'Nobody in Nidderdale or the Washburn Valley should go unnoticed' - that's the mission for the army of 600 volunteers, who are helping self-isolated people whose homes are located in far-flung rural communities within the two valleys.

In geographical terms, the neighbouring valleys take up almost half the land area of the Harrogate district, but the population is around 12,000 and the number of households approximately 6,000 - highlighting the logistical challenge that volunteers face in ensuring that nobody is missed out.

The response to the coronavirus crisis is being co-ordinated by the Nidderdale Plus Community Hub in Pateley Bridge, which is providing the umbrella organisation, advice and support, to 13 volunteer networks, whose volunteers are working on a daily basis to deliver food, prescriptions and other vital items to people who are self-isolated in their homes.

Helen Flynn, who co-chairs Nidderdale Plus, with Paula Newson-Smith, told The Stray Ferret:

Working with parish councils, churches, GP practices, the Pateley Bridge Pharmacy, local shops, pubs that are providing takeaway services and the teachers from Bewerley Park Centre for Outdoor Education, Nidderdale Plus has established links with trusted organisations, who themselves marshal the volunteer activities in their own area.



Mrs Flynn (pictured above, outside the Nidderdale Plus Community Hub) pointed out:

Nidderdale Plus is providing the  volunteer networks with a crucial single point of reference on issues ranging from safeguarding policies to ensuring the safety of the volunteers who make the deliveries - which now include library books as well as food, medicines and pet supplies.

The huge team effort across Nidderdale and the Washburn Valley is being carefully coordinated to keep coronavirus at bay and Mrs Flynn expressed a collective wish when she said: