Stockton and Middlesbrough councils are pulling together volunteers, businesses and community groups to help those most in need due to the coronavirus.

In Stockton, Catalyst, the voice of the Borough’s Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector, is creating a ‘COVID Community Support Team’ with support from the Council.

The team will spearhead a major push to go out into communities to help the vulnerable and the elderly.

Help will range from doing food shopping and picking up prescriptions to making sure people who are self-isolating, and may be worried or lonely, get the support they need.

Chair of Catalyst Stockton, Guru Naidoo, said: “We’re facing a huge challenge in the weeks and months ahead – a lot of people are going to need our help and we must make sure they get it.

“Fortunately, we have an incredibly strong VCSE sector made up of hundreds of groups and organisations and we also have lots of offers of help from individuals and businesses. We’re drawing on them all to get us through this.

“This is the power of communities at its best.

“In the coming days we’ll be outlining in detail the kind of support we can provide and how people can go about accessing it. And if we need any more help we will put a call out to people explaining how they can get involved.

“The Council has already made it clear they’re ready to give us any support we need and it’s great to have them by our side.”

Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, Councillor Bob Cook, added: “There’s a tidal wave of goodwill out there and we have an army of volunteers, community groups and businesses chomping at the bit to assist.

“What Catalyst are doing is harnessing all of this goodwill and putting it to great use by coordinating a joint effort to make sure help reaches those people in our communities who need it most.

“Make no mistake, this is a big challenge but we are already seeing people uniting and rising to it. We will be supporting this every single step of the way.”

For links to all the national Coronavirus advice, as well as details of any disruption to services, visit www.stockton.gov.uk/coronavirus

In Middlesbrough a new volunteering group is being recruited from across Middlesbrough's communities as the town strengthens its defences against the Covid-19 outbreak.

The council is also urging those in need of help and support to get in touch so assistance can be arranged for those who are not able to manage.

The Help Boro initiative comes amid a major escalation in the UK's response to the global Coronavirus pandemic.

The public have been told to avoid non-essential contact and travel, and to work from home where possible.

Those developing symptoms should ‘self-isolate' for seven days if they live alone, and 14 days if they live with others.

A number of Middlesbrough Council buildings have been closed to the public for the foreseeable future, with staff working round the clock to deliver services through other channels.

The Council now wants to hear from residents who can offer to help in a range of ways, as well as from those in need of help.

Would-be volunteers with spare time are being invited to get in touch to assist with tasks such as: shopping, making meals, walking and taking care of your pets, someone to listen and support you and providing health advice and help with taking care of yourself

Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston said: "This situation is a massive challenge for everyone - but if we stick together then Middlesbrough can come through it in great shape.

"Our officers are working tirelessly to maintain services and support those in need - but if you need help, we want to hear from you and we'll do what we can.

"We will need help along the way, so please consider volunteering if you can."

To volunteer or to seek help, visit www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/helpboro  

For those who may struggle to complete the online form, a dedicated team is on hand to provide assistance over the phone - call 01642 729777. 

For the latest local updates and information, visit www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/covid19

The latest advice from Government and Public Health England can be found at www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response