A volunteer community support group has been set up in Bassenthwaite to help out villagers and try to limit the journeys people need to make.
The group, which is being co-ordinated by Gordie Oliver who lives in the village, will provide a food delivery service for essential supplies, newspapers, magazines and off licence working with Keswick Mini Mart.
Orders can be telephoned in on 017687 73535 and supplies will be delivered at 5pm each day to a collection point in the village, or can be delivered to properties of those self-isolating. A number of volunteers are available to carry out shopping or pharmacy visits.
In addition, there is a “Village Essentials Shop” – an honesty self-service shop – located in the village centre which will be stocked with milk, bread, eggs and essentials. There will also be a ‘swap box’ available where items including books and games can be swapped.
Gordie said: “If anyone in Bassenthwaite needs anything, even just a chat, please get in touch with me on 017687 76866 or 07830 281 986.”
Portinscale also has a dedicated essentials shop facility being run by Angela Clarke at The Chalet café in the village. The shop is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 12 noon, selling essential items, including milk, bread and eggs, fresh fruit and vegetables delivered daily, and freezer meals.
People living in Portinscale village can also place orders which Angela will deliver in the afternoons – contact Angela on 017687 72757 or 07772 333 877.
More formally, the NHS has just set up a volunteer responder scheme, with information available at www.goodsamapp.org/NHS – an ‘army’ of volunteers is being called on to support the 1.5 million people in England who are at most risk from the virus to stay well.
Doctors, nurses and other professionals will be able to refer people into NHS Volunteer Responders and be confident that they have been matched with a reliable, named volunteer. People can sign up and, once registered and checks are complete, they will be provided a log-in to the GoodSAM Responder app where they will see live and local volunteer tasks to pick from nearby.
