Community volunteer praises Blackpool council for feeding families across the Fylde coast

Bernadette O'Shea from Cleveleys has run the Facebook community group C.A.G (Community Assistance Group) since Christmas 2017, to provide families throughout Wyre and Blackpool with essentials for their homes, food, and clothing.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, she has praised Blackpool council and Wyre community group Fleetwood Together for ensuring the families she looks after are fed, and hit back at its critics.

Bernadette said: "I was kept up at night worrying about how some of the families we help would feed their kids, it was awful.

"To be honest, I'm fed up of seeing people criticising the council when they have been absolutely wonderful during this crisis.

"If it wasn't for them, some of my families would really struggle to get a decent meal.

"I just can't believe there are people who think the council aren't doing enough to help. I'm so grateful for everything they're doing."

Ms O'Shea said she knew first hand how hard the council were working to provide for local families, as her son Ryan was one of the volunteers helping to pack and distribute food hampers.

With the help of Anchorsholme Coun Paul Galley, Bernadette is managing to secure food for two to three families every day across Blackpool, in addition to cooking for elderly residents in her neighbourhood herself.

Coun Simon Blackburn, leader of Blackpool council, said: “As a local authority, we are doing everything in our power to ensure that the vulnerable and needy are looked after.

“Through careful planning and coordination, our 12 Corona Kindness community hubs have seen that both families and individuals are provided for in the safest possible manner. A number of businesses have been on-hand to provide both food and distribution services, while many local supermarkets have kindly lent trolleys and bags for life to assist with transportation.

“For those who might be struggling to get to the supermarket or arrange a delivery slot, the council is also working alongside local organisations to support the Blackpool Essentials Delivery Service, which allows for doorstep delivery of essential items. A list of local area shops providing delivery services is also available on the council website.

“I commend the spirit and commitment of each and every one of the council employees, councillors, volunteers and organisations who have been able to contribute.

"We will continue to work hard to ensure that anyone in a vulnerable position gets the support they need – I would urge anyone who needs or can give support to get in touch.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to Blackpool Gazette website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/ now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Thank you and stay safe. Gillian Parkinson, editor.