VOLUNTEERS and Oxford City Council are organising a series of emergency help centres to help the vulnerable through coronavirus isolation.

The city council and voluntary organisation Oxford Hub are working together to create Locality Response Centres in Oxford.

These five centres will be used to help different communities, especially vulnerable people, through the social isolation measures designed to slow the spread of coronavirus.

The new Locality Response Centres will begin operating in the next week, with five teams across the city: North, South, East, West and Central.

Marie Tidball, city council cabinet member for supporting local communities, said: “Social distancing means we are physically apart from one another but we can still support each other as a community in many different ways.

“Over 3,000 people have already signed up to volunteer their time and skills through the Oxford Hub and many organisations across Oxford are working with us. This is something our city can rightly be proud of."

The centres are still being set up and full details or their services and how they will work are still in development. 

Their aim is to provide a response for common issues for the vulnerable such as isolation, picking up pharmacy prescriptions, shopping for food, and to co-ordinating council and voluntary sector services in each area.

Each Centre will be given a budget and resources, as well as being able to use the normal budget and resources the Council teams provide.

More details will be announced as the centres get ready to open next week.

Oxford Hub is co-ordinating people who want to volunteer to support their community.

Anyone wanting to volunteer can register their details online at oxfordtogether.org