A SOUTHAMPTON charity that helps the city’s isolated is expecting a surge in demand if the country goes into lockdown.

Communicare, which aims to eradicate loneliness across the coastal city, says it is “coping at the moment”.

But the charity is now urging people to volunteer to help others in their community with essential supplies and support if the coronavirus situation gets worse.

They say it is putting a strain on what they can offer to those using their service, such as elderly people with wellbeing issues.

Manager Annie Clewlow said: “We’re facing a number of challenges. Many of our volunteers are in vulnerable situations being aged either 70 plus, or they have an underlying health condition, so they rightly need to self-isolate now, as per the Government’s and health experts’ recommendations.

“We’re, of course, taking all this very seriously, but it is putting a strain on what we can offer our service users, who are also mainly elderly and have mental and physical wellbeing issues too.”

The charity’s band of Communiteers volunteer to give their time freely to help those in need.

Communicare’s Good Neighbours’ Network supports nearly 400 individuals and families annually, covering more than 2,300 tasks including one-to-one befriending, transport to activities, such as the regular lunch clubs and tea parties.

Annie added: “At the moment we’re coping well with the current demands we have for our services but we’re bracing ourselves and would love to hear from anyone who can help.

“The sort of assistance people can provide is simple. Even just making a phone call from your home to someone in theirs on a regular basis would help.

“We have had volunteers kindly stepping up and taking on more. We’ve stopped all one-to-one visiting where necessary and we’re offering people different support options.

“But we still need more volunteers, as we’re expecting unprecedented calls and requests for our help in the coming weeks, maybe months, especially if the country goes into a lockdown situation.

“If we’re all in isolation anyone who lives alone will be the loneliest, so if you are likely to be in this situation you would be helping others, as well as potentially giving yourself some essential socialisation in the process, by volunteering to telephone one of our service users.”

To volunteer, call 023 8021 6023 or visit www.communicareinsouthampton.org.uk.