Age UK, Mind and the YMCA launch Scarborough and Filey Covid-19 Community Response group

A number of Facebook and community support groups have sprung up to help those in need and now, at the request of Scarborough Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council and the NHS, a co-ordinated approach has been put in place by Age UK, Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Mind and Scarborough YMCA who will work alongside 26 other groups in the local community.

The group can be found on Facebook as Scarborough and Filey Covid-19 Community Response.

Sophie Hall, CEO of Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Mind, said: “The plan is to create a single point of contact with one phone number, one email, one address and one contact form.”

Miss Hall said: “It’s been a bit chaotic but we’re getting there. Our aim is to make sure that anyone who needs help gets it.

“The group will be co-ordinating local assistance from various community kitchens and as all staff have references and DBS checks, they are able to pick up prescriptions and run errands for those who need them.”

They are also planning on working with local groups which are already in place.

Ms Hall said people should be taking appropriate measures to keep themselves safe: “If you are doing something locally don’t ask people to put anything in their windows which identifies them as vulnerable.

Scarborough and Filey Covid-19 Community Response will also act as a service directory, offering support and advice and maintaining lists of which shops and cafes are still delivering or doing takeaways and will take payment via card.

Also if people are struggling and approach the group, they will have access to shopping vouchers if required.

Volunteers who are not DBS checked can still help by doing social phone calls, helping those people who are isolated and getting stressed.

The group is also actively putting together activity shoe boxes containing puzzle books, a couple of bars of chocolate and craft items to occupy elderly residents.

Over the next few weeks and months they will share links and videos via social media to help occupy people.

Additional groups are being coordinated by Coast and Vale Community Action to cover Whitby and the Esk Valley and Ryedale is being covered by Ryedale Carer Support

Scarborough and Filey Covid-19 Community Response can be contacted via Facebook or by calling 01723 379 058.