Although many people have already come forward to offer help to those who have to self-isolate due to the Cornavurus, and a postcard has been shared many times on social media which people can use to inform their neighbours that they are willing to help, a co-ordinated response organised by the Ross-on-Wye Community Development Trust is expected to come into play at the end of this week.

This will involve volunteers who have received training and been DBS checked. The Mayor’s project this year has been to develop a Good Neighbour scheme for Ross, so there is already a team of volunteers ready to help. This will not be to provide health care or personal care - this is the job of the professionals. But there are two ways that volunteers can assist.

First, there will be a team of people able to make daily phone calls from their homes to those in isolation and then fill out a simple internet form. In this way we can monitor welfare, respond if anyone needs help, and make referrals to the medical agencies if appropriate. This role is safe for anyone to do in their own home, even if they themselves are in isolation, provided they are well enough. This service will be available in the next few days.

Second, we hope to set up a delivery service for grocery orders. Volunteers who are not in isolation or in any of the risk groups are needed for this service, which we hope to launch as soon as possible.

If you can help please go to www.rosscdt.org to sign up as a volunteer or to donate to help this work.