Fund-raising drive launched as hundreds of  residents are helped thanks to the hub

Rossendale Connected, a new community hub to help Rossendale residents during coronavirus, has taken more than 400 calls since it launched.

The hub, which runs seven days a week, was set-up to  support the communities, families and individuals facing tough times because of the coronavirus outbreak and the stepping up of social distancing and isolation measures.

The oldest person the hub has helped is 97 and the majority of people have been in their 70s and 80s.

92 per cent of the people Rossendale Connected has helped have at least one underlying health condition. 

A fifth of the people have got in touch in relation to food (acquiring, collection or delivery.)

The number of people contacting the hub because they feel lonely is quite low but slowly increasing.

To provide further support for Rossendale communities, the hub has set up a crowdfunding page. The Justgiving page will help co-ordinate fund raising and is looking to hit a target of £20,000.

The page will be a trusted route for the people of Rossendale to give to those local charities and groups that are working tirelessly to support the borough’s most vulnerable residents. The funds will be administered by the Council, but all money raised will be distributed to local charities and groups to deliver food and other support to residents.

So far, nearly £1,000 has been raised in three days.

Councillor Alyson Barnes, Leader of the Council, said:

“I can’t tell you how proud I am of the response by staff, partners, residents and businesses to this unprecedented public health crisis. Coronavirus is affecting us all in so many ways but one positive out of this extremely challenging time has been the community really pulling together and supporting each other.

“Setting up the hub in a matter of days is a real achievement and as we can see from the latest statistics, it is really delivering.

“I have also been overwhelmed by all the offers of help from residents and businesses so we are trying our best to co-ordinate that so the support goes to the right place. That is why we have set up a justgiving page so we can make sure donations are used to help those struggling the most.”