Ashfield council continues effort to help most vulnerable across district

Councillor Keir Barsby and Councillor Jason Zadrozny.

The council is continuing to ensure essential aid and support is given to the most vulnerable residents.

Alongside centrally co-ordinated assistance from the government, NHS and the county council, the council has been working with Ashfield’s voluntary sector in leading the way to support those who are struggling to get by without the help of friends, family or support networks.

The council has also supported the voluntary sector by doubling the Ashfield Community Fund by an extra £10,000 – the focus being on helping organisations with the supply of food and supplies to the most vulnerable.

The council is linking all its efforts together and stepping in where emergency support is required.

The council’s team is split to two sections, one liaising with voluntary groups, foodbanks and supermarkets, to ensure support and supplies are balanced.

The other section is continually contacting vulnerable residents to make sure they are safe and well.

They are also on standby to deliver emergency food parcels, prescri ptions or help with discharged hospital patients.

In the past four weeks, they have distributed and delivered more than 225 food parcels to various food banks and directly to the doorstep of vulnerable residents.

More than 1,400 of the council’s lifeline service customers have been contacted by phone to ensure they are coping in these difficult times. All council tenants have also been contacted and the council has written to approximately 11,000 residents suspected of being vulnerable in the current crisis.

Councillor Kier Barsby, cabinet member for health, said “It has been an amazing effort by all our council staff and volunteers during these unprecedented times. Helping residents in our district is paramount and we are deeply indebted to the efforts of community, voluntary and faith groups, as well as individuals, food banks and local businesses. They have all pulled together for the good of our community. It’s vital for residents to know that we are there if they need us.”