MASSIVE THANKS FROM COMMUNITY SUPPORT TEAM LEADERS AFTER 'REMARKABLE' RESPONSE FROM TOWN TO JOIN VOLUNTEER ARMY

A TOWN-WIDE mission to look after Atherstone's vulnerable population during the coronavirus crisis is tonight reporting "mission accomplished" in reaching its first objective.

Leaders of the newly-created community support team – set up by the town council and Atherstone Partnership – says the response and commitment to joining a volunteer army of helpers has been "remarkable".

Council chairman David Wright sent out a resounding "thank you Atherstone" after announcing support is now in place for every street and road in the town.

Some 60 volunteers have come forward with the first priority of covering 4,300 households in a communications sweep of the town through door-to-door leafleting.

The plan is to ensure no one among Athersrtone's needy who has been isolated by the knock-on effects of Covid-19 misses out on getting help.

An appeal went out through Nub News last week to cover 4,500 homes. And more than 3,500 had been covered by Monday night.

Getting cover for the final 800 homes has now been achieved.

Councillor Wright told Nub News: "This is part of our ongoing plan to support the most vulnerable in our local community.

"Despite the hard work our volunteers are going to face over the coming weeks, I have no doubt they will provide an invaluable service and we are all very proud they have come forward at such a time of need."

Partnership head Gary Chamberlain added: "It is truly humbling to see how our community can pull together to offer such support to the people in most need.

"I would also like to offer thanks to all those who have come forward to volunteer as well as the officers and councillors of Atherstone Town Council who have worked tirelessly to ensure this project gets the support it needs."

Mr Chamberlain singled out town council clerks Odette Ghent and Sally Oldham for "special praise", adding: "They truly have done a fantastic job behind the scenes."

He also made reference to the area's social media community platforms for being "bombarded with more posts that you expected", adding: "You have played a crucial part in getting this message out and ultimately gaining the support we need for this project to work."

The Atherstone Community Support Team will be masterminding a service to those most in need – in the form of shopping, collecting prescriptions, posting letters, arranging dog walking or just offering the basic comfort of a voice at the end of a telephone.

Volunteers will all be issued with a special pack to enable them to help support those in need of assistance.

Civic-led food parcels through the borough and county authorities are now being delivered on a weekly basis in addition to the 100 meals going out from an operation being orchestrated by Atherstone Coffee Shop owner Angie Spencer from St Nicholas Church hall, Baddesley Ensor.

The third delivery of those meals went out on Monday. The service also operates on Fridays.