Virtual community hub up and running during the crisis
A VIRTUAL community hub for people wanting to help their neighbours during the coronavirus epidemic has been set up.
Calderdale Council is co-ordinating the hub which will allow groups wanting to help to do so as safely as possible.
But it will stay virtual – mindful of social distancing guidelines there are no plans at the moment to set up physical hubs along the lines of those opened by the council in the aftermath of February’s flooding.
The council is also aware of, working with and linking into local informal groups, providing advice and support to them.
Leader of Calderdale Council, Coun Tim Swift (Lab, Town) said it was no surprise people were offering their support and since the Government announced vulnerable groups of people should self-isolate the authority had been inundated with offers of help.
The council is co-ordinating its community response – point four of a ten-point plan announced by Coun Swift at Cabinet last week to respond to COVID-19.
This involves establishing a virtual volunteer hub to ensure it safely and effectively manages the numerous offers to help maximise support for communities, working alongside the council’s voluntary and community organisation partners.
“It’s no surprise to me that so many people have been in touch to ask how they can help.
“It’s the same spirit that we see during the floods and it makes me proud.
“Our communities always rally round in times of need; it’s what makes this place so distinctive,” said Coun Swift.
Director of Public Health Paul Butcher said the virtual nature of the hub reflected strong advice from Government on social distancing.
“The Government advice on social distancing is very clear.
“It states that certain groups, such as those over 70 and people with pre-existing conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or asthma, should stay away from large groups of people.
“For some people, such as those who live on their own, it could be quite difficult for them to follow this advice without help.
“Volunteers are a fantastic way of providing practical support where and when it is needed,” he said.
You can find more details about the virtual volunteering hub by logging onto https:// www.calderdale.gov.uk/v2/residents/jobs-and-volunteering/ volunteering/coronavirus-volunteering and there will be a directory of all the local groups which are able to offer support and the type of support which they can give.
It will also include a list of areas which need additional volunteer support to keep priority volunteer services, such as foodbanks, open.
These will be matched against the offers of help which have been received by the hub.
A dedicated email address has been set up to record all offers of volunteering in response to COVID-19 – if you would like to volunteer send your details to the volunteeringcovid19@ calderdale.gov.uk