Oxford City Council and Oxford Hub are working together to create new Locality Response Centres in Oxford to meet the needs of communities and vulnerable people as we tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
The new Locality Response Centres will begin operating in the next week, with five teams across the city – North, South, East, West and Central.
These Centres are being set up rapidly and full details or their services and how they will work are still being developed, but the outline aim is to provide a response for common issues for the vulnerable such as isolation, routine pharmacy services and food services, and to co-ordinate council and voluntary sector services in each locality.
Each Centre will have a budget and resources allocated, as well as being able to use the normal budget and resources the Council teams provide. More details will be announced as the Centres get ready to open.
Oxford Hub is already co-ordinating local people wanting to volunteer to support their community. Anyone wanting to volunteer can register their details online. Any voluntary or charitable organisation, social enterprise or cooperative can add information on what they are doing or able to do in the ‘collaborate’ form on the Oxford Together webpage.
“Many people are feeling worried at this difficult time. We’re working fast to create Locality Response Centres to help people through this difficult time. Providing services and support in the heart of the community is essential, with staff and volunteers who can reach those self-isolating or needing extra support.
“Social distancing means we are physically apart from one another but we can still support each other as a community in many different ways.
“Over 3,000 people have already signed up to volunteer their time and skills through the Oxford Hub and many organisations across Oxford are working with us. This is something our city can rightly be proud of.
“Our staff and people in the community have shown an amazing response to these urgent challenges and I want to thank them for their commitment now and in the coming weeks.”
Councillor Marie Tidball, Cabinet Member for Supporting Local Communities
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