Coronavirus: Doncaster teacher sets up community group aimed at helping elderly and vulnerable

The Doncaster Covid-19 Mutual Aid Group was set up by teacher Cat McCarthy who works at Don Valley Academy.

She said: “It’s the nature of teachers to be concerned - we work with children day to day and we are exposed to vulnerable people and their needs.

“Especially after the recent floods we had such a community spirit and we need to create that again.

Cat decided to set up the group after seeing friends set up similar groups across the country - there are now hundreds of these community groups all aiming to help the vulnerable and elderly in their towns and cities.

“It just seemed to me to be the obvious thing to do - if you’re healthy you can help others then it is the right thing to do,” she continued.

“Most people are more than capable of helping and I think it would be irresponsible not to help the elderly.

“They have paved the way for us and we should help them now.”

The group currently has 267 members but that number is quickly rising as people look for ways to help out the communities they live in.

People are organising to drop leaflets through elderly people’s doors offering them assistance - this can range from going to the shop to buy them groceries to having phone calls to stop the negative effects of loneliness.

Cat said: “This group will only be posting facts about the virus - we do not want to spread misinformation or whip up any more negative discontent.

“We want to keep it focused on offering support to people who need it.”

Individuals who join the group can post if they are in need of aid or if they are willing to provide it so someone who needs it.

There have been many localised groups set up over the past few days but Cat hopes that this town wide one will allow the small groups a place to coordinate their efforts.

You can join the group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/546148179338210/