Support for the community during the pandemic

Wiltshire Council is reminding residents that they are still available and working hard, alongside hundreds of community volunteer groups, to support residents during the lockdown.

Volunteer groups that were set-up across the county at the start of, and throughout, the pandemic are still offering support, guidance and resources to anyone who needs it.

The council has continued to collate and update a directory containing all of the details of the volunteer groups, with over 300 still continuing to provide support at this challenging time for many. 

In addition to all of the valuable work that local community groups have been undertaking to support their communities, Wiltshire Council's Wellbeing Hub is available to provide support to those who need it.

The hub can help to provide support for those who perhaps don't have a network around them, and also signpost people to where additional help is available in their local area. Anyone can access the hub, particularly people who are self-isolating, people who do not have others to support them, and have been identified as clinically extremely vulnerable and are shielding.

People can get in touch with the hub via email at wellbeinghub@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) or by calling 0300 003 4576. It's available from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm on Saturdays. The opening hours will be regularly reviewed throughout the coming weeks. The hub's team will soon be making contact with anyone newly identified as clinically extremely vulnerable to check they have everything they need.

The council is also in the process of setting up support for people who need transport to get to an appointment for their COVID-19 vaccine. Details will be shared once this support is available.

The COVID Winter Support Grant also continues to support people during this time.

The council was awarded £1,107,932.98 in December as part of the Government scheme and is working with partner agencies to allocate the money which includes food payments for families; support for rough sleepers, Wiltshire Council tenants and care leavers; fuel poverty support for the traveller and boater communities and older and vulnerable people.

At this difficult time it is important to take care of your wellbeing and a range of online resources to help keep bodies and minds active can also be found at the council's Active Communities page on our  webpage.

Cllr Philip Whitehead, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: The ongoing COVID-19 situation can be very challenging and difficult, particularly for people without a network of support around them, but we'll continue to help every step of the way.

It's an unsettling time but there is plenty of support available for anyone who needs it, from helping to find your local community group to resolving issues with delivery of medications from pharmacies.

We don't want anyone to suffer in silence, and hope that anyone who does need support reaches out to either their local community groups, organisations, or our wellbeing hub.

More information about the community groups, Wiltshire Wellbeing Hub, council services, and the COVID Winter Support Grant can be found at our Coronavirus (COVID-19) page.