'A safe and welcoming place to visit' has been the role of the Open Daw community centre for the last few months, providing a venue for people to meet friends or chat with volunteers in Covid-secure surroundings.

Dawlish Nub News visited the centre and met co-ordinators Olivia Gore and Anthony Butler just three days before the announcement of the second lockdown, starting on November 5.

Now, the doors will have to close again, but the team will carry on working from home to support the community, as they did during the first set of coronavirus restrictions.

Co-ordinator Olivia said: "We had to close towards the end of March, as many places did, but we continued during lockdown with our email and phone service.

"People could still contact us for information and support, we kept the Facebook page going and the website up to date, and we've also been working with Helping Dawlish, so we've been a player within that as well and helping them update their Facebook page and website."

'People just wanted some company'

After the lockdown measures eased in July, the centre opened outdoors two mornings a week, with socially distanced tables in front of the church and volunteers trained to work within the new procedures. Indoor sessions began again in August, and continued two mornings a week until Tuesday, November 3, providing what some visitors described as 'a lifeline'.

Olivia said: "I think we're finding generally that people are just wanting some company. People who've been shielding, or been very careful during lockdown, are still a bit wary but they feel this is a safe space. Some of our regulars come to every session that we're open, to meet up with their friends."

But of course, it's far more than a social club. The Open Daw's volunteers are there to help with all those difficulties and complications in everyday life that are even harder to sort out during lockdown: benefit claims, having to fill in online forms, needing legal advice, or simply not knowing which organisation to approach to get a problem dealt with. People were able to make appointments for Wednesday mornings for one-to-one advice.

Olivia said: "We help individuals if they need support, perhaps with accessing information online if they don't have the knowledge or the equipment.

"We can contact people on their behalf or signpost them to different places.

"For example, somebody might come in that's had a letter from their energy provider that they don't understand, or they're not sure if they're paying the right amount, so we'll phone on their behalf.

"We support people with a range of different queries really, and it's all informal advice.

"And we're aware that there are other organisations that do that work or are better placed to help, so we'll signpost people to the correct place."

Uncertainty over Open Daw Christmas plans

Before the announcement of the second lockdown, the Open Daw centre was planning some special activities around Christmas. Thanks to a grant from local town and district councillor Linda Goodman-Bradbury, the centre was going to open on its usual days in the weeks either side of Christmas, when it would normally be closed. The team hoped to organise a quiz, and distribute small presents to regular visitors.

It's currently unclear what the Covid-19 situation will be after this month-long lockdown, or whether the Christmas plans can still go ahead. But the people of Dawlish can be sure that the Open Daw team will do whatever they can to help with problems and alleviate isolation in the weeks ahead, and beyond.

For their latest information, visit the Open Daw Centre website