Communities across Cambridgeshire are coming together to help each other out amid the current wide-spread coronavirus pandemic.
Towns and villages all over the county are doing everything they can to help the elderly and people in need as the COVID-19 virus sweeps through the UK.
Online support forums and groups have been set up across our region in a bid to tackle the problems that come with the coronavirus.
Elderly people and those most at risk are being urged to stay at home, workers are being urged to stay at home and everyone is advised to avoid pubs, bars and clubs.
In March, an online support group was set up by resident Rebecca Garry who, within just days, has taken to group to more than 1,000 members.
Ms Garry said: “Please use the group to request help and advice, and to offer help, shopping, collecting prescriptions etc, phone call support for the lonely and whatever else you can offer.
“We all need to come together to look after each other.”
Similarly, in Wisbech, an online group was set up to help those most vulnerable and ‘at risk’.
Matthew Pancutt, organiser, said: “I created the group to help support the vulnerable and within 48 hours we have gained nearly 1000 members who are offering and requesting help.
“We will be distributing to the elderly, vulnerable and self-isolating in our community.”
In Soham, a group of 500-strong volunteers are dropping forms through doors offering to run errands for those who can’t make it out of the house.
Dubbed the ‘Soham Handy Helpers’, resident Natalie Whiterod arranged the group and brought together an army of volunteers to help.
Amy Stearn, a volunteer, said: “We are hoping to drop forms through doors this week and we currently have over 500 members offering to take on areas of Soham to give their services.”
In Witcham, villagers are communicating to avoid any panic buying and to ensure no one is left without essential goods if they are forced into self-isolation.
Resident Sallyanne Fraser-Sulman said: “I thought I would share something positive about the coronavirus.
“We are a little village that are not stock piling toilet paper, we are not running about like mad buying pasta and anything else, but we MAY need to self-isolate.
“We are running around gathering a list of willing volunteers to help those that need it in our village, we are running about making posters and delivering it to every household in our village.
“We are not scaremongering we just want to be ready to help those in need. I just thought I would share what a great place to live Witcham is.”
To join the March group, visit: www.facebook.com/groups/MarchCoronavirusSupport
To join the Wisbech group, visit: www.facebook.com/groups/WisbechCoronavirusSupport
To get the latest coronavirus news from Cambridgeshire and Fenland, join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/CambridgeshireCoronavirusNews
What is your local community doing amid the wide-spread COVID-19 outbreak? Tell us your story, email: harry.rutter@archant.co.uk
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