Community hubs set up to support most vulnerable in coronavirus fight

Illustration of COVID-19, created by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Four new hubs have been set up across Rochdale to support the most vulnerable members of the community during the coronavirus pandemic.

The hubs will see Rochdale Council and Link4Life work with partner agencies and volunteers to ensure that older and more vulnerable people who need help can get everything they need, including emergency food and essential items.

All staff at the hubs will be trained in infection control and practice social distancing while they work. The hubs will also work with and support community and voluntary groups to ensure efforts are coordinated across the borough.

The hubs, in Rochdale, Littleborough, Heywood and Middleton, will primarily organise the distribution of emergency food parcels and essential items to ensure that people without help are not left to fend for themselves. They will also support people who are socially isolated. More hubs will be created in future, if needed.

Council leader Allen Brett said: “This is a scary time for everybody, but particularly those who are older and more vulnerable. We judge ourselves on how we look after those who need our help the most, so we felt it was important to get this support in place as quickly as
we could.

“I’m proud, but not surprised, by the fact that we already have a number of volunteers for our community hubs, both from our own staff and the community. Rochdale is really pulling together in this moment of crisis and the message is very clear: nobody in our borough will have to deal with this alone.”

Mark Widdup, Director of Neighbourhoods at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “These hubs will be staffed by our amazing colleagues and volunteers and will prioritise supporting the members our community who are most in need of support and who don’t have an existing network around them who can help.

“As well as supporting people with practicalities, like getting vital supplies, our volunteers will speak to people on the phone and offer a friendly voice and somebody to connect with if they’re feeling alone.”

People who are vulnerable and need to access support through the community hubs can phone: 01706 923685. The out of hours contact number is: 0300 303 8875.

The council also has a dedicated webpage which is regularly updated with all the key government advice, local service information and what to do if you think you have coronavirus.

This is available at: rochdale.gov.uk/coronavirus