Coronavirus: Labour mini-hub helping to plug shortages in Peterborough - LETTER

Although supplies in supermarkets and other food stores are slowly returning to their pre-lockdown levels, there are still serious shortages of some staple products, and COVAID discovered that one of the most urgently needed is UHT milk.

The weekly level needed is around 150 litres, and a big thank you goes to Tanvir Hussain, local supplier of daily dairy products.

He donated a massive 1,000 litres, which is enough for almost seven weeks’ supply, by which time we hope to see all supply chains back to near normal.

This generous donation will be especially helpful to families with young children.

Amongst the other donations received, local business-owner Hassan Abou Alaywi has donated 1,000 face-masks, an ongoing need now that we are seeing the first steps towards easing the lockdown.

And as a result of many other donations, COVAID is able to supply 50 meals three times a week to our gallant NHS workers on various different hospital wards, and 100 meals to the Light Project for the homeless, on an ‘as needed’ basis.

In addition we make a regular weekly contribution of £500 worth of food to foodbanks.

These are just a few examples and it’s really heart-warming to see the many offers of help that have poured in from all parts of the community in Peterborough. Our thanks go to every single contributor.

Although we now have the government draft roadmap for emerging from the crisis, many sectors of the community will still need help for some time to come.

So, if you can offer assistance, please contact one of the four ambassadors: Councillors Dennis Jones, Ikra Yasin, Lucinda Robinson and Dr Shabina Qayyum. The contact details can be found on the Peterborough City Council website www.peterborough.gov.uk/council/councillors by clicking on ‘Your Councillors’ on the drop-down menu.

Cllr Shaz Nawaz

Leader, Labour Group, Peterborough City Council