BURTON Albion is continuing its commitment to local communities in being able to provide support during the current health crisis and is ready to help essential services and workers.
With the football season on hold and the vast majority of Burton Albion Community Trust programmes suspended, the club and charity are offering facilities and staff to provide support to the NHS and emergency services.
BACT is also looking to support the most vulnerable of its participants as Government guidelines on the Covid-19 pandemic see more people isolated at home.
The club has offered the facilities at the Pirelli Stadium for use by the NHS and the emergency services and has donated food that would have been used for matchday hospitality or conferences to the YMCA for distribution to those in need.
Commercial Director Fleur Robinson said: “We thought the stadium and the boxes and suites could be useful if hospitals needed overflow space for less urgent checks and appointments or it could be a base for delivering food supplies if the movement of people becomes even more restricted. We have contacted the NHS, police and the council and have said that the stadium is available, and we hope we can help.
“We have donated as much food as we can to the YMCA and we have a stock of Easter eggs in the shop that we are now going to donate which hopefully can act as a little pick me up for those in need as well.”
Burton Albion Community Trust has assembled well-being packs, with the help of donations from Pladis, which are being delivered to participants the trust has identified as the most in need.
BACT is continuing to support schools that are open and providing support to the children of key workers and is ready to step in to provide a back up to the NHS and emergency services.
BACT Head of Community Matt Hancock said: “The well-being packs contain some biscuits and chocolate but also contacts for BACT staff and for MIND as well as a health and well-being plan. They are aimed at our most vulnerable participants on key programmes such as Cancer Recovery, Disability and Extra-Time Hub. These people could well be on their own and feeling isolated and hopefully we can provide some support.
“Our staff are also ready to help and support with essential services in the community, whether that’s picking up prescriptions, maintaining essential services or food delivery.
“We have also offered to support the NHS and schools if we can fill the void as staff have to self-isolate in order that they can maintain their services. Where we are physically able to help, we will.
“This is all about supporting key workers and their children and maintaining essential services.
“It’s not about us being seen to do a good thing as we know the best approach at present is for everyone to stay at home and only do things which are essential. What this is about is trying to help saves lives by supporting those people on the frontline.
“The health and well-being of our staff is also of paramount importance and it’s all on constant review as it’s an ever-changing picture where we will be 100 per cent led by government guidelines.
“What matters is that where we are needed, we will be ready.”