On Friday, Shropshire Council launched Community Reassurance Teams (CRT) in Ludlow, Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Bridgnorth and Market Drayton. The council says:
“The Community Reassurance Teams are a new key service which have been created to work across the county with our communities in an effort to co-ordinate support for local residents, including businesses, with the support of town councils, parish councils, voluntary groups and community groups.”
We don’t yet know how this new structure will work. From what I can see there are areas of the county without established Covid-19 support networks. We must ensure those areas have access to adequate support. But we shouldn’t duplicate effort that is well established.
The new service was launched on Thursday alongside a dedicated Covid-19 helpline for community needs, not medical needs for which you should ring 111. The dedicated helpline is 0345 678 9028. 8am to 6pm weekdays, and 9am to 1pm Saturdays. “Each caller will be asked to explain their need and, if required, this information will be passed on to a CRT.”
The full remit of the Community Reassurance Teams has not yet been released to councillors or the public. Neither do we know how many people are in the teams. There is a lack of clarity of how they will work with local support groups that are already well established. There is a danger that we create long communication lines from Shirehall to Community Reassurance Team to Pulling Together Ludlow.
We are well organised for community support in Ludlow through Pulling Together Ludlow which has been up and running for ten days. It connects you directly to our local volunteer team. Ring 01584 817 250, 9am to 5pm, seven days a week. Medical questions should be directed to 111.
Pulling Together Ludlow has been set up with support from across the entire community, from NHS and caring staff, to councillors and volunteers. We already need Pulling Together Ludlow it. We may need this service more in coming weeks.
I take my hat off to everyone who is working hard to ensure our community has the strength it needs for the coming weeks. Thank you.