Charity leads united effort to help others

A group of local charities, residents, students and businesses are supporting each other faced with difficult times ahead.

The Compassionate Community are banding together across Bath and North East Somerset in response to the spread of coronavirus.

Over just three days, more than 750 people registered as volunteers to offer support along with other members of the community. The number of registerations reached 1,700 this week.

One of the people coordinating this effort is James Carlin, director of B&NES 3rd Sector Group (3SG), a small charity that has been leading on recruiting volunteers and coordinating local charities. He said: “On our first day, we recruited 100 people and since then, it has stepped up a gear with hundreds of people joining on Sunday, March 14, and Monday, March 15. We are working hard with partners right across B&NES to harness the potential of these compassionate people.”

3SG launched a Localgiving appeal on March 13 for £500 to pay for conference call software so it could coordinate community action.

Within 12 hours it had exceeded the target and used the funds to set up a large virtual meeting with key partners on March 17.

Bath MP Wera Hobhouse said: “I wholeheartedly support this tremendous initiative encouraging volunteers to help their fellow residents. Limiting the spread of Covid-19 and protecting and supporting the most vulnerable in our community are our top priorities right now.

“Everyone’s individual situation is unique. Each of us needs to act responsibly for our own and for others’ sakes, and, if we are able, help others in the appropriate way.”

3SG will be posting regular updates on its Facebook page and website.