This is without doubt a challenging time for us all, with some likely to be more impacted than others, yet the COVID-19 pandemic is also bringing out the best in many people in the community, with volunteer groups and organisations popping up ready to help.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Dom Newton said:
“The response from our community so far has been amazing – and just what I would expect from our fantastic town, which prides itself on residents supporting each other and our most vulnerable. I would like to offer my thanks to everyone involved in this effort, and encourage people to let us know what they’re doing so we can help. Over the coming days we will be doing all we can as a Council to support those efforts. In the meantime, please monitor and follow central Government advice.”
We have now launched a volunteer registration page, and ask that, if you are currently volunteering or coordinating efforts locally, or can help to do so, you please let us know using the form below. This will help us to:
- Communicate with you with advice and key messages;
- Make sure we know where help is already happening – and where there are gaps;
- Channel volunteers to organisations;
- Work with other statutory agencies to provide an assessment of the town’s needs.
We will be regularly sending out further updates during the course of the COVID-19 outbreak, both online and a leaflet which will be available in hardcopy and a pdf download soon. We are working with charities, the Community Emergency Volunteers and other agencies to support people across the town, especially as the level of restrictions increases.