Tag: support

Members mainly offer to do the shopping or go to the chemist, less often to look after children, walk a dog or drive someone, or even to lend a room to border carers to avoid having to travel, Keystone-ATS' regional offices found.

Posters in the canton of Vaud

In the canton of Vaud, posters are also springing up offering to put one's name down to help an elderly person in a practical way. While there are a number of individual initiatives, it is above all the Pro Senectute organisation that has launched the "Stronger Together" concept.

"The idea is for people to show their solidarity and be available in a building to help a senior citizen," explains Tristan Gratier, President of Pro Senectute Vaud. The association's 600 volunteers in Vaud have put up several thousand of these posters, particularly in the canton's solidarity villages and neighbourhoods.

On social networks, many sharing initiatives are springing up, particularly for families and childcare.

Cyclists mobilised

A number of support groups have sprung up on Facebook in the canton of Neuchâtel. The Solidarité neuchâteloise group, the largest, has over 3,000 members. Originally set up to support parents and children, the page receives many proposals for transport or food purchases.

The self-employed are also mobilising: a petition to save Neuchâtel's businesses has already collected more than 1,500 signatures online in less than two days.

In Neuchâtel's capital, the Black Office, which normally helps private individuals repair or maintain their bicycles, is offering to deliver books from a local bookshop and goods from a cooperative of regional producers free of charge by bike from Wednesday.

Gestures for rents

In Martigny (VS), patron Léonard Gianadda has decided to make a gesture totalling CHF 80,000 to the residents of his 430 flats. They will be offered a reduction on their April rent of between CHF 100 and 250, depending on the size of the flat.

In St-Maurice (VS), the Sisters of Saint-Augustin have sent a letter to the tenants of their housing association, with a 100 franc note inside, to reduce their next rent. On Facebook, the group "Monthey, Notre ville" has a list of people who are willing to help people who have been confined to their homes.

Fribourg basketball player reconverted

In the canton of Fribourg, young people are offering their services to look after children, both within their own families and beyond, for a small fee or free of charge. According to La Gruyère, one student has a full timetable until the end of April. The tri-weekly also mentions the initiative of Fribourg Olympic basketball player Boris Mbala. He has also made himself available for baby-sitting.

In the Jura region, Delémont is offering an information and self-help portal for service providers and people who are vulnerable or obliged to stay at home. The website lists shopkeepers who offer home deliveries, people offering childminding services and market gardeners who do not have markets but still have vegetables available.

In Moutier (BE), the municipal council has set up two community services: a shopping delivery service and a childcare service. Residents of the Prévôtôt who can provide this kind of community service can sign up.

In addition, an operation to support nursing staff got underway on Sunday evening in French-speaking Switzerland. At 9pm, some residents began clapping from their windows and balconies. Originating in Italy, the action, known as "minute applause", is due to be repeated every evening and is likely to grow over the coming days and weeks.