COMMUNITY groups in west Wiltshire are stepping up their activities again now that the county has gone into the third lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic and are reminding residents they are still available to help.

With the return of another lockdown the team at Melksham Community Support have stressed that they are still available to help people who need support.

Melksham Community Support was started back in March 2020 and is now run by Age Friendly Melksham with a fantastic team of volunteers. They offer support with essential shopping, collection of prescriptions, dog walking for those people who find themselves unable to leave their homes, as well as making regular friendly phone calls to those who have lost much of their social network.

Chair of Age Friendly Melksham, Jon Hubbard, said: “Our phone lines are available 24/7 and we ask people to leave us a message and we will call them back to arrange support.

“I am so grateful to the amazing team of volunteers who have supported this work over the past 10 months, without them none of it could have happened.”

Age Friendly Coordinator Phillipa Huxtable added: “It is important that people feel safe and secure in accepting the help we have to offer so a reminder that all of our volunteers should have a Photo ID Card that can be presented to show that they are a Community Responder.

“If you have volunteering previously and would like to start helping again during this lockdown we would love to hear from you again. Don’t worry if you can’t find your ID Card, we can reprint it for you. Please contact us by emailing support@melkshamcommunity.co.uk or fill in the volunteer to help form on the website”.

Those looking for support should call 01225 809265 or can request support or volunteer to help by visiting melkshamcommunity.co.uk.