Taskforce starts making deliveries to north Northumberland homes

The Glendale group, formed in response to the coronavirus pandemic, put together its plan of action at an emergency meeting with various community groups last Monday.

Wooler Parish Council is leading the project, with support from Glendale Gateway Trust, Glendale Connect and church groups.

“We’ve got over 70 volunteers now with more coming in every day but we are still looking for more as this is going to be a prolonged project,” said parish council chairman Mark Mather at Monday night’s meeting held via Zoom. “As volunteers get sick we are going to need more.

“We didn’t think this was going to happen immediately but we’ve already been mobilised six times this week, mostly to provide medication, which has been working well.”

The service is available to residents between Powburn and the Scottish border.

“They can ring the doctor when ordering medication and state that they are self isolating or no family members are connected,” explained Coun Mather. “Both doctors’ surgeries will then email Kerren (parish clerk) the list of jobs to do the next day and she will give that to our contractor.”

An initial £500 grant has been provided by Northumberland County Council to help the contractor to deliver the service so issues such as DBS checks, fuel and insurance are covered.

A local taxi firm has agreed to carry out the service.

Wooler Parish Council has set aside a further £500 to utilise where necessary.

Glendale Connect is also offering telephone support to those who are self-isolating in order to reduce the sense of loneliness.

Coun Mather thanked the Co-op and Farm to Freeze for the support they had given so far.

If you are self isolating and need help please call Wooler Parish Council on 07501 169591, leave a message with your contact number or email [email protected]

If you want to offer to volunteer in any way please call the Glendale Gateway Trust on 01668 282406 or email [email protected]

A similar project is operating in the Chatton area.