Volunteers offer vulnerable help during lockdown

A team of volunteers is coming to the rescue of residents in Sale struggling for help during lockdown.

The helpers, including the Mayor of Trafford Cllr Rob Chilton, are delivering food and other essential supplies to the vulnerable.

The emergency operation is now into its sixth week during which time it has delivered shopping, medicine, prescriptions and other items urgently needed by people isolated at home.

The service is provided by Our Sale West, one of 150 Big Local initiatives across the country and based at the local community centre.

Cllr Chilton spends four hours each day helping to co-ordinate a 32-strong volunteer workforce distributing parcels from food banks and dealing with other requests for support.

Anyone who needs help should telephone 0300 3309073 between 9 am and 5 pm on weekdays. Calls are charged at local rates.

Cllr Chilton said: “I’m not doing any ceremonial engagements at the moment so I’m delighted to join volunteers running this vital service.  We assist people of all ages and it might even be that someone feels lonely and just wants to have a chat.

“We’ve been helping all ages, though mostly the elderly, disabled and anyone who feels vulnerable.”

Cllr Chilton, who represents St Mary’s ward, should have been stepping down as Mayor shortly but his year of office has been extended until July when Deputy Mayor Cllr Laurence Walsh will take over.

Cllr Chilton added: “I was the youngest Mayor in Trafford’s history when I took over at the age of 33 and I’m about to become the longest-serving, although I’d much prefer that I wasn’t and everything was normal.

“It’s been a great year of office but unfortunately this awful virus kicked in and a lot of people are in need of support.”