Coronavirus update: Thames21 statement

Published

 

Thames21 statement

26 March 2020

 

The safety, health and wellbeing of the public, our volunteers and our staff are of paramount importance to us.

 

Events and volunteering paused

In light of recent developments around the Covid-19 virus, we have postponed all our events from now until the end of May, including volunteering sessions, educational outreach sessions and those run from our Environmental Education Centre near the Welsh Harp nature reserve. Corporate Volunteering events are postponed, but we are taking bookings from September onwards, subject to change; contact us on corporate-volunteering@thames21.org.uk.

We are closely following advice and guidelines given by the government in a dynamic and rapidly changing situation. We will continue to post updates on our website and social media channels.

 

Keeping in touch

All staff are now working remotely. If you want to get in touch, please email in the first instance:

Email: info@thames21.org.uk

You can find individual staff emails and numbers on our Contact Us webpage.

It may take longer than usual for us to get back to you at this busy time, so please bear with us. 

 

New ways to connect and support you 

We encourage you to follow us on our social media channels, especially Twitter and Facebook for the latest updates. Thames21 is currently looking at how we might offer resources, training and events online to ensure we can keep supporting you and our rivers during this challenging period. We will post updates on this soon.

The latest government advice is to require people to stay at home, except for very limited purposes, to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. You can read the latest guidance here and here. The guidance allows us to go out for one form of exercise a day, alone or with members of our household only, and has forbidden social gatherings of more than two people (ie non family members).

Please use your common sense, and adhere to the government guidance in order to keep yourself and others safe: for example avoid using public transport unless essential. Select areas you can walk or cycle to, visit them at quieter times, and always keep a safe distance (2 metres) from other people.

 

Support us

As we are a small charity, the current crisis will have a significant impact on Thames21’s finances.

If you would like to make a donation to help Thames21 continue its vital work protecting and restoring London’s rivers so that they can run clear and free, please donate here. 

If you aren’t able to donate, you can still support us, and rivers, by getting in touch with us on social media. Message us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram using #LoveLondonRivers #RiverWatch to show your support.

Tell us your favourite stories about a river, or how a river has helped you, or what your favourite London river is and why – in 280 characters! You can also share your river photos and ask us to guess which river it is. 

Thank you so much – from all of us here at Thames21, on behalf of London’s rivers and those who depend on them. 

For more on how rivers can help us through this crisis, read our latest e-newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/thames21/our-rivers-can-help-us-during-this-outbreak