Hurstpierpoint residents, Prue Heron, Ebony Buscema, Lucy Groenewoud, Hazel Constantine, Sian Tai and Ellie Carter are leading a local initiative to bring together Hurst residents to help and support their neighbours who are vulnerable or self-isolating during the current COVID-19 outbreak.

Prue initially set up the Facebook group earlier in March and said: “Before I knew it we had over 450 people join the page, and nearly 200 volunteers. It’s amazing and shows the real community spirit of the village.”

Volunteers are currently distributing fliers across the village with their contact details, and posters are on display in public areas. Four area co-ordinators are ensuring that every street is being covered. Area co-ordinator Ebony Buscema explained: “The aim is to ensure that everyone who needs support has a nominated local volunteer who they can reach out to. Volunteers are offering to collect shopping and prescriptions, walk dogs, post mail or be available on the telephone for a friendly chat.”

If you would like to volunteer, or need support and don’t know who to contact, please get in touch with the Group via their Facebook page – ‘Hurst COVID-19 Neighbours’ Support Group’ - or call Prue Heron on 01273 835064 or Ellie Carter on 07834 170669.

By Gail Millar

COVID-19 Coronavirus will have a huge effect upon all of our lives if not already but certainly in the coming weeks and months. This is our greatest opportunity as a nation, community and neighbourhood to care for those around us we all need to be looking out for the needs of others.

The most vulnerable group of people who will be most affected are the elderly, very soon if not by the time you read this, they and maybe us all will be asked to self-isolate. The facts of loneliness and isolation in this country are already shocking, this will increase exponentially. There will be a silver lining to all of this, neighbours will care for neighbours, strangers will show kindness to one another, we will share what we have and support one another through difficult circumstances.

Hurst charity Befriended has created a Telephone Befriending Scheme that you can be a part of. If you would like to ring someone who is in self isolation to chat to them, support them and encourage them please apply to be a telephone befriender. If you would like to be a call handler and have your telephone number on a list to receive calls and take down details please get in touch.

If you would like to distribute befriended cards around your neighbourhood please contact us. We need you. Together we can make a difference. I look forward to hearing from you.

Call 0300 7727703 or, to be a telephone befriender, visit our website: www.befriended.org

Neighbours Support group set up in Hurst

CV-19 - could you help on a Telephone Befriending Scheme?