Council joins forces with voluntary groups to supply food to borough’s most vulnerable residents

Stafford Borough Council has added arranging food and medical supplies for households in need to its list of more regular tasks, such as bin collections, during the current situation.

The authority is working with Support Staffordshire – an organisation which provides links to voluntary and community groups across the county –to make sure help is available for residents self-isolating in order to protect themselves and others from Covid-19.

Nationally around 1.5m people have been advised by the NHS to self-isolate for 12 weeks. The NHS has organised for them to receive a parcel of food if they register online to say they need one.

Stafford Borough Council is helping residents to register if they contact the authority, assisting those who are vulnerable, self-isolating and cannot get hold of food in other ways such as from someone else in the house, a relative or friend or a supermarket delivery.

If someone falls into the categories mentioned above and cannot pay for food then the council, working with Support Staffordshire and other voluntary and community groups, will source food from the same supply chain as food banks – donations from supermarkets and individuals. But the authority has said it may have to supplement the food to meet demand.

Some council staff members have been diverted from their usual jobs to assist with vital deliveries during the lockdown, while others are taking to the phones to offer advice on what help is available to residents who need it. The authority is set to contact households directly to check they are safe and well and find out what assistance they may require from volunteers, such as dog walking or gardening.

Stafford Borough has already seen a surge in offers of support from community-spirited residents, businesses and groups, from home delivery services to IT assistance, in recent weeks.

Stafford Borough Council’s leader Patrick Farrington said: “There are so many people within the community that have set up groups of volunteers to help residents in their area. Parish councils, charities, businesses and individuals have put themselves forward as community champions.

“This selflessness has been a real silver lining during such a worrying time and a demonstration that there is a lot of genuine human kindness out there.

“The government asked local councils to set up these hubs because we know our areas well and we can ensure the proper support goes to where it is needed most – and be there for those who may have temporarily slipped through the net.

“These are unprecedented times, but I am very pleased to see that our council, partners, and everyone involved with us, have risen to the challenge. There is still a long way to go though so I would encourage others who may be able to help to put their names forward and contact us.”

Garry Jones, chief executive of Support Staffordshire, added: “There is already some great work being done in our communities to support vulnerable residents. Our role will be to absorb some of the demand for help, wherever it may come from, to free up the local authorities to focus on the most in need of social care and support, which in turn will free up the NHS as much as possible so they can concentrate on patients.”

For more information on help available or volunteering your own services visit staffordbc.gov.uk/coronavirus, email info@staffordbc.gov.uk or call 01785 619 000.