ACORN, the national community union,best known for battling against bad landlords has organised a large group of Brighton volunteers to deliver food to the most vulnerable local residents.
The Union’s Corona Community Support is helping to get local volunteers to support elderly and vulnerable people in the community who may need shopping, prescriptions collected and other vital tasks that they are unable do when self isolating or confined to their homes.
Peter Holmes, 56 of Kemptown who is a vulnerable person with emphysema said: ‘ACORN volunteers have helped tremendously. I have called them five times to help with food shopping. It’s 14 days since I’ve been out and the support has been a lifeline.’
Paul Williams, ACORN’s Brighton organiser stated that: ” We are really proud of the hard work of our members and volunteers over the past few weeks to provide vital support to so many vulnerable households across Brighton. and we are truly living up to our name as the fourth emergency service.”
The organisation has a total of 1,000 volunteers throughout the UK, with 200 currently based in Brighton who are helping at this time of crisis. Local volunteers like Ciaran Harris, aged 23 from Hollingdean, feel they are able to help:
“I’m volunteering with because this crisis has left many people vulnerable, without essentials and isolated. The lack of government support shows again that collective effort is needed to support vulnerable members of our community.”
The union is also able to link up with existing charities such as Sussex Beacon, Voices in Exile and Possability People in order to reach the people who really need help. A spokesperson from Possability People stated: “It’s been reassuring to know there is such a responsive and well organised service like this offering essential support to people at a time when they are most vulnerable.”
If you are interested in volunteering with ACORN to help in the vulnerable in Brighton click here
