Torbay residents rally to help one another by the hundreds

Community coronavirus helplines have now received more than 4,500 calls.

Hundreds of people have already been helped with their shopping and prescription collections and a new befriending service is being rolled out to help combat loneliness and isolation.

More than 900 people are also helping each other and hopefully will continue to help each other throughout the crisis have been matched with others based on their needs.

Urgent or very urgent calls are currently running at a rate of around 30 a day meaning a family or individual has run out of food, electricity or urgently needed medications.

Torbay Community Development Trust community builders and Age UK Torbay wellbeing coordinators are working alongside volunteers to make sure no-one goes hungry and everyone has their medications.
In Brixham, as many as 1500 people have been provided with support via the phone or through shopping and prescription collections.

The helplines on 01803 446022 and 01803 857727 are being staffed from 8 am to 8 pm by teams from TCDT, AgeUK, Brixham Does Care, Healthwatch Torbay and CAB Torbay.

Tracey Cabache, TCDT community development manager said: “Our teams have been working very hard to ensure that those in need of help are put in touch with someone nearby who can help them.

“We are hoping that once people are matched they will continue to help each throughout this crisis. We are very grateful to the 700 plus people that have offered their services.”

A scheme that helps neighbours organise themselves at a street level has now led to the setting up of 45 groups across the bay – all watching out for each other.

You can sign up here: www.bit.ly/torbaymicrovol