Pudsey Church rallies to support those in need

Pudsey Community Project, founded by Pudsey Parish Church vicar Rev Richard Dimery, is one of more than 70 groups in Yorkshire that have sprung up in recent days under the banner of the UK-wide coronavirus Mutual Aid online group. Across the country, there are more than 1,000, alongside countless others bringing together volunteers ready and willing to do shopping, walk dogs, or even pick up a phone and chat to someone affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

The Pudsey group was one of the first in the city to recognise a need for coordinated action.

Join our new Leeds coronavirus Facebook group for the latest confirmed news and advice as soon as we get it www.facebook.com/groups/leedscoronavirusRev Richard told the YEP he was keen to use the connections he had built over recent years to offer support. The church is being used as a drop off centre for donations of food, toiletries, pet food and basic medicines that will be distributed to isolated local people.

Dozens of volunteers have come forward, and are being accredited by Voluntary Action Leeds in a way to ensure everyone involved stays safe.

Rev Richard said: “We were seeing things online offering help with prescriptions or shopping and I was scared about safeguarding and virus spreading.

“I wanted to help coordinate the goodwill and generosity in a way that was transparent.”

The church is working with Leeds City Council, which has given them a £500 grant. Pudsey residents have also donated £800 to fund supplies.

It is in the next week, he said, that they will be called on, as people in Pudsey, and across Yorkshire, get used to a “new way of life”.

“We are in really good shape to be able to help but I am anxious for the young families, vulnerable families and older people we have already connected with,” he said.

“We don’t take change well and my concerns for the low level traumatisation and people’s mental health. I’m afraid for people who just refuse to comply with social distancing,

“Now, we should be talking more about physical distancing and social solidarity - talking to our neighbours by phone or video call.”

Anyone wishing to volunteer to help with support groups across the city can register as a community care volunteer with the Council and Voluntary Action Leeds.

Volunteers can sign-up for a range of different roles, from shopping deliveries and preparing meals to making check-in phone calls.

For more information visit https://doinggoodleeds.org.uk/Pudsey Parish Church is open for donation drop-offs, Monday to Saturday 10am-12 and Tuesday and Thursday evenings 6-8pm,