Police Commissioner urges people to support Cambridgeshire Together Against Coronavirus

CAMBRIDGESHIRE County Council and Peterborough City Council are today (Friday 3 April 2020) asking communities to pull together to reach out against Coronavirus.

Cambridgeshire/Peterborough Together Against Coronavirus will help people stay connected during self-isolation, particularly those at risk of feeling lonely.

Acting Police and Crime Commissioner, Ray Bisby is calling on communities to reach out and make sure people know help is at hand.

He says: “As we follow the stay at home message, lots of us who are isolating are finding ways of keeping in touch with the outside world, from regular phone or video calls to family and friends, to online exercise classes.

“However, for some people living on their own, self-isolation can lead to increased feelings of loneliness. These might be people living with disabilities or other vulnerable conditions, elderly people or those who are isolating for 12 weeks due to chronic health conditions.

“Whether it’s offering to deliver food supplies or pick up prescriptions, or regular phone calls checking on their wellbeing, there are lots of ways we can all keep an eye on people, without the need to make physical contact.

“There are already some fantastic examples of people offering support in their communities, whether as individuals, groups or businesses. We want to encourage people through this campaign to pull together and highlight the many ways they are already supporting people in their communities and their own household.”

If you are already involved in a community group, volunteering to help people, tell us what you are doing. For example, you may be a local shop offering food deliveries or an IT company supporting people to join social media networks.

• Share your stories of what you are doing to help people on your social media pages using the hashtags #ReachOut #PeterboroughTogether or #CambridgeshireTogether
• Share your tips on beating loneliness
• Download the campaign poster and other visuals on your social media pages or in your window to show what you are doing to help people in your neighbourhood
• Help us remind people about the importance of staying at home

Your stories will help us all remind people that help is at hand.

Further advice for people shielding from the Coronavirus can be found at: www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/coordinationhub or call 0345 045 5219.

ENDS