Coronavirus Hub offers support for the vulnerable in West Berks

A new community support hub has been set up in West Berkshire to help coordinate the volunteer response to coronavirus.

The aim of the hub is to try to keep people updated on the Coronavirus situation and let them know what they can do and where they can get help if they need it.

The Community Support Hub will coordinate local support across West Berkshire to meet the needs of those who are self-isolating because they are vulnerable or have been advised to stay at home.

Communities across the district have rallied together to support families, friends and neighbours in need, with groups setting up on social media.

Organisations including Newbury Soup Kitchen, West Berkshire Foodbank, Citizens Advice West Berkshire, the Community Furniture Project, Volunteer Centre West Berkshire, Healthwatch West Berkshire, Greenham Trust and Newbury Weekly News are all involved.

Chris Boulton, CEO of the Greenham Trust said: “Greenham Trust has been working with West Berkshire Council and the Volunteer Centre West Berkshire to create a Community Support Hub which launched on Thursday. We are also putting place a funding package from the trust and other local funders to support those charities and voluntary organisations who will be helping the elderly and vulnerable.”

A spokesman from West Berkshire Council said: “We want to thank and help spread the word about the amazing support that is available across the district from our community champions.

“The Community Support Hub will coordinate local support across West Berkshire to meet the needs of those who are self-isolating because they are vulnerable or have been advised to stay at home.

“We need to know who is vulnerable and where they are. We will do this through working with community groups, town and parish councils, partners that we work with and information from the public, like neighbours.”

Those interested to help out and volunteer can call the community support hub on 01635 503 579, or Volunteering Centre West Berkshire on 01635 49004.  The web site for the hub is www.westberks.gov.uk/coronavirus-communityhub