A SERVICE to help people through social isolation caused by the coronavirus lockdown is still in demand though government measures have eased.

Oxford City Council’s support service for the coronavirus crisis took 228 requests for help last week, including people coping with emergency needs like food parcels and health problems.

It has taken 2,293 request overall.

The Council’s contact centre took 228 calls and online requests asking for support. Top reasons included 76 requests for urgent supplies and 36 requests for help picking up shopping.

The demand for emergency support varies across the city.

The areas with the highest numbers of requests were Rose Hill and Iffley, Blackbird Leys and Northfield Brook.

The contact centre was able to help by referring people to the locality response hubs the council has set up for urgent problems getting food and other supplies.

They also put people in touch with volunteers who can collect shopping and prescriptions, and referred callers to voluntary groups who arrange daily contact calls to tackle loneliness.

Residents needing support can visit oxford.gov.uk/CommunityAssistance or call the contact centre on 01865 249 811.