Community groups deliver to elderly

Volunteers are ensuring hot meals are still being delivered to elderly residents in County Durham during the coronavirus pandemic.

Community groups are preparing and distributing food to older people selfisolating thanks to Durham CountyCouncil’sAreaAction Partnerships (AAPs).

The council made £1.4m available to its 14 AAPs as part of a COVID-19 assistance fund

One group to benefit was Sherburn Community Centrewhichreceivedmorethan £4,000fromDurhamAAPtowards the cost of food, a new freezer and PPE.

The team prepare meals every Tuesday and Friday, which are delivered to over 70 people in nearby villages for a small fee.

Judith Barrass, one of the volunteer cooks, said: “At this terrible time many people can’t leave their homes because they have to selfisolate.

“Without the grant and everything it provides we wouldn’t be able to do this and get the meals safely delivered by our wonderful volunteerdriverstoallwhoneed this. “Atpresentwehaveawaiting list and we wish we could feed everyone who needs this but we are doing the best we can.”

Durham AAP Coordinator Craig Morgan said: “As soon as it became apparentthatolderpeoplewere having to self-isolate the volunteersatSherburncommunity centre got themselves organised and were delivering hot meals to vulnerable people very quickly.”

FishburnYouthandCommunityCentrereceived£558 from the East Durham Rural Corridor AAP to buy extra kitchen equipment as it makes nearly 50 meals a day.