Community hub which helps 7,500 people in Cambridgeshire during pandemic marks 100-day anniversary

The Countywide Co-ordination Hub celebrates its 100-day anniversary today (June 23) after successfully helping those most at risk during the pandemic.

Launched by Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council in March, the hub has regularly helped 7,653 on the shielded list in the county - and plans to continue the work after the Government announced lockdown plans would be eased.

Since its launch the Countywide Hub has:

*Delivered food packages to 2,782 residents

*Referred 762 people to the Red Cross for befriending services

*Responded to 5,915 calls from residents

*Delivered PPE to GP surgeries, pharmacies, care homes and elsewhere

*Trained volunteers to work in places such as care homes where staff are in short supply.

*Supported hundreds of carers across the county

Adrian Chapman, service director for communities and safety for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, said: “We know that the update from Government yesterday (Monday) relating to the pausing of the shielding programme will be met with excitement and anxiety.

“There will be many people who will need help and support to transition out of shielding and to move towards a new way of life, which of course will still include social distancing. For those people, the Countywide Hub will be there to provide that support. In addition, NHS volunteer responders will continue to offer support to those who need it, including collecting and delivering food and medicines.

“The network of district and city hubs will continue to provide support for all others who don't have help and assistance from friends, family or neighbours. This will be particularly important as part of NHS Test and Trace, to support people who may need help when isolating as a result of having symptoms of coronavirus or because they have been in close contact with someone who is a confirmed case.

“In addition, we will be keeping a record of people who are extremely clinically vulnerable in case the R rate starts to increase and there is a need for people to shield once again."

he added: “It has been an absolute privilege to lead the work of the countywide hub, making sure that people who are at the greatest risk from the coronavirus are protected from harm as far as possible.

“We created the Countywide Hub from scratch at incredible pace, to be able to provide the support that so many of our residents needed at that time and still do. What has been achieved in such a short space of time is truly remarkable."

Councillor Irene Walsh, cabinet member for communities for Peterborough City Council, said: “The pandemic left hundreds of people across Peterborough feeling worried, alone and without help within a very short space of time. It has, and continues to be, an incredibly difficult time for so many residents, but the network of support hubs has lightened the load for so many people.”

To contact the countywide hub visit here

It can also be contacted Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, and Saturdays 9am to 1pm on 0345 045 5219.