COUNCIL chiefs have urged volunteers to come together and avoid their incredible efforts being duplicated.

The ‘St Helens Borough Together’ campaign is a partnership between St Helens Council and a range of voluntary organisations, brought together by Halton and St Helens Voluntary Community Action (VCA).

The initiative creates a one-stop shop where people can sign up to become a ‘street champion’ to help people who are isolated or affected by the coronavirus and also provides a point of contact to anyone in need of support.

A wealth of work has already gone on since St Helens Borough Together launched last week but in recent days, council chiefs have written to stakeholders asking them to join the campaign.

“Right across St Helens hundreds of people, community groups and parish councils are volunteering to offer their help and support to people left vulnerable and isolated because of the coronavirus,” the letter said.

“This overwhelming support shows what fantastic community spirit there is in St Helens and has no doubt provided a lifeline to many in need.

“In order to help coordinate this fantastic effort and ensure that the right support is offered to those most in need, St Helens Council is asking all parish councils, businesses, groups and individuals who are helping support the vulnerable in our communities due to COVID-19, to register as a volunteer through the St Helens Together campaign.”

The letter, which is signed by St Helens Council’s chief executive Kath O’Dywer and council leader David Baines, outlines several reasons why the council’s leadership wants the volunteering efforts under one roof.

St Helens Star: St Helens Council's chief executive Kath O'DwyerSt Helens Council's chief executive Kath O'Dwyer

One key reason is to avoid duplication of effort and to minimise the likelihood of some people being provided with food and supplies from multiple sources and as such wasting valuable donations.

The council said it also must be able to coordinate the collation and distribution of food provided by the government as part of the community hub initiative aimed at protecting the most vulnerable.

It is also important that everyone who needs support in the borough has access to this, and this also applies for those who wish to volunteer.

Halton and St Helens VCA will also be able to provide letters of “authorisation” to allow volunteers to travel and not be prevented to do so by new police powers.

“We know that there are so many great people in St Helens who want to support those who are isolated or in need of help, but we need to make sure that we are combining and coordinating these acts of kindness,” the letter said.

“By bringing all this activity though St Helens Together, it will help us to get a full picture of the resources available and match it against where help is needed most.”

Over the last week, volunteers under the St Helens Borough Together banner have been rallying round to help those who need it.

Among those are the team at DriverNet, who have been delivering free school meals to families in self-isolation.

“There’s been a real Dunkirk spirit in the town which has mobilised hauliers, taxi drivers, community transport and van hire companies to deliver emergency food from Age UK out to the elderly and vulnerable, for free,” said Ant Chisnall, chief executive of DriverNet.

“We recently clapped for the NHS, but these people are also the unsung heroes and we should all be very proud of them right now.”

The St Helens Borough Together campaign is also being backed by Andrew Mikhail, owner of The Eccleston Arms and the Steve Prescott Foundation.

Within 12 hours, Andrew and his team transformed The Eccleston Arms from a restaurant into a shop selling essential items for NHS staff and other key workers.

A 40-strong volunteer group from Blackbrook ARLFC, who are delivering vital essentials free of charge.

“In testing times like these it is heart-warming to see the acts of selflessness and support that so many people are taking,” said Cllr Baines.

“These acts of kindness are exactly what we wanted to pull together through St Helens Borough Together as a way to bring all those people who want to help those in need and match them up to the people who need help.

“The DriverNet team have been helping us to deliver free school meals to families in self-isolation among other projects supporting those most in need of our help.

“We have also seen the fantastic work being done by the team at Eccleston Arms Bar and Grill who have turned themselves into a shop delivering essentials to those who can’t get out and being backed by many including Blackbrook ARLFC and the Steve Prescott Foundation.

“We are so grateful to them and the army of street champions doing their bit to help others and I’m delighted to be supporting them in this vital volunteering they are doing.”

Once registered, street champions will be supported by St Helens Council’s Contact Cares team who can help if someone has concerns about a neighbour or does not know where to direct them.

Street champions might also be contacted by the organisers with details of someone in need who has been in touch with them.

Existing volunteers, those who want to register as a volunteer or those who want to see what support is available to them should visit sthelenstogether.co.uk or call 01744 676767.