Volunteers responding to Bromley Council’s appeal for assistance in response to COVID-19 are being publicly thanked.
In just over two weeks, more than 3,700 borough residents, including many from Beckenham, have stepped forwards to provide help along with a range of voluntary groups.
The volunteers are on standby to provide practical assistance to those who request it as part of the emergency response to COVID-19. This work complements and supports the government’s shielding programme, with food supplies already being delivered locally.
Diane Smith, executive councillor for adult services and public health at Bromley Council, said: “The response from residents to our volunteer appeal has been amazing and I want to thank each and every person who has stepped forwards to help. At this very difficult and uncertain time, the willingness of so many to respond and assist some of our most vulnerable residents is heart-warming.
“Residents who have contacted us may need some sort of practical assistance, especially if the government has advised you to socially distance because you are older or have an identified medical condition. If this is you, please get in touch so that our volunteers can help you.
“Please do not be reluctant or afraid to ask for help. We do understand that it might be hard to ask but the volunteer programme has been set up by the council to help everyone who is in need and struggling to get to the shops for food and medicine for example and not just those who are in financial difficulty.”
Bromley Community Links is co-ordinating the volunteer response and helping to match volunteers with residents who have requested assistance. Volunteers are being contacted directly when their individual assistance is needed, with this dependent on a variety of practical factors.
Assistance being offered includes:
- Bin(s) to be left outside property for collection day
- Collecting a parcel
- Dog to be walked
- Friendly regular phone calls
- Medicine to be collected from pharmacy
- Posting a letter
- Shopping – food and household provisions etc.
To volunteer or request assistance, visit the council’s website, or for those who need help and do not have access to the internet, you can call the telephone assistance hotline on 020 8313 4484.
News in Beckenham would also like to send our heartfelt thanks to all those volunteers who are dedicating their time to helping others during this difficult time.