Castle Donington Volunteer Centre's Covid response has been intense over the last 23 weeks, with employees and volunteers stepping up to provide necessary services throughout the Covid pandemic.

5 individuals are employed by Castle Donington Volunteer Centre, all of whom were essential to the uplift in workload.

At the same time, the Centre's appeal for new volunteers in the villages was phenomenally successful. 128 people have been able to provide support to the 11 villages that they cover.

It is estimated by the Volunteer Centre that by 24^th August it had supported in excess of 300 residents with shopping delivers; this involved 1,385 shopping deliveries from the local shops, but also the delivery of frozen food produced by volunteers to vulnerable individuals with different conditions and personal situations.

Change in the cumulative number of shopping requests up to 17^th August 2020 from 17^th March 2020.

Residents that were isolated were delivered their prescriptions, in an agreement reached with the local GP's and Pharmacy; Castle Donington Volunteer Centre has made 350 prescription deliveries.

To support people feeling alone and without family support, a buddying call system was put in place. This is being provided in conjunction with Hospice Hope and more than 600 telephone support calls have been made.

Some other activities provided by the Centre have included:

• 42 Post Office trips to provide people with the cash they needed and ensure that bills were paid.
• 69 Dog walking activities
• 37 visits to collect and redistribute Emergency Boxes donated by local people; These were targeted at people that were known to be struggling, including families identified in conjunction with a local school.
• 37 Book packages loaned from an honesty book initiative;. The Centre has 2000 books available to loan.

Special Events / Services - VE Day Cream Tea

Wayne Tranmer, Chair of Volunteers of Castle Donington Volunteer Centre said:

'As VE Day had the potential to be a flop we provided a Cream Tea to the over 75's and veterans, the population that were present on that day 75 years ago. We sourced, baked, packed and delivered 318 teas before lunch on the 8th of May to rekindle memories, cheer up those in our villages who lived through the times and remind them that we were here for them''.