Community spirit shines through as over 1,000 people sign up to help vulnerable and isolated residents in Northumberland

Since the scheme launched by Northumberland County Council at the end of March in response to the coronavirus pandemic, 1,100 residents have signed up to volunteer.

Many have now been deployed locally assisting community and voluntary groups picking up shopping, dropping off prescriptions, organising emergency food, and making contact with some of our most vulnerable residents to make sure they are safe and are not feeling isolated during these difficult times.

There have been many heart-warming examples of how volunteers have been helping their communities through this difficult time such as residents growing vegetables and leaving them outside their door for others in the community to take and families pulling together to deliver shopping to their neighbours.

In Belford, volunteers have been helping the Bell View community charity to deliver food parcels and shopping to vulnerable residents in the community, as well as baking cakes for elderly residents who have celebrated their birthday during lockdown.

Lynemouth Day Centre has been relying on volunteers to help to deliver much needed “meals on wheels” to those in need in the community.

And during Ramadan a group of volunteers delivered special halal food parcels to families in Amble, Bedlington and Ashington.

Coun Cath Homer, cabinet member responsible for the voluntary and community sector, said: “The response to our call out for volunteers has been overwhelmingly positive and we have now managed to place many of those volunteers with groups across the county.

“We would like to thank all of those volunteers who have given up their time to help others and we know those who have received help very much appreciate their efforts.

“There are still lots of ways you can help in your community whether it is just looking out for your neighbours or staying in touch with friends. For now the message remains, stay safe, stay home and together we can beat this.”

If you need help for things such as shopping and prescriptions and do not have family or friends who can help you, call 01670 620015, between 9am and 5pm, seven days a week or email: [email protected]

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you.