Hundreds of volunteers are on standby to help Abingdon residents through the COVID-19 pandemic as restrictions continue into the winter.

With more than 3,000 acts of kindness already completed, members of Abingdon Coronavirus community response (ACR) are ready to serve the town again.

The group, which was set up in the Spring, provides neighbour-to-neighbour help with shopping, collection of prescriptions and friendly chats.

It is determined to ensure that no-one is forgotten as lockdown lifts next week. The pledge comes as the Government outlined the tiers that areas fall into as restrictions continue until the New Year.

Julie Kemp-Harper from the group, said: “People feel a bit more prepared and supported as a result of the relationships that were built earlier in the year and better provision by supermarkets and other services.

 “However, there’s also much apprehension about managing over the winter and fresh hardships facing all ages, so we plan to carry on over the coming months.”

The group limits what it offers to what you might reasonably expect a neighbour to do and works closely with other Abingdon support agencies.

Many people have family or immediate neighbours to help them out now,  but said Julie: “That doesn’t apply to everyone. By coordinating volunteers across the town at a neighbourhood level we hope that no one will be left out. Sometimes our volunteers are the only friendly face a resident has seen for several days and those friendly chats are so valuable”.

To request help for yourself or a family member fill out our Support Requests form on our website www.abingdoncommunityresponse.org  or email: abingdoncoronaresponse@gmail.com .