Charity providing vital link for isolated or vulnerable people in Calderdale

The charity usually provides community car services, a home from hospital service and transport to social events for people who might struggle to get out and about.

But they are now operating a shopping service where they go to the supermarket for vulnerable or isolated people and drop off the items to their door.

Chris Hancox, from the service, said: “Our main business has disappeared because people aren’t going out. We used to do a lot for community groups on social outings and things like that.

“We’re still doing home-from-hospital services.

“We have a car service to take people shopping, which is obviously a no-no, but we’ve set-up from scratch a shopping service for people.

“It’s essentially taking orders for food, going to the supermarket, collecting it, and dropping it off in a safe way.

“Our unique selling point if you like is that we’re able to take card payments over the phone.

“There are a lot of other informal groups that have cropped up, who are all fantastic, and show an incredible spirit in the community.

“We started out servicing our thousand-odd vulnerable clients on our database, and we’ve now got spare volunteer capacity so we want to get out there and help people.”

Chris says several people have written thank you notes to the service for their help.

“People have said how grateful they are, how much it means to them,” he said.

There are about 40 volunteers helping the service, which Chris says has been getting busier since it started.

“We’re working closely with other groups, like the Halifax Society for the Blind, because one of the problems, and it’s going to be increasingly so, is that people can’t get access to cash.

“If you have sight impairment and you don’t have family nearby, who are you going to hand your card to and say ‘take £100 out of my bank account for me’?

“And this whole thing isn’t going to stop over the next week or two.

“Out of all bad things often come good and what this has one is bring the community together.

“It’s created these pop-up groups that are supporting people, it’s made people far more aware of the people around them and whether they might be in need of support.

“It’s brought communities together, even though it’s put them apart physically.”A key part of it is the internet and social media. If we hadn’t had that, the ability to organise and respond to what’s happened would have been massively curtailed.

“People out there who are physically isolated are in a horrendous situation, and it doesn’t matter who helps them. It’s great that people are pulling together, getting out there and providing the help to people in need.”

If you know anyone in need or would like to volunteer for the service, call 0300 0200 215.

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