AddThis SmartLayers

Newspaper staff sign up for daily's cold campaign

A regional publisher’s staff have volunteered to take part in one of its newspaper’s campaigns to keep old people warm in the winter.

The Norwich Evening News has launched its Cold Weather Friends scheme, which hopes to recruit an army of volunteers to make sure the city’s elderly have everything they need in case of severe weather.

Evening News owner Archant Norfolk is calling on its staff to take part in the project, with a dozen signing up in the first 24 hours.

Among them is the paper’s letters editor Pete Kelley, pictured below.

Pete Kelley

He said: “We don’t know how many old folk will sign up for this help, but a couple of dozen have already registered, so there’s a clear need.

“Old folk have been telling us how reassuring they find it just to know this offer is there, even if it turns out the weather doesn’t get that bad.

“For volunteers, it’s something that doesn’t involve a long-term commitment, but could make a huge difference over a few days to someone.

“I’m sure you’ll agree, it’s something we’d want to happen for our own elder mums and dads, grannies etc if we weren’t around to get to them.”

Those who sign up to the campaign will be responsible for calling the elderly people to whom they are assigned if the area is hit with ‘Met Office Level Three’ conditions such as heavy snow or widespread ice.

If they are short of necessary supplies, the volunteer will then take what they need to their home.

One comment

You can follow all replies to this entry through the comments feed.
  • January 20, 2015 at 9:38 am
    Permalink

    Well done again to staff at the News. Just like staff at Archant’s Newham Recorder in East London, they have a fine track record of rolling up their sleeves and helping the community they serve.

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(0)