Small businesses and community groups in one Notts town are rallying together to identify elderly people in the area who may need a hand while self-isolating due to coronavirus.
Market traders have begun delivering food parcels to elderly people around Sutton-in-Ashfield and a community group that runs social activities for elderly people has been ringing its 200 members to help them get hold of anything they need.
Ashfield Voluntary Action (AVA) has had to cancel its group sessions in line with advice from the government but also said it fears “pushing people back into their homes” because it aims to reduce isolation in elderly people.
The group has teamed up with Colledges Butchers and Larvin’s Fruit and Vegetables in Idlewells Indoor Market, Sutton-in-Ashfield, to identify elderly residents who may be struggling to get “food in their cupboards.”
The two stalls have been putting together food parcels which include meat, fruit and vegetables to deliver to residents in isolation since March 16 and say they are already fast approaching 100 orders.
Mike Brown, 24, runs Larvin’s Fruit and Veg in Idlewells Indoor Market with his partner’s father and is contributing some of his healthy food items in the packages going out.
He said: “I think we’ve lost count on how many deliveries we’ve done but it’s probably approaching around 100 now.
“We’ve seen that the footfall here is falling and the elderly people in particular are coming by less. If they have to stay at home, we decided to take things to them.
“Elderly customers have helped us so much in the past so it’s time we returned the favour.
“We started at the beginning of this weekend, but it’s really taken off now in the last day or so. It’s not just the elderly though, some younger people are stuck in their houses and need help too.
“There’s no delivery charge, just the normal price of our products, and as well as the vegetables we are delivering fruits like apples and oranges.”
Jake Owens, manager of Colledge’s Butchers which is also in the market, is doing his bit to make sure vulnerable people have “food on their plate” by working with Larkin’s Fruit and Veg.
The 26-year-old added: “We’re just trying to help the local people a bit so we are delivering food to their houses.
“We are dropping meat from what we sell here, cobs, and vegetables from the stall here in the market. A lot of people aren’t able to leave their homes but they still need these items.
“People normally come to us and they’ve kept me in the job so we’re giving back and trying to look after them by putting food on their plate.”
Many of those who have been identified as needing some assistance with their food shopping have been referred by Ashfield Voluntary Action - who work with around 200 elderly people to tackle isolation.
Teresa Jackson, manager of AVA, said: “I was in despair when I heard about the isolation measures because of how it would impact elderly people and amplify loneliness.
“It worries me how the over 70s are being pushed back into their homes when we have been working hard to get them to come out and come to groups.
“We have had to suspend groups under government advice so we’ve told them not to come in and that we will be in contact with them and finding out how we can support them, and referring them to other support groups if needed.
“At least once or twice a week, we are calling our members to make sure they are alright and help them get anything they need, like their shopping and things like that.
“We’ve linked up some of the other groups and businesses in the area to help more people.
“We’re also a bit worried about people taking advantage of these vulnerable people, so we are putting together some top tips to make sure members are taking precautions with their health and safety.
“At the moment when people turn up on their doorstep, people are not thinking logically as they always should because of the situation.
“Older people often struggle to trust people and ask for help so it's important they have someone and have food in their cupboards. There’s a lot of pride in a lot of them that prevents them asking for help.”
