Members of the Wellington Coronavirus Community Group have now carried out more than 1,000 weekly shops and collected 3,500 prescriptions since the organisation started work in March.

Lead co-ordinator Meg Moriarty says the group – better known as the Wellington Angels – currently has 85 active volunteers helping individuals over 70 and/or with health problems.

The scheme, which is running in Wellington and outlying areas such as Langford Budville, Sampford Moor, West Buckland and Bradford-on-Tone, works by connecting a volunteer with vulnerable individuals who need help. Meg has been working with Jade Martin running the group, with Steven and Claire Ward in charge of the prescription service.

The WWN is highlighting Wellington Angels as part of National Volunteers Week.

One of the volunteers is firefighter Paul Thompson, of Gillards Close, Rockwell Green, who shops for three regular service users. He said the supermarkets have not been able to catch up with the high demand for delivery services – the people he shops for are classed as special users but cannot get deliveries.

He said: “It helps people out – it’s bad enough people having to stay in their homes and even harder if they can’t get the shopping they need.” And he added: “If there’s any silver lining to the coronavirus crisis it has brought about a certain element of community spirit, almost like that old wartime spirit my gran used to talk about.”

For the full story see this week’s Wellington Weekly News.