A small army of community volunteers is assembling, ready to help Plymouth’s most vulnerable through the coronavirus outbreak.
The new Plymouth Good Neighbours scheme will see the City Council join forces with community groups and charities across the city to provide a central place for people to put their hat in the ring to help.
The Council will collect names and skillsets and then help groups by distributing volunteers with the right skills to right places at the right time, directly and through the many great voluntary sector organisations in the city, and key partners such as the Plymouth Octopus Project and One Plymouth.
The Good Neighbours scheme is about supporting other community groups who are already out there helping. Groups which have been set up and want to help support with more volunteers are advised to make contact.
People who have time to spare and want to get involved should log on to www.plymouth.gov.uk/goodneighboursscheme
This provides details of organisations which are looking for help and match your skills to their tasks. The website will be updated regularly as the scheme grows and grows.
Some skills might be best suited to calling pensioners with Age UK, others might be more suited to driving to supplies for the Red Cross.
As the coronavirus situation progresses and social distancing and self-isolation guidelines increase, more ways to help those in need will come. People who sign up will be contacted when a need arise that fits their skills and experience.
In the meantime, please also continue to support your friends and neighbours, maintain at all times the guidance to keep social distancing and minimise non-essential travel.
