Mammoth mailout for Ribble Valley's community hub

The mammoth mailout will see the borough’s 27,500 homes receive the Ribble Valley Community Hub leaflet.

Ribble Valley Borough Council is leading the community response to the pandemic and has set up the hub to give a helping hand to locked down households facing difficulties, worries or loneliness.

Council workers have joined forces with volunteers, businesses, partners and community groups to help vulnerable residents with their everyday needs, such as obtaining food parcels, collecting prescriptions, housing, financial and debt advice, help with shopping, or even just offering a listening ear.

The helpline is available for people needing help, anyone wanting to volunteer their time, or businesses seeking advice and the latest Government information.

Ribble Valley is one of the sparsest boroughs in the country, with two small towns and over 40 villages, as well as an above average number of elderly and isolated residents, meaning it faces specific challenges in tackling the outbreak.

The borough council leader, Coun. Stephen Atkinson, said: “Our officers have access to a wide range of knowledge and information, and are used to dealing with the public. Our community hub has already phoned thousands of vulnerable residents and where we were unable to make contact we have organised welfare visits from the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service. Our helpline is receiving a steady stream of calls and we have been able to match hundreds of our households with the help they need. I am proud to be part of a borough where so many people have stepped forward to volunteer their services to help others and together we are making a huge difference in the most difficult times.”

You can contact the Ribble Valley Community Hub at 01200 414597, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, or ribblevalley.gov.uk.