Marlborough Town Council issued a call for volunteers this afternoon (Friday 13 March) to help support the community whilst the Coronavirus emergency develops and starts to affect our everyday lives.
Volunteers are wanted to help those in the community who need assistance, particularly the elderly and vulnerable, with typical tasks involved being the collection and delivery of prescriptions, shopping for the basics, and just making sure that those who are on their own are safe, well, and have regular contact from someone in the community.
No-one knows exactly the course of events over the coming days and weeks but the Town Council is closely following government advice about the steps that we all need to be taking following the escalation from ‘containment’ of the coronavirus epidemic to ‘delay’.
The Town Council has a plan in place with emergency measures for the continued running of its services which will be reviewed regularly reviewed in line with emerging advice from Public Health England.
All precautionary action necessary is being taken to make sure council services and buildings are safeguarded for the public, councillors and our staff. This includes:
• Sharing information and advice on illness prevention and good hygiene practices
• Reducing risk by following various measures as guided by government
• Ensuring, where possible, the continuation of the day to day business of the Town Council
The Council have issued the following message to all Marlborough residents:
Our Emergency Plan – We Need Your Help
Over the last few months, the Town Council has also been working towards a wider community Emergency Plan for a range of possible incidents. The bedrock to making this all come together will be Community Emergency Volunteers (CEVs).
If you are interested in helping out as this COVID-19 emergency begins to affect us and particularly the elderly and vulnerable in our communities, please let us know now. This might be delivering prescriptions, helping with shopping, making regular telephone calls to those who are on their own, etc. At the moment, as this all progresses, we just don’t know the extent of what we might need to be ready for – it could change daily. So, the first action will be to have that team of volunteers ready.
Please let us know if you are able to help by contacting our Assistant Town Clerk, Clare Harris, at charris@marlborough-tc.gov.uk
Town Councillors will be meeting next Monday, 16 March to start to try to make preparations for possible practical measures that may be required in the interests in public health and how this should be co-ordinated.
Click here to reach the Gornment website for latest information and advice on the Coronavirus epidemic.