How social services is preparing for life after lockdown includes harnessing the “ground swell” of support from communities.

Positive feedback about the Pembrokeshire County Council community hub, set up to coordinate community groups set up in response to the Covid-19 lockdown and the needs of residents across the county.

Members of the social care overview and scrutiny committee heard on Tuesday (June 23) that more than 90 volunteers stepped up to help people in their locality with shopping, prescriptions, dog walking and much more.

The 5,500 people shielding have also been helped and will continue to be supported until August.

The council set up a central hub to coordinate the work and provide “support, information and advice to the most vulnerable in our communities at a time of great anxiety and concern,” said director of social services Jonathan Griffiths.

The “driver” would be the community groups with the local authority the “enabler” said cabinet member for housing Clr. Michelle Bateman as she highlighted the “ground swell” of support which came very quickly following lockdown.

Committee chairman Clr. David Bryan, and others, acknowledged that one of the positives to come from recent events was the enthusiasm local people had for supporting their communities.

Mr. Griffiths said the community hub, as well as the provider hub sourcing supplies for care homes and others, were “at the heart of the recovery decisions” and the feedback was there was a desire to maintain them in some form.

“Maintaining that going forward is seen as an opportunity, a different way of doing out business and maintaining that excellent communication with members of our communities,” he added.