Rishi Sunak has paid tribute to community volunteers in Stokesley who stepped up to help the elderly and vulnerable during the pandemic.
The Richmond (Yorks) MP spoke of his admiration for the 200 people who made sure those most in need over the past 15 months were looked after.
The Stokesley and District Community Care Association (SDCCA) was one of the community support organisations in North Yorkshire which co-ordinated local volunteer efforts.
During a visit to the association’s offices in Town Close, Stokesley, Mr Sunak spoke to SDCCA manager Phil Henderson and four volunteers – Jim Cheesman, Wendy Cockburn, Gita Bhanvra and Melanie Welsh – about their experience of the past year.
Mr Henderson said a positive of the pandemic was the wonderful way the Stokesley community responded.
He said: “Before coronavirus took hold we had 200 volunteers on our books but as the emergency developed that quickly grew by 50 people who came forward and are still helping us now.”
Mr Henderson said that while many of the association’s usual services – lunch, craft and exercise clubs and dementia day care – had to cease, the volunteers quickly adjusted to provide shopping and prescription collection and delivery services. More recently the association’s transport service ensured clients could attend their Covid-19 vaccination appointments in Northallerton and Teesside.
Mr Sunak said: “The sterling work of the volunteers and the association in co-ordinating their efforts over this long year has been amazing and has clearly made a big difference to so many people who were most at risk.
“It is heartening to hear how so many new volunteers have come forward to help and how the association plans to extend its services and its client base as the pandemic eases.”
Mr Henderson said the association’s work during the pandemic had raised its profile and contact with the community it aimed to serve.
“We had many referrals to help people who had needs we were not previously aware of,” he said. “In a sense we didn’t know who we didn’t know.
“Going forward we will be seeking to continue supporting those individuals while resuming our normal range of services when restrictions are lifted and allow them to operate. We will also be helped by the return of some of our longstanding volunteers who because of their circumstances had to shield themselves.”
He added that he was gratified that Mr Sunak had been able to visit. “This recognition of the efforts of our volunteers is much appreciated,” he said.
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