A chance for volunteers to show their community spirit
Citizens are being ordered to stay at home except for shopping for necessities such as food and medicine, medical needs, to exercise once a day and travelling to work only if “absolutely necessary.”
As the country grinds to a halt, mutual aid groups are hoping to play their part to help the most vulnerable people in communities.
Newbottle resident, Andrew Gibson, set up the Sunderland Coronavirus (Covid-19) Support and Mutual Aid Group earlier this month.
The mutual aid group, which operates from a Facebook page, is one of several springing up across the city.
Mr Gibson hopes more volunteers can get involved to keep people safe, coordinate volunteers and share information. “I started the page and group because I saw lots of posts about things that were happening and it was almost scaremongering,” he said.
“I wanted to have a group and page where there is none of that by sharing information from relevant parties, Government or the NHS – not all the rumours about what was happening and what could happen.
“I’m hoping we can merge the groups together as there are a lot being set up and streamlining them so people are getting the same messages and information. I think community spirit and togetherness is going to be vital in pulling us all through this.”
Sunderland Coronavirus (Covid-19) Support and Mutual Aid Group aims to support people who are self-isolating and those struggling to access food and supplies.
For more information, visit: www.facebook.com/ groups/SunderlandCovid19
For a list of mutual aid groups, visit: covidmutualaid. org/local-groups