A TERRIFIC taskforce of agencies and volunteers is pulling out all the stops to help the community in its hour of need.

Inverclyde Community Action Response Group is helping to co-ordinate a massive operation to assist elderly and vulnerable people who can’t get out during the coronavirus crisis.

The grassroots network is also providing support for frontline health workers and key workers through a dedicated helpline run by counselling experts Mind Mosaic.

Locals Stephen Henry and Louise Hunter set up the response group, which is working directly alongside agencies and fellow co-ordinators like Lynn Foreman, who has been leading a Covid-19 volunteer service.

Mr Henry said: “We have four services running at the moment and a fifth is about to be launched in another couple of weeks.

“We are trying to get the message through to people who are self-isolating and who may not have access to technology.

“The first project is food boxes for those self-isolating.

“We have delivered 800 boxes in the last four weeks.

"We are all part of the one group responding to the pandemic, to prevent duplication and minimise health and safety issues."

Other services include daily contact telephone calls and over the last two weeks, more than 1,000 calls have been made.

There is also a prescription pick-up and delivery service and over the last two weeks 220 were collected.

Mr Henry said: “We have been working with Belville Community Garden, the Covid-19 team and Compassionate Inverclyde.

“We are responding to people’s needs as the situation evolves.”

Mr Henry says that as well as addressing immediate needs, the group also hopes to build a legacy for the future by ensuring this outpouring of community solidarity continues once the coronavirus crisis is over.

He says he cannot express how proud he is of how the local community has responded to the pandemic.

Stephen said: “It’s been a re-ignition of old fashioned community values."