Worthing couple join hundreds of volunteers supporting local vulnerable people

Simon and Michelle Cannon, who are both teachers, have joined one of the neighbourhood teams set up by Adur and Worthing councils aimed at stopping vulnerable people from 'falling through the net' during the coronavirus lockdown.

Michelle said she signed up because it was 'the least I can do' - a sentiment shared by husband Simon.

He said: "I saw volunteering as an opportunity to support those who needed to isolate during these unsettling times but I was also moved by global stories of ordinary people coming together and in effect relaunching the notion of a community spirit."

More than 500 people have signed up to the councils' neighbourhood teams initiative, giving a few hours a week to help with shopping or just lending an ear to the isolated.

The volunteers are now serving more than 2,000 people who have requested help, such as vulnerable people self-isolating, cannot get to the shops, have no nearby relatives or have financial worries.

The group supported by the councils are separate to the smaller group of 'shielded' people being supported directly by the Government, who are classified as extremely vulnerable with underlying medical conditions.

Vulnerable people who sign up for support are categorised by council workers to ensure they receive the right help, with tasks then delegated to volunteers by neighbourhood coordinators.

Michelle said it was easy to sign up and the instructions were clear.

"I get a text or an email when a new person is added to my list and needs help," she said.

"I currently am ‘available’ for six hours a week and have four people on my list. Most of the people I help need food shopping. I collect a list, do their shopping, drop it back and sort money, cheque or cash - this is all agreed beforehand."

Simon agreed and said he now carries out weekly shopping trips for two households after receiving his first two jobs within 24 hours of joining.

Martin Randall, Adur & Worthing councils’ COVID emergency response lead and director for the economy said the advantage of the system was that it was working from solid information obtained from residents or their relatives who had filled out online forms.

"This is enabling our neighbourhood teams to target the help where it is really needed," he said.

"But the system couldn’t work without the tireless, incredible support from people like Michelle and Simon. We are extremely grateful to them and hundreds like them in our communities who are going the extra mile."

For Michelle the benefits of volunteering to the resident and herself are clear.

She said: "There is an overwhelming amount of gratitude from the people I help. I sometimes have a nice chat on the phone with them as well, if they’re on their own they like to just be in contact with someone.

"Our children know we are helping others at this time and I hope they would respond accordingly if something like this happened when they were older."

Anyone vulnerable resident who feels they may need help is invited to click online at this address to make a request. https://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/coronavirus/community-support/

Anyone wanting to join Simon and Michelle as volunteers should click here https://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/coronavirus/volunteering/