Aylesbury Vale councillors get stuck in to help residents during COVID-19 crisis

The community hub has been established to support those in need during the COVID-19 crisis.

Aylesbury's Hub has matched more than 600 registered ‘shielded’ residents with volunteers to help with food shopping, medication collection, dog walking, hospital transport, and befriending.

On Friday a 'remote' curry night was organised by Aylesbury councillors Raj Khan and Niknam Hussain to pay tribute to the work by emergency services during the coronavirus lockdown. Curries were provided by a local caterer.

Social distancing precluded a sit-down meal, so volunteers hand-delivered 130 hot curries to staff at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, and to Aylesbury police and fire stations.

Meanwhile, local councillors Ashley Waite and Paul Irwin have been putting Bernie the Bernwode community bus to good use supporting vulnerable residents in remoter areas.

This week the councillors are touring Vale villages - including, Berryfields, Waddesdon, Quainton and Grendon Underwood - collecting gifts of groceries residents have pledged to leave at the end of their driveways, communities by collecting donations of food from businesses to be made up into food parcels.

Paul said: "The bus is absolutely stacked with groceries: it's overwhelming.

"It's so very moving to see and experience people's generosity."

Gareth Williams, Buckinghamshire Council's executive portfolio holder for health and culture, praised the efforts of volunteers and his councillor colleagues .

He said: "This really does our #ProudofBucks campaign...well, proud!

"I applaud the hardworking and dedicated volunteers who are doing their utmost to keep the county's wheels turning during these difficult times."