​First citizen praises our first-class Community Hubs

The hundreds of people working in Bury’s five Community Hubs during the Covid-19 crisis have been thanked by the Mayor of Bury.

Councillor Tim Pickstone praised the amazing work that the hubs have been doing to ensure that essential help gets to the borough’s most vulnerable people.

There are 808 volunteers attached to the five hubs, who have helped 2,338 households in Bury since the start of the crisis.

While his meetings with hub leaders were all held online due to social distancing rules, he promises to say thanks in person once the lockdown is over.

Cllr Pickstone said: “The response from the Community Hubs has been amazing and it was brilliant to meet with some of the staff and volunteers who have made this happen. Thanks to their hard work vulnerable people who have had no other access to support have been able to receive food and prescriptions and a friendly face to say hello to. The work of the hubs across the borough has also helped with PPE distribution and making sure food donations are distributed.

“I was particularly impressed with how quickly the community hubs were set up and in such difficult circumstances. It truly is a credit to the staff who’ve come away from their normal jobs to do this, and to the volunteers who have come forward in such numbers.”

Because of social distancing regulations the meetings had to take place ‘virtually’: however, the Mayor is looking forward to saying ’thank you’ in person as soon as it is safe to do so.

“Later in the year I hope I can see the work of the volunteers in person and we can get together to say a proper ‘thank you’ to everyone who is working so hard for our community through this crisis.”

Jon Hobday, consultant in public health in Bury, said: “It was great for the mayor to take the time to personally thank the volunteers and staff who have worked tirelessly to support the communities during the crisis. The volunteers and staff were delighted that their hard work was being acknowledged.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 6 June 2020.

Picture: The Mayor of Bury, Cllr Tim Pickstone, in conference with volunteers at the Bury North and West community hubs.