"Please do not struggle alone because help is there' is pledge from leader of Burnley Council as pandemic continues to impact on families

That is the message from Burnley Council Leader Coun. Mark Townsend as the pandemic continues to impact on families across the borough.

Giving the assurance that help continues to be there for those who are struggling Coun. Townsend said the council and its partners will 'always do what we can, where possible, to help those in need.'

Burnley Council has, for many years, been working with other local partners, including faith organisations, to fight for more central government funding to tackle deprivation and other social issues and continues to press for

much-needed extra resources.

Coun. Townsend added: ";Our borough has long been tackling issues around social deprivation and the Covid-19 pandemic has added extra pressures on local people and families.

"The virus has had a major impact on social and community life. It's brought loneliness, anxiety, financial insecurity, isolation and exclusion."

At the start of the pandemic the council and partner agencies established Burnley Together, a community hub to help those most in need in the town's communities. It has proved to be a massive success, with organisations combining their efforts to provide a wider range of services, support and advice to thousands of residents.

Describing Burnley Together as a 'great example of the community coming together to support others through tough times' Coun. Townsend added: “The co-ordinated partnership approach to covid has created new friendships, a greater sense of neighbourliness, community action and a willingness to volunteer.

"Organisations in the borough have come together to play their part. We are willing to work with other individuals or groups who want to help."

Examples of the work Burnley Together has carried out are:

* Its contact centre received 11,045 contacts, providing direct support to 2,208 families

* Throughout April, May, and June the hub made contact with and checked on 2,930 of the borough’s most clinically and socially vulnerable people

* Around 150 home visits were made and around 5,000 food parcels delivered to those in need thanks to hub partners’ BFC in the Community, Ghausia, and Gannow foodbank

* During the summer holidays, with funding from DEFRA, the hub distributed 52,772 meals through a new community food partnership including our foodbanks, Charter House, Northern Community Networks,

Padiham Town Council and Burnley Boys' and Girls' Club, ensuring that no family had to go hungry during the school holidays

* The hub provided nearly 800 residents with either support for shopping or an uninterrupted supply of their medication whilst they have been shielding.

* The hub has supported at least 144 individuals to register for volunteering. Thanks to Burnley, Padiham and Rossendale CVS volunteers received training and had access to opportunities that met their skills

* It has provided furniture to around 45 households during lockdown.

* Supported 58 families to access free school meal vouchers, and 53 people with housing and repair needs.

* Twenty two people have been supported with homelessness.

* Hub workers have undertaken 587 shopping trips, 296 medication visits, made 120 be-friending visits and provided advice to 180 people with financial difficulties.

Coun. Townsend said: "Organisations in the borough have come together to play their part.

"We're willing to work with other individuals or groups who want to help and I would urge anyone who is struggling, or who knows someone who is struggling, to get in touch with Burnley Together and speak to one of their friendly volunteers.

"There is a wide range of help out there for people who need it."

Burnley Together can be contacted on 01282 686402