Harrogate district villagers' remarkable effort to help vulnerable during lockdown

More than 40 residents in the village, which has less than 800 residents and lies four miles from Ripon and ten miles from Harrogate, have already volunteered to be part of Bishop Monkton Together, a support group to help Bishop Monkton through the coronavirus emergency.

The service will be available to anyone in the village who has to self-isolate but, in particular, for those for whom help can’t be provided by family members or immediate neighbours.

The aim is primarily to ensure people needing help with the delivery of medicines and food to the doorstep will be able to call on volunteers to collect essentials for them.

But volunteers will also be available to talk on the phone to people who are in isolation to help reduce loneliness.

The Bishop Monkton Together scheme's founder Angie Archbold, has already set up a team of ten zone leaders each taking responsibility for one part of Bishop Monkton.

This week has seen everyone in the village receive a card through their letterbox with the contact details of a volunteer who can provide practical help or a friendly voice on the phone.

But Angie Archbold said it was important people do not abuse this service.

She said: "It is providing a lifeline for a number of vulnerable people here and we would not want to lose it.

"The delivery service is just for the most vulnerable and those in self isolation and offers non contact drop off of groceries, a safe payment method and free delivery."

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One of the Bishop Monkton Together volunteers, Tony Johnson, has already started to deliver groceries sourced from Burton Leonard Post Office and Stores, to a house in Bishop Monkton.

The store runs the service from Monday to Friday but needs to receive orders two or three days in advance to enable them to stock up.

The voluntary scheme has the support of Bishop Monkton Parish Council and safeguards have also been put in place to ensure the health and safety of both those needing help and those providing it.

Organisers of Bishop Monkton Together are keen to remind residents to beware of possible scams and never to speak to anyone ringing out of the blue and claiming to be a volunteer.

And they say systems will be in place to help organise payment for any deliveries in a safe and secure manner.

Anyone who wants to volunteer to help with the scheme, or wants to know more about it, is asked to contact Angie Archbold on 677834 or [email protected]

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