The council has set up a community hub in Fylde to support isolated and lonely residents of the Borough who are without friends, family or neighbours to assist during the period of isolation required as a result of the Coronavirus.
A dedicated phone line has been set up to take calls from those who need support and those who are offering to support in their own neighbourhood.
The hub will be operational Monday to Friday from 9am until 5pm, however if demand requires that late evenings until 8pm and weekend working are required this will be made available.
The dedicated phone number is 01253 658448 or online support which can be accessed from our dedicated webpage here
Residents required to isolate for 12 weeks have registered to ask for additional support, our teams are making contact to offer help with food and other supplies either direct or through referrals to local volunteers including a friendly phone call facility run by the Lancashire Befriending Service. Food supplies for the very vulnerable will be coordinated through the hub in partnership with various volunteer groups.
The local Food Banks in Fylde will continue to provide support for the financially vulnerable operating alongside the council.
A number of volunteers have already come forward to offer their help with the running of the hub or to act as community shoppers for those who cannot get out and have no other support. Our online facility includes a dedicated email if you want to volunteer your services in your local area.
Fylde Council Leader Sue Fazackerley said: “The logistics involved in putting these facilities in place has proved to be a significant operation for the Council. It is, obviously, something with which we have never been tasked with before and has entailed a great deal of co-ordination and challenging demands all of which have been achieved at very short notice. There are too many volunteers and members of staff to thank individually but everyone has been incredibly helpful thus far in meeting the demands of these very difficult circumstances.
Of course, whilst all this has been happening, we have still been delivering core services. I would like to particularly mention our operational teams and fleet who have succeeded in operating a full service, which during such trying times, is exceptional. I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved.”