SHERBORNE Viral Kindness

A new local voluntary initiative set up by the independent businesses of Sherborne is helping their community through these challenging times

- Helen Stiles

Across the county residents of Dorset’s towns and villages are stepping up to support those in their community who are self-isolating or struggling with daily life during the coronavirus pandemic. From individuals running errands or doing shopping for family, friends and neighbours, through to local businesses and coordinated volunteer groups everyone is doing their bit.

One of the first co-ordinated projects to pop up was Sherborne Viral Kindness, a Facebook group created by the independent businesses in Sherborne and headed up by Jules Bradburn, Jane Wood and Jill Warburton.

Three weeks in and the Sherborne team have over 120 volunteers on board. Co-ordinator, Jules Bradburn, says that they are now dealing with over 100 requests a day. She is keen that those who are not online are aware of the free services they offer and that these people know that they can pick up a phone and talk to someone to get support and practical help.

“Things have developed so rapidly over the last week,” she tells me, when I managed to grab her for a 10 minute catch up call. “Every street in Sherborne now has a street co-ordinator... this is our point of contact. We have also established Whats App groups to cover larger areas such as Milborne Port, Longburton and the Corelli Estate. All our shopping services are free and we are currently doing between 60 – 70 shops a day. We also do daily pharmacy pick-ups. Our volunteers totally rock!” she enthuses.