Call for volunteers in the Garw and Ogmore Valleys to help those in need

Volunteers are being sought in the Garw and Ogmore Valley to help those in need during the coronavirus pandemic.

People are being asked to sign up with the Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations (BAVO) to befriend and check on the welfare of residents, go shopping for those who need it, take patients home from hospital, collect prescriptions and help out in community kitchens and foodbanks.

BAVO’s chief executive Heidi Bennett said:

“While we’ve had hundreds of kind-hearted volunteers register with us in recent weeks, we still need some more in certain areas like the Garw and Ogmore Valleys which include the Evanstown area.

“We want people to stay healthy at home and we are looking for volunteers who can help us keep residents as safe and healthy as possible in their own homes.

“During this time we are particularly looking for people to help with shopping and prescription deliveries/collections.

“This might include helping deliver prescription and food bank parcels to families, as well as shopping essentials to elderly, frail and vulnerable people who are isolated at this time.

“Social distancing will apply as we want to protect our volunteers too and you will need to have your own transport or means of getting around.”

BAVO is the county voluntary council for Bridgend county borough and is also working with Bridgend County Borough Council to offer all volunteers free online training to help them in their roles.

BAVO has recently been able to help hundreds of residents across the county borough, receiving both local authority referrals and self-referrals.

Cabinet member for Wellbeing and Future Generations, Cllr Dhanisha Patel, said:

“Volunteers can make such a difference to those in need at this time and we are enormously grateful to all those who have come forward already with offers of help.”

Anyone interested in helping to volunteer in the Ogmore and Garw Valley can register online at https://bridgend.volunteering-wales.net/vk/volunteers/index.htm or email volunteering@bavo.org.uk or call 01656 810400.