Campaign to raise £500,000 to support district's volunteers and charities

Wakefield’s Unsung Heroes awards are held each year in honour of the district’s volunteers, and had been scheduled to take place last week.

But the evening was one of many to be postponed as a result of coronavirus.

You can now nominate your community heroes for a national honourOrganisers at the Community Foundation Wakefield District have instead turned their attention to thanking the hundreds of volunteers on the frontline of the district’s coronavirus crisis.

Volunteer organisation Nova say they have worked with an average of 200 volunteers a week since the lockdown began, offering support to the district’s most vulnerable residents.

Praising the “brilliant volunteers”, Nova adviser Natalie Jones pointed to one community centre which has been transformed into a volunteer hub during the ongoing pandemic.

She said: “Since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, Kinsley and Fitzwilliam centre has engaged over 30 volunteers.

“They assist with the collection of food donations, pack bags ready for delivery, transport food parcels to residents houses as well as collecting prescriptions, dog walking and befriending those who are isolated and just want a friendly chat.

“Since the Centre started receiving donations of food, they have managed to source enough food to deliver over 150 food parcels to residents, which is a great achievement as they started from nothing.”

In Horbury, Senior Citizens Support Group, which usually provides activities and trips for senior citizens, has reinvented itself amid the pandemic.

Working with their local Morrison’s store, volunteers were able to secure a donation of food for those who are unable to shop for themselves.

Thanking volunteers for their hard work, Tony Robinson, Bishop of Wakefield, said: “We have all been massively encouraged by the fantastic number of people already offering to help others in the Wakefield District during the Coronavirus outbreak.

“People have shown incredible acts of community spirit as good neighbours in their own streets, colleagues helping colleagues and businesses reaching out to their localities.

“All of this has demonstrated that we can achieve more together and so we are calling this #WakefieldCares.”

As part of their new campaign, aptly titled #Wakefield Cares, the group hope to raise £500,000 to help the charities and volunteers supporting our communities.

They have received backing from a number of notable names, including football pundit Chris Kamara and local businessman Sir Rodney Walker.

BBC Look North presenter Harry Gration, who has worked with the charity on a number of occasions, said: “Last year’s Unsung Heroes’ event was the most emotional uplifting awards ceremony I have ever been involved in.

“By the end of the evening I was a jibbering wreck. I was moved by the presence of love and respect in the room.

“I cannot wait to do it again. A year is a long time but believe me it will be worth it. Please, though, get Kleenex to sponsor the night! If only for me.

“Stay safe and support your local heroes.”

But to unlock the majority of this funding, pledged by a series of public bodies, they first need to raise £100,000 in donations.

Jon Ingham, of the Community Foundation, said: “We can all do our bit as we are stronger together and every donation matters, no matter how small.

“This is an enormous effort on behalf of the whole community. We can achieve more together to bring individuals, families and local business through this current health crisis. Thank you for supporting your local community.”

Visit justgiving.com/campaign/Wakefieldcares to donate.