AS central Government starts to lift the lockdown and restrictions around the coronavirus, workers are continuing to support Thurrock’s most vulnerable instead of their normal work.

Stronger Together, the partnership between Thurrock Community and Voluntary Services, Thurrock Council and Health organisations, made swift decisions at the beginning of the pandemic to restructure their organisations and redeploy staff to the frontline.

Amanda, project officer at Thurrock CVS was tasked with creating databases to log volunteers and resident requests, to ensure residents were paired with verified volunteers who had signed up to help along with recruiting volunteers.

Amanda, 52, from Grays, said: “I started to create a space for communication via social media which has led to a total of 500 volunteers being signed up, verified and loaded to a database to support residents’ requests for assistance.

“Rather than my usual role, which largely focused on Giving for Thurrock – the mayor’s dedicated charity – I’m now on a rota where we pick up new requests for help from residents and then pass them to the right volunteers.

“I’m so proud of the work we’ve done, and the work we’re continuing to do. Between the team, we have recruited more than 500 volunteers. This reflects how much people care.”

To volunteer with the Thurrock Coronavirus Community Action Group, see: tiny.cc/ThurrockVolunteer