Over the past three weeks CVS Uttlesford, Volunteer Uttlesford and the Communities and Health and Wellbeing Team from UDC have been working together to provide frontline support during the Coronavirus crisis
We launched the Uttlesford Community Response Hub on Wednesday 18th March. After just two days of planning and preparation, we merged our teams into one, established remote working across our district and went live. We weren’t sure what to expect, but we knew that residents in our community would need help, and we needed to be in a position to respond in a timely and reassuring fashion, sharing guidance, and providing a direct service enabling those most in need to receive food, medication and ongoing contact with the outside world.
Three weeks in, we have now provided direct support for over 500 Uttlesford residents, thanks in no small part to the willingness and generosity of the 252 volunteers who have registered with us to provide emergency support for people in need – our friends, neighbours and colleagues – but for the most part strangers, or as we like to think of it – friends we have only just met.
The situation in Uttlesford continues to evolve, with pressures and needs changing from hour to hour, let alone day to day. We want to take this opportunity, as we approach the Easter weekend, to thank everyone who has given so kindly of their time, resources, experience and skills to provide a fantastic response to the crisis. While many will be taking time out this long weekend, many of our volunteers will be collecting and delivering urgent prescriptions and medicines, coordinated by on-duty CVSU, VU and UDC staff who are giving up their Easter to ensure that help gets to where it is needed most.
On behalf of everyone you have helped, and those we are yet to help, thank you from us all.
