AN initiative scaled-up by Herefordshire Council during the first coronavirus lockdown is expanding further to support more vulnerable people in the county.

Herefordshire Council’s Talk Community scheme helped several different groups during the lockdowns, including volunteers shopping for people who were told to shield.

Now, to coincide with Volunteers’ Week from June 1 to June 7, Herefordshire Council has asked more people to get involved with Talk Community.

It aims to make Herefordshire a better place to work and live, a spokesperson said, adding the council has worked with residents, businesses, community leaders and health colleagues to encourage everyone to play their part in achieving this.

Twenty volunteer-run Talk Community Hubs have already been set-up in the county, where residents can access help, with more to follow.

Councillor Pauline Crockett, cabinet member for health and adult wellbeing, said flooding in October 2019 and February 2020 proved Herefordshire could pull together to support vulnerable residents.

She has urged all residents to join other volunteers across the county and give an hour to support the local community this summer.