coronavirus Local News

HELP: Could you chaperone the phone to help those most at risk?

Unity Coronavirus Helpline Andover

The demand for help from Andover’s Coronavirus Helpine is so great they need more help.

The Test Valley’s community voluntary service Unity launched their dedicated phone number two weeks ago to hep the borough’s most at risk.

But the calls are constant and they are asking others to assist in their tasks of providing accurate and timely information to callers, making sure they are signposted to other local groups and ensuring that prescriptions are collected and delivered.

Christianne Ireland from Unity told Andover Radio today, “We need twelve more people to help man the phones”.

The Unity team are working both remotely and from their offices at Andover Bus Station but desperately need people who are confident on the phone to talk to callers and take messages.

“We have been inundated with calls.

Christianne says, “If you are willing to help, you will work on a rota basis at our office at Andover Bus Station, if you are willing, able and happy to use the telephone and take messages, log them and then action them, then – please – we need you.

“Andover needs you, people across the Test Valley need you.”

UNITY’S CORONAVIRUS HELPLINE: 0330 400 4166

Unity have sent out 161 ‘actions’ to pick up prescriptions and they are supporting 70 groups across the borough with the support of over 350 volunteers.

Unity are separately working very closely with the Andover Isolation Hep Group and Veterans in Action.

The charity now has the support of 75 local businesses across the borough. But coordinators are keen to remind people that their number is a helpline for those most at risk. Christianne says,“I do need to remind people that we are for people who are elderly, vulnerable and have no other support.

“Please be mindful and respect this.”

To offer your services, please call Unity’s Coronavirus Helpline on 0330 400 4116


About the author

David Harber

David Harber is the founder and Managing Director of Love Andover, including the Love Andover Observer newspaper and 95.9FM Andover Radio. He is a fellow at the Royal Society of Arts and a card carrying member of the Nation Union of Journalists.