A conversation online led to an emergency supply of hand sanitiser to a county care home, and there is now no stopping members of the business community Circle2Success.

Even the team which leads the powerful business group has been overwhelmed by the generosity of its members - and the scale of the need for help.

What started as a few of its members discussing ways they could support the wider community during the coronavirus lockdown has fast snowballed into an operation to help bolster two county charities in particular.

Which is why Punchline has singled it out as one of its Business and Community Champions - a campaign sponsored by GFirst LEP and the county's Growth Hubs to highlight some of the incredible efforts being made during the current epidemic.

Suzanne Hall-Gibbins, who co-founded the Staverton-based business group with Angela Edwards, said: "It started when a C2S member said they knew of a care home where the manager was beside herself because they were running out of hand sanitiser. Their supplier had increased the price by 500 percent."

Members of Circle2Success pooled their resources and a car boot full of toiletries and the much-needed hand sanitiser was delivered.

"The care home manager was ever so pleased. But that is how much pressure they are under," said Ms Hall-Gibbins, who together with the rest of the C2S team finds herself coordinating a drop-off and delivery operation supporting those on the front line of the county's efforts to help its most vulnerable.

"We are not dropping off boxes to the Cheltenham Trust and the CCP and working with them to ensure they get what they need," she said.

Well done everyone 😍 they were so grateful. Thanks to @DirectSolGroup for helping out and for @ChaseDistillery for making the effort to call to see how they can help with sanitiser. Fantastic community support 😘 @RichardGrahamUK #gloucester #teameffort https://t.co/nSl1QVT95P

— Suzanne Hall-Gibbins (@SuzanneC2S) March 30, 2020

More details are available through the C2S social media channels, but essentially people can drop off food and toiletries at its offices at the near-deserted Staverton business park between 10am and noon each week day (Circle2Success, Unit 22A, 21 Bamfurlong Industrial Park, Cheltenham GL51 6SX0).

"It is a knock and go approach - to comply with social distancing policy," said Ms Hall-Gibbons.

Items are then taken in one trip down to the two charities, which helps cut down the amount of moments in and out of both the trust and CCP to keep its staff as safe as possible.

Cordell Ray, the chief executive of the CCP, said: "Cash is king, and people can donate cash, but what we really need is food."

Restrictions on what can be bought currently in supermarkets limits the CCP's ability to fulfil its shopping list, where as donations of food can be bagged and boxed and ready to go straight away.

"We are supporting a relatively low number of households - about 100 currently. That's about 250 individuals. But we are seeing that starting to rise by about 10 per cent a week since the beginning of the epidemic.

"We are getting referrals from GPs, from social services, and are in touch with Cheltenham Borough Council, the diocese to make sure we deliver a coordinated effort."

Another need that had become significant is for bags to put the food into. Staff are delivering the doorsteps and leaving the food - not expecting or wanting the return of any bags as would usually be the case.

Mr Ray said any amount of food would be gratefully received.

"Realistically it is likely people will only be able to give us small amounts of food, what with all the restrictions currently, but it is all welcome.

"They are still more than welcome to drop it in to us at 340 lower High Street, Cheltenham," said Mr Ray, who praised the efforts of all staff keeping the CCP operational and of everyone helping support what was fast becoming a county-wide support network.

To find out more visit the CCP website: https://www.ccp.org.uk/

Click here to find out more about the GFirst LEP and Growth Hub Business and Commuity Champion. 

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