A voluntary group which is delivering vital supplies of food and medicine to people’s homes in Keswick has received nearly £4,000 support from Cumbria Community Foundation.
The grant will help KCERP – that’s Keswick Community Emergency Recovery Partnership – continue to operate its own network of street wardens covering every road in the town during the coronavirus crisis.
Besides making home deliveries, KCERP’s team of around 150 volunteers is also offering a telephone befriending service for people isolated at home. This is to ensure that everyone has someone they can turn to for help with shopping, collecting prescriptions or just wanting a chat.
Dog and cat food is available as well from the voluntary street wardens for pet owners unable to shop or facing financial hardship. These supplies have been donated by Oak Tree Animals charity.
KCERP has distributed leaflets to all homes in Keswick, giving contact details for the local street warden for that area. Heather Askew, KCERP’s project manager, said: “The street wardens are building up a good rapport with people in their local areas but we just wanted to remind people that anyone can ask for help.
“Most of the street wardens have already settled into a routine, offering regular help to some people, whilst others need occasional assistance. The volunteers are all really keen to help people and there are plenty of them, so please ask.”
The £3,849.99 funding KCERP has received is from Cumbria Community Foundation’s Covid-19 Response Fund, which has already supported 80 groups in the county during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Anyone unsure who is their street warden should email [email protected] or check out the Keswick Street Wardens map and information.
