Volunteers in Ruddington are celebrating securing a slice of the Nottinghamshire County Council cash which has been allocated to help support communities during the COVID-19 crisis.
The first round of County Council funding – so far worth more than £260,000 overall – has just been awarded to 85 groups helping vulnerable Nottinghamshire residents through the Coronavirus pandemic. £5,000 from that pot is coming to our village. ‘The Nottinghamshire £1m Community Fund’ forms part of the Council’s response to provide advice and support for communities during the unprecedented outbreak. Eligible groups can each apply for up to £10,000.
Here in Ruddington this emergency grant is to be used to provide hot meals for residents who are identified as being vulnerable and ‘in need’, along with volunteer expenses. This service is to supplement the existing deliveries of food and prescriptions which was begun just over a month ago to self-isolating residents by the COVID-19 Ruddington Community Response Team.
One of these is Ruddington’s legendary Dave ‘The Cockle Man’ Bartram – pictured (top) receiving his meal from volunteer and new Parish Councillor Ylenia Astegiano. Dave has lost his income and most of his contact with the outside world since all the local pubs he frequents were forced to close – abruptly halting the daily rounds with his seafood basket in his trademark white coat. He’d also become a monthly fixture at Ruddington Village Market before that, too, was cancelled until further notice.
Dave, who’s lived alone in Ruddington since losing his wife 24 years’ ago, and now even has an NCT Green 10 bus named after him, tells RUDDINGTON.info: “The volunteers are doing a fantastic job. I’m grateful to everyone that’s helping me. But I am worried about losing my business and it’s really draining me – stressing me out! I’ve been through a lot – I’ve had cancer, broke my hip and then had a car accident in December. Now it’s the loneliness that’s getting me – but the help I’m receiving does help me. I’m so grateful. And I’m not giving up – I can’t give up. I want to carry on until I’ve done my sixty years!”
Nottinghamshire County Council Leader, Cllr Kay Cutts, MBE said: “I continue to be amazed by the response shown by local volunteer groups. I’m so proud Nottinghamshire is working together to support those most affected. Up and down the county, volunteers are cooking and delivering meals, helping with food shopping and other essentials, collecting and delivering prescriptions, or helping keep someone’s spirits up via a phone chat.”
Rushcliffe Borough Councillor, Jennifer Walker, adds: “I would like to extend a big thank you to Mark Pinks for his time and effort in securing this grant from Notts County Council and RVCP for enabling us to deliver the funds where needed locally. I also need to thank the amazing volunteers of the COVID-19 Mutual Aid group for continuing to give up their time which has allowed the community response to react seamlessly to the ever changing situation in the village.”
If you are struggling to get food, or need help making it through the lockdown in some other way, you’re urged to contact the group as soon as possible on 07954 073 115, by emailing RUDDCOVID19@GMAIL.COM or via their Facebook group >>HERE<<.
