As news about people emptying supermarket shelves, fighting over a package of pasta and hoarding toilet paper making the headlines, one could start losing faith in humanity.
But there is hope. Incredible stories of people stepping up to help the ones in need and growing together as a community outshine the bad news.
Facebook support groups, for example, are popping throughout the country to give people a chance to both ask for and offer help – especially to people self-isolating and at-risk groups.
Jayne Connor, living in one of the Milliners Wharf apartment blocks in Ancoats, is one of them. She is a single mum of a toddler who is registered as extremely vulnerable due to being asthmatic and is therefore self-isolating.
Being part of the Milliners Wharf coronavirus group enabled her to reach out to other residents who went shopping for her and picked up prescriptions.
She was really overwhelmed and thankful for all the help and offers she received. “I honestly don’t know how I would have coped with everything without people’s help. It has been a really difficult time,” Jayne said.
“People think people that live in the city centre don’t belong to a community, but this has proved different,” she adds.
Caroline Brazell was one of the people who volunteered for her. She went ‘out of her way’ to buy some nappies for her son without accepting any money.
Caroline told Ancoatsvibes that she found out about Jayne through their complex Facebook group and offered to get a delivery for her. They are still in touch.
“For me, I actually feel part of a community now, and I have made friends with people here that I may not have come across if it wasn’t for this situation,” said Caroline Brazell.
She has also helped another neighbour through the same group who was struggling to get medication and volunteers in the Manchester COVID19 – Support Group.
“We have always had this Facebook group, but now it seems that people are pulling together more. Sharing useful information and doing kind things. People are baking and giving treats to neighbours, and we have arranged to help clean shared areas as we no longer have contractors doing this,” said Caroline.
Another member of the Facebook group who helped Jayne as well is Ben Williams. “When I saw the message, I was working from home nearing the end of my notice period and wanted to do anything I could to help the community, which my partner and I are relatively new to,” he said.
To everyone who wants to help too he advises: “Stay engaged with local community groups and forums in your area on social media. There are lots of people who may need just a one-off which would mean a lot to them.”
If you don’t have a Facebook group of your building, check out the Facebook groups in your neighbourhood.
Some useful groups for people living around Ancoats are:
NQ, Ancoats, Miles Platting & Beswick Coronavirus Community Support
ancoatsvibes.com 