A West Leeds community organisation is providing vital support to vulnerable and isolated people during the Coronavirus crisis, writes Stacey Rennard.
New Wortley Community Association (NWCA) is working with volunteers to get much-needed support to people living in the Armley ward as quickly as possible.
It is providing essential services to people who are at most at risk, or self-isolating and need to stay at home.
Together with over 100 Community Care Volunteers, NWCA is co-ordinating the response to local people’s urgent requests for food and prescriptions.
It also carries out welfare checks to identify people who needs ongoing
support, such as a regular delivery of medication or social telephone calls to combat loneliness.
NWCA has also started to adapt to the needs of the community in other ways and has extended its services to provide delivery of hot meals to vulnerable people in the area.
New Wortley Community Centre is preparing and delivering a two-course hot meal on Thursday lunchtimes. The meals cost just £3.50 and are available to people living in the Armley Ward.
It will also become a Healthy Holidays food distribution point shortly, distributing hot grab bags, packed lunches and food parcels to
vulnerable families.
Andrea Edwards, Chief Executive of NWCA, said:
“We are living in unprecedented times and many people living in the Armley ward need extra support and someone to talk to right now.
“Since the end of March, we’ve had over 130 requests to provide
help to people, whether that’s a food parcel, shopping, picking up a prescription or just being a friendly voice at the end of the phone.“We wouldn’t be able to do it without the support of our amazing Community Care Volunteers, who have stepped up to support their community at this difficult time. They are doing a fantastic job and I’m proud that together we’re providing a lifeline for those people who need help the most.”
Support from NWCA is available to people living in the Armley ward who are vulnerable or self-isolating.
Anyone who needs deliveries of food parcels, shopping or prescriptions, or knows someone who does should call 0113 378 1877.