A DAY care centre that has been working hard to help the vulnerable during lockdown is appealing for more volunteers.

The Bridge in Catterick Garrison usually operates a day care centre from its Shute Road base to give carers some respite and offer a welcome social outlet for vulnerable adults.

However, it has had to close this service during lockdown so instead turned its attention to helping people with chores like shopping and prescription collections, using a network of volunteers and posting requests via the Richmond Covid-10 Mutual Aid facebook page.

The Bridge is also one of 23 community organisations working with North Yorkshire County Council to coordinate the voluntary sector network in each locality across the county, providing support for those with no-one else to turn to during the coronavirus pandemic.

Now that lockdown restrictions have eased, the service is seeing a drop in volunteer numbers as people return to work, but there are still many vulnerable and shielding people who rely on the service for help with essential errands.

Centre manager Jacqueline Brakenberry explains: “We have lost a lot of people because people have gone back to work or are now more able to get out and help their families and others, whereas they couldn’t before.

“A lot of people really liked it (volunteering) in the beginning because otherwise they would have had to stay in, but it has changed now that people have more freedom to do other things.

“Although demand may drop off towards the end of July, we are running the service until September for people who still need it.

“We are expecting people to start going out more and doing more for themselves by then, but the amount of people that we have had call and post letters thanking us because they have nobody has been humbling.

“They have been thanking us for all the help saying they don’t know how they would have coped without us.

“We’ve also had people make donations which has been really lovely.”

One of those who have benefitted from The Bridge’s support is 77-year-old Margaret Gunn of Richmond who deals with mental health problems.

Volunteers have helped with her shopping and with essential transport during the pandemic.

The Northern Echo:

Centre manager Jacqueline Brakenberry

“They have been absolutely wonderful,” said Margaret. “I really can’t tell you how fantastic they have been.

“My son had been doing the shopping at Sainsbury’s when the pandemic started but he was struggling to get a slot even though I am a vulnerable person.

“The response from the Bridge was wonderful and quite honestly if it had not been for them, I would have been really stuck for shopping.”

Yvonne Leathley is among the volunteers who have been running errands and providing a listening ear to those self-isolating during the pandemic.

And because she works for herself from home, she is able to continue to offer her time and help to those who need it.

She said: “I just think, if it was my dad and he was isolating and didn’t have anyone else, I would like to think that somebody would be there to help.”

Yvonne added that she has worked local collections into her walking exercise regime and says a lot of the people she visits ‘just like a little chat’ during what has been a lonely time for many.

Anybody who can offer any time to volunteer for the Bridge, either with shopping or prescription collections, or being available to check in on people over the phone, can contact 01748-832271 for more details.

This article is part of a Salt of the Earth campaign run by our sister paper The Darlington and Stockton Times and North Yorkshire County Council to highlight good deeds. To nominate a person or group, contact saltoftheearth@northyorks.gov.uk