Rachael Robathan: ‘We face an enormous challenge in a city like Westminster to keep distributing the services which we need to the most vulnerable in our society’

HUNDREDS of Westminster residents have signed up to a new volunteering scheme to help with the coronavirus fightback.

Council leader Rachael Robathan said she felt “humbled” by the numbers of people offering to help maintain services and supporting the vulnerable.

Westminster’s Labour group has also this week raised serious concerns about whether the council can continue to provide full services if many workers are taken ill.

Volunteers can, via the council’s website, get involved through a new scheme called Westminster Connects.

They will be vetted with relevant database checks before being enlisted to help shopping, delivering food, picking up prescriptions, phoning lonely people, walking dogs, transport and teaching basic digital skills.

Cllr Robathan said: “We face an enormous challenge in a city like Westminster to keep distributing the services which we need to the most vulnerable in our society.

“I have been so humbled by the response of the general public. We have set up a platform called Westminster Connects to bring volunteers and community organisations together with those that need help. So far we have had over 1,000 people register on our website. We have a dedicated team of officers going through it so we have a team of volunteers who are ready and to help in whatever way they can.”

The Labour group has warned that foodbank stocks are dwindling and suggested the council fund them directly.

It also called for hardship payments and payments for volunteer expenses.

Many charities have become so “hollowed-out” that they will need help “absorbing volunteers”, Labour said.

Better support was needed for the homeless and there was a “risk of a surge in serious youth violence”.

Councillor Adam Hug, leader of Westminster Labour group, said: “We absolutely appreciate the unprecedented nature of the pressures the council faces in responding to the many challenges of the Covid-19 epidemic.

“We give our full support to the action currently being taken, but believe these further steps need to be taken to safeguard the most vulnerable.”