Kind Earls Barton villagers sticking together to help vulnerable during coronavirus isolation

A village social group has set up a team of volunteers to help their neighbours during the COVID-19 crisis.

Earls Barton Is Kind (EBIK) Coronavirus Response Group has more than 360 members with approximately 70 of those members who have signed-up their details on a database.

The group are coordinating a joint response of the parish council, the church and EBIK volunteers.

Mary Ayotte, joint volunteer coordinator for the group, said: "The response has been amazing. We have been working with the church, the parish council and all the businesses in the village. Everyone is helping.

"Two weeks ago I didn't know anyone in the village, and I've lived here for 16 years, now I know everyone.

"We need to make people in the village aware and that there is help available. We have quite a large number of elderly people in the village.

"Volunteers have leafleted half of the village and we will be leafleting the other half soon to get the message out to people who are not online."

Deliveries of essential foods and toiletries are being made by area volunteers who leave the parcels on recipients' doorsteps.

The packages are made up from donations from villagers and local shops and businesses.

Volunteers have also been asked to help picking up and dropping off prescriptions from the village chemist.

Ms Ayotte, who usually works as a manager, said: "We have a data base of approved volunteers who have agreed to share their details with us but we could always do with more.

"We don't know how long this situation will go on for. At the moment the pubs and local businesses are able to offer delivery services and everyone is helping.

"I'm optimistic that the village will cope but the bigger the list of volunteers the better.

"We're lucky in this village. We will all stick together."

Donations that will be used to help people in self-isolation in Earls Barton can be dropped off at 49 Doddington Road, Earls Barton.

Volunteers can contact the group via the Facebook site EBIK Coronavirus Response Group or email [email protected].