CORONAVIRUS: Football club's community spirit praised

Two vehicles - and two drivers - provided by the club are being used to make deliveries of hot and cold food from the Hartlepool Support Hub.

The Hub, set up by Hartlepool Borough Council in March to support anyone in the borough who is self-isolating or otherwise unable to leave home, has since taken over 5,000 calls and distributed 1071 food parcels and 775 prescriptions.

Dave Brown from Hartlepool United FC makes a delivery

Ian Gardiner, the Council’s Head of Leisure, Recreation and Participation who is overseeing warehouse and distribution operations from Mill House Leisure Centre, said: “We are so grateful for the support being provided by Hartlepool United Football Club.

“It is a further example of how community-minded organisations across the town are coming together at this incredibly difficult time to help those most in need of support.”

Mark Maguire, Chief Executive of Hartlepool United FC, said: “These are challenging times for everybody but it is important that we continue to do our bit at the centre of our community, so we are delighted to assist Hartlepool Borough Council in their brilliant work delivering essential hot meals to the vulnerable and isolated of our town.

“The unsung heroes who continue to go about their work and who are overseeing this logistical challenge deserve everyone’s gratitude and support.”

Mr Gardiner added that an average of 85 hot meals had been delivered each day this week, while a further slight increase is anticipated next week.

This is being done in partnership with Hartlepool Mecca Bingo – based at the Lanyard Warrior Retail Park within the town’s marina and currently closed as part of the national Covid-19 lockdown – which is providing free hot meals on a daily basis to people who usually access the Council’s Day Services.