COMMUNITIES in Coventry are continuing to receive help from Family Hubs, the council has said.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, Coventry council’s Early Help workers at eight hubs are supporting families with home supplies.
Four of the city’s hubs remain open providing a base for citywide coverage.
A spokeswoman for the council said: “In recent days, the Families for All Hub team in the Central area took a delivery from Fare Share, an organisation set up to use up surplus food, with a plan to use it in their own café.
“But the lockdown meant the café had to close – so rather than waste the food, staff made up grocery bags filled with fruit, veg and lots more. Observing social distancing, they hand delivered 20 bags to families’ doorsteps.
“One resident told us ‘We wanted to thank you guys at the hub for the kind and thoughtful gesture yesterday. I asked if the food could be given instead to someone more in need like my elderly neighbour who’s been self isolating before the lock down. He and my family are so grateful.
“At Pathways Family Hub, families in the west of the city have been helped in lots of ways.
“For example, one hub worker managed to source a bed and mattress for a child after Citizens Advice contacted the hub about a mum whose child had no bed to sleep in, which they had delivered.
“Mosaic Hub has provided a base for midwives following the closure of several GP surgeries because of the pandemic.
“It has allowed essential pre and post-birth care to continue.
“At Wood Side and Aspire Family Hubs (South) staff are making sure important working relationships with partners are maintained, such as Coventry Food Bank.
“The hub team have supported more than 20 families making sure families aren’t having to travel unnecessarily.”
Andrew Scott, Resilience Project Coordinator, at Coventry Food Bank from the Trussell Trust, said: “Having food parcels at family hubs has proven to be an effective way of supplying food to people who need it. We want to ensure that food parcels remain accessible for people who need our help in as safe a way as possible. Collaborating with other partners helps prevent risk and increase access during this season of Coronavirus.”
Coun Pat Seaman, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “We know how important Family Hubs are to people in normal times, but in these incredibly difficult times they have become an absolute lifeline for some families.
“The examples here make me so proud and I know they are just the tip of the iceberg. Thank you to everyone who is continuing to provide kindness and support to some of our most vulnerable families
