Monday, 20th April 2020
“Pendle’s new Community Support Hub has helped over 500 people since it opened four weeks ago,” announced Councillor Mohammed Iqbal, Leader of Pendle Council.
“We launched the hub to co-ordinate support for our most vulnerable residents during the coronavirus outbreak and it’s one of a number of hubs set up around the county,” added Pendle Council’s Chief Executive, Dean Langton.
“It’s for residents without a circle of friends or family nearby to help them and we are working in partnership with Pendle Leisure Trust, Burnley and Pendle Community and Voluntary Service (CVS) and other organisations and volunteers.”
Alison Goode, Chief Executive of Pendle Leisure Trust, added: “We are really pleased to be supporting Pendle Council and playing our part in helping the local community during this very difficult time.
“I am very proud of my staff who have been doing a brilliant job working in the support hub helping some of the borough’s most vulnerable residents.
“We have a dedicated team – including reception staff, beauty therapists and swimming and gym instructors – answering phone calls and emails seven days a week.”
Local people wanting to help can drop off food at The ACE Centre in Nelson, every Wednesday between 10.30am and 11.30am. Volunteers from Inspiring Grace and staff from The ACE Centre will be inside making up the food parcels.
In addition to helping with delivering food and prescriptions, the hub can also get vulnerable people help with dog walking, support for mental health issues and dealing with social isolation and loneliness, as well as financial and debt advice.
The hub is open Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm and 10am to 3pm Saturday and Sunday – and it will be open as normal over the Easter weekend.
If you, or a vulnerable person you know, could do with some help, please call (01282) 661743, email helpneeded@pendle.gov.uk or fill in an online form viawww.pendle.gov.uk/communitysupporthub
Any organisation, business or individual who’d like to offer help can fill in our offer of help form via www.pendle.gov.uk/communitysupporthub or email helpoffered@pendle.gov.uk.
Fitness instructors, lifeguards, beauty therapists and other staff from Pendle Leisure Trust are hard at work in the hub taking calls and emails and matching people up with the support they badly need.
“I’d like to thank everyone who has got the hub up and running so quickly - it’s already making such a difference to people during this crisis,” said Councillor Iqbal.
“And a big thank you to Inspiring Grace volunteers and to local people who are helping us to deliver food and prescriptions, which are the main requests the hub is getting.”