More than 300 Marlborough residents responded to the appeal from Marlborough Town Council to volunteer to assist the shielded and vulnerable members of the town. The volunteers delivered over 4000 information leaflets and since the lockdown they have carried out at least 500 shops and prescription collections.
Earlier in the week Marlborough Town Council posted, “We’d just like to say thank you” on their Facebook page.
Mayor Mervyn Hall commented, “It is just fantastic that we got such a fast response, from so many people when we asked for volunteers to help out during the crisis. This enabled us to put together a volunteer structure covering all areas of Marlborough that is helping out a lot of people. Special thanks go to Clare Harris for doing all the hard work in putting it together and, of course, to the volunteers.”
The Town Council are also grateful for a generous donation from a local resident and grants from the Marlborough Lions Club and the Area Board. This has meant they have been able to provide PPE equipment and hand sanitizer for the volunteers and essential shopping for those in need.
Kym Marie Cleasby, who is a volunteer and the co-ordinator for the Acres told Marlborough.news, “We have done shopping, prescription runs, phone conversations with the socially isolated and we speak through the window to people when we are out walking in the area. People are very anxious but we are all pulling together and we do what we can. My parents live in Ringwood and I know that others are doing the same there for the people we love.”
For Kym and her husband, who only moved here last November, volunteering has been a good opportunity to meet new people.
“We have made so many friendships with wonderful people. It’s just like we’re all a big family and there is a real sense of community building.”
Pat Harper has been dog-walking Dougal, an eleven year old West Highland White. Dougal had dislocated his hip by falling off a wall and was prescribed a walk of an hour a day to encourage him to use all four legs, something his owner would have found difficult to undertake.
Pat commented, “I’m very glad to be contributing and to be helping Dougal and his charming owner. It’s a good excuse to get out and the nice thing is that Dougal is definitely improving. He walks unbelievably slowly as he tries to put weight on all four legs and he’s a sniffer! He likes to sniff everything and I mean everything !!”
If you need help, or would like to join the volunteer scheme, click here for contact details: https://www.marlborough-tc.gov.uk/coronavirus/getting-help
Alternatively phone Clare Harris on 07395793018 or email charris@marlborough-tc.gov.uk
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