Hastings volunteer army seeing big demand for help from those in need during coronavirus pandemic

Now co-ordinating more than 1,000 volunteers, the Hastings Emergency Action Response Team (HEART) sprang into action the moment lockdown was announced by the Government, arranging shopping deliveries for vulnerable people, collecting medications for people self-isolating at home, as well as organising volunteers to help ferry NHS staff to their shifts and delivering urgent supplies from the Hastings Foodbank.

The team’s selfless volunteers have now undertaken more than 600 vital tasks for people in the community, with numbers rising all the time.

Joint co-ordinator Kim Batty said: “When we set up HEART we knew it was going to be an important service but we had no idea it was going to play quite such a central role. Our volunteers have been simply amazing.”

So far the service has seen more than 150 emergency call-outs for people needing help with shopping, collecting medications or other practical help, including dozens of at-risk residents called each week to check how they are doing and what help they may need.

The volunteer force is working in a host other fields, too, racking up more than 400 free taxi rides at all hours for key NHS workers to get to and from their shifts at the Conquest Hospital, co-ordinated by the Hastings Supports our NHS group.

Tash Walker, from the group, said: “The Legacy of War Foundation provides support for communities around the world affected by war. We often work with incredible medical teams in emergency situations, and so during Covid-19 we are offering our experience to support NHS staff and volunteers in our home town of Hastings and St Leonards.

“We are working collaboratively with nurses, doctors, East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, Friends of the Conquest Hospital, HEART Emergency Response Team, local businesses and our amazing community.

“Our first request was transportation for those staff who could not afford taxis. We worked with nurses, the East Sussex NHS Trust Transportation Team and HEART to set up a co-ordinated volunteer driver service which is now running night and day.

“Our second request was for hand cream, as staff are working 12 hours shifts wearing surgical gloves. We worked with a Scottish supplier who donated 30,000 sachets of organic handcreams which are now being distributed.

“Our most recent request was Personal Protective Equipment for NHS staff in GP surgeries.

“We immediately sourced and purchased the equipment we were able to, and are now raising funds to cover the money we outlayed and purchase further equipment which is urgently needed.

“During this process, we have been humbled by the response of the local creative community.

“Katharine Wallinger, of Madrugar Milliners, has been creating and selling beautiful face masks, raising money for PPE. We have also been contacted by numerous artists and producers offering to sell works to raise funds, and so this auction site was born.”

Cllr Paul Barnett, a HEART coordinator, said charities are likely to need HEART volunteers even more in the coming weeks.

He said: “HEART volunteers have an amazing range of skills. We know this is going to be a real test for this town going forward, so we’re committed to help in whatever way we can.”

Thousands saw HEART and other support agencies featured in a special BBC South East broadcast to tell people how to get in contact if they need help.

Posters have been erected in corner shops and supermarkets, and this week the local Stagecoach bus service has agreed to put a poster with all the details in every bus in Hastings.

Anyone needing help to cope during the present crisis can ask for it by completing a form at HEART’s website – www.hastingsheart.com – and a volunteer will call back within a matter of hours.

In an emergency, people can call the council’s helpline on 01424 451019.

People can help HEART and dozens of charities and community organisations supporting people during the crisis by donating to the new Hastings Relief Fund crowdfunder appeal.

Visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/hastings-relief-fund.

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