Support services are available to residents of Axminster and the surrounding areas as the country enters tits third national lockdown.

Axminster Community Emergency Response (ACER) will not be operating as it did during the first lockdown of spring 2020 as most residents who require support have now made arrangements with family, friends or neighbours.

However, all of ACER's participating organisations are still in operation independently and continuing to provide members of our community with the support they need.

A statement from ACER said: "We will continue to monitor the situation closely through all of our participating organisations and this Facebook page, and should we identify any gaps in support, or a need to increase the services we are offering, the ACER team will look for ways to quickly address these.

"In the meantime, we will continue to promote all of the resources available to help you access the help and support you may need."

If you need help and fall into the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable category, need help accessing food or medication, you are feeling isolated, or you are not sure where to go for advice, ACER have issued the following useful contact details:

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Phone: 0808 196 3646 (8am to 8pm, 7 days a week).

Web: nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk

ð—˜ð—®ð˜€ð˜ ð——ð—²ð˜ƒð—¼ð—» ð——ð—¶ð˜€ð˜ð—¿ð—¶ð—°ð˜ ð—–ð—¼ð˜‚ð—»ð—°ð—¶ð—¹ ð—–ð—¼ð—ºð—ºð˜‚ð—»ð—¶ð˜ð˜† ð—¦ð˜‚ð—½ð—½ð—¼ð—¿ð˜ ð—›ð˜‚ð—¯

Phone: 01395 571 500 (8.30am - 5pm)

Email: [email protected]

Web: eastdevon.gov.uk/community-hub

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Phone: 0345 155 1015 (general enquiries line)

Email: [email protected]

Web: devon.gov.uk/coronavirus-advice-in-devon

If, after contacting the above authorities, you are still struggling to get the support you need, please call Cindy at ACER on 07930 800 225 or message the ACER Facebook page.

In the case of a medical emergency, always call 999, and for the latest government guidelines visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus

ACER are also working with Totally Locally Axminster to update the list of traders providing click and collect, home delivery and takeaway services, which will be available shortly.

Axminster-based charity Project Food are also supporting residents during lockdown, providing a delivery service of fresh fruit, vegetables, milk and ready meals to those isolating, shielding, struggling physically or mentally or unable to shop online, as well as those in financial difficulty.

They will also be teaching new skills with free, online cooking demonstrations every Monday at 11am via video conferencing app Zoom. If you don't have the technology to take part.

Project Food can provide tablets for those who would like to join in and will offer technical support on how to get set up.

The charity also sends out free monthly newsletters providing hints, tips and advice on healthy eating and improving your wellbeing. They can also send out recipes via post or email and are available for phone calls to anyone needing help, support or feeling lonely.

To find out more, email [email protected], call 01297 631782 or visit the website www.project-food.org.uk