncertain and nervous about the future. Our empathy has never been higher. I really value my time with Lifeline. It feels productive and a great way to give back to the


community,” said Lifeline Adelaide volunteer Crisis Supporter, Francesco Forgione.


“While working through these unprecedented times has been challenging, there has been one silver lining: Lifeline has been challenged to move and adapt quickly. We have done so with focus and steadfast commitment to supporting our community,” said Jo, Service Manager at Lifeline Adelaide.


Jo says that the incredible generosity of people like you has made such a difference, allowing positive future planning for training and adapting services.


“Across the network, we continue to look for ways to identify people in our community in urgent need of support. One of our key priorities is recruiting and skilling our teams to answer the tens of thousands of calls and


online chats from people in crisis each year. Thanks to your support we will be able to train more Crisis Supporters, identify our most vulnerable communities and provide them with the interventions, tools and support they need to keep safe,” she said.


Our volunteers support hundreds of people every year, so it is key that we have the funds to continue to expand our volunteer team to meet the needs of the community. Throughout this period, Lifeline Adelaide has had well over 100 applications for new volunteer Crisis Supporters.


“We are so grateful to have seen so many people want to step up to help at this difficult time. We are currently training more than 60 volunteers so that we can continue to support more people experiencing distress.”


With your heartfelt support, Lifeline will continue to be there when needed most. Thank you for your kindness towards fellow South Australians in need.


Thanks to you,


Demand for Lifeline’s crisis support services has never been higher.


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