Blind Veterans UK’s training and rehabilitation centre in Llandudno have been supporting the Llanfairfechan food bank in their local community during the lockdown period.
The charity has been supporting the foodbank since December on a weekly basis. Mike Priestley, Transport Driver at Blind Veterans UK’s Llandudno centre, has been delivering food out to the local community as part of the partnership. Mike says:
“I would like to thank everyone at Blind Veterans for their support and giving me the opportunity to help some of our residents during these very difficult times”.
Llanfairfechan food bank is a community led organisation which helps many families and individuals in the local area. Like for many organisations, the COVID-19 pandemic has put a strain on resources, and they rely on voluntary help more than ever. Penny Andow, Chair of Llanfairfechan Foodbank says:
“It was an absolute delight to be told that Blind Veterans UK would support Llanfairfechan Foodbank. We have been extremely grateful to Mike Priestley who has assisted the Foodbank in many ways. Such partnerships are essential to our communities and I am confident that our joint working will promote and develop both organisations”.
The charity is helping the foodbank for four hours a week and are also looking at opportunities to provide resources to support the COVID-19 vaccination programme at Venue Cymru in Llandudno. Paul Wynne-Williams, Facilities Manager at the charity’s Llandudno centre, says:
“It has been a pleasure to work collaboratively with the local community, by providing the resource and the transport to support for such a worthy cause”.
Blind Veterans UK has adapted its service to support its 5,000 beneficiaries, 90% of whom are over 70 and at an increased risk from Covid-19. The National Support Service has and will continue to help blind veterans through this period of social isolation.
Nicky Shaw, Blind Veterans UK Director of Operations said:
“Living in isolation, blind veterans need our help right now with daily tasks, such as the shopping, and constant emotional support through this difficult time. So we are temporarily changing our service and mobilising our staff to provide practical, essential support to help the most vulnerable.
“There is so much that we can and must do to support blind veterans to help them maintain physical and emotional wellbeing, and to feel safe, reassured and cared for during this crisis.”
You can keep updated on Blind Veterans UK’s response to Covid-19 at blindveterans.org.uk/coronavirus where you can also find out more about supporting the charity to make this new service possible.
