A partnership between Malmesbury Town Council and Malmesbury based charity Heals, Help, Empower and Local Support, has been formed to support vulnerable individuals and families in the town during the coronavirus health crisis.

Malmesbury's Deputy Mayor, Cllr Campbell Ritchie, said: " "As a Town Council we want to do all we can to help those who need it most and enable people who want help to receive it. The partnership aims to back up family, neighbours, friends and community groups, providing support to offer a virtual one stop shop for all those who need help, as well as those who want to volunteer to help people they don’t already know, in situations where support can’t otherwise be provided.

"We expect this to include: prescription and medicines collection and home delivery, essential food and grocery collection and delivery, friendship calls and activities with isolated people by phone or by Facetime. We will also be working hard to safeguard the health and wellbeing of volunteers and vulnerable people in Malmesbury.

"An assessment will be made of the best way to help and the registered volunteers or local community groups will be mobilised‎. More complex cases, including people with debts, rent or Council Tax arrears, Foodbank voucher requests or who need to replace essential household items, will be passed to Heals, who we are pleased to be working closely with.

"They have great experience helping residents and families struggling with problems. Malmesbury is a terrific place. I want to thank all the existing and new community groups in Malmesbury that are offering help at this difficult time. We are already working together and will continue to do so,‎"

Cllr Gavin Grant, Heals Chairman of Trustees, said: "These are very difficult times for many people and families in our town‎. Those we already support will continue to get our help. But we know those numbers are likely to rise in the coming weeks. Working in partnership with the Town Council makes best use of Heals' knowledge and experience. It’s also the best way to make sure we maximise the number of those helped and make best use of those coming forward to volunteer‎.

“Challenging days lie ahead, but I am very confident that if we all do the right things by each other‎, we will get through this and Malmesbury will be an even better, more caring and stronger community than it is now."

For more information please contact: Cllr Campbell Ritchie on 07802 638424 or Cllr Gavin Grant, HEALS Chair of Trustees on 07780 650785

People who want to volunteer should email Malmesbury Town Council at administration@ malmesbury.gov.uk or tic@malmesbury.gov.uk. A volunteering form is also available on the Town Council website www.malmesbury.gov.uk Those needing help can also contact the Town Council by calling 01666 822142 between 9.30am and 1pm Monday to Friday or emailing administration@malmesbury.gov.uk or tic@malmesbury.gov.uk .