A COMMUNITY shop is to deliver groceries to vulnerable people.

The Good Neighbour initiative is being launched by the shop in Main Road, East Morton.

Deliveries are being offered to anyone in the village, or at West Morton and Micklethwaite, who finds it difficult to get out of their house.

Volunteers are also being sought to help with the scheme.

Sheila Barton, a member of the volunteer team at the shop, said: “As winter draws in and people are isolated due to Covid, we want to ensure there’s support available.

“To make this work, we’re asking for volunteers to sign-up with our Good Neighbour scheme.

“We will ensure volunteers have the necessary checks then match them with someone in need.

“The idea is for the volunteer to shop for the isolated person they’re matched with and deliver the groceries in a safe way.”

Funding to launch the project and promote it has been provided by Keighley East district councillors Malcolm Slater, Caroline Firth and Doreen Lee.

Councillor Firth said: “Bradford Council granted £1,000 for each ward in the district for councillors to allocate on supporting the community through these difficult times.

“In Keighley East, £250 of the allocation has gone towards getting this project off the ground to support vulnerable people.

“We have a council service that is supporting people, via 01274 431000, but the shop scheme is hyper local and helps isolated people build a relationship with their volunteer.”

Councillor Slater said they were delighted to back the Good Neighbour venture.

“We’re big supporters of the village shop – which is a fantastic asset to East Morton and the surrounding villages,” he added.

“It’s been at the heart of the community support effort during this Covid crisis and we can’t thank Sheila and the shop team enough for all they’ve done and continue to do.”

Sheila said: “This new service is specifically for people who cannot get out and about.

“The shop is currently unable to offer general deliveries, but it’s something we may look into in the future.”

Anyone living in East Morton, West Morton or Mickethwaite who would like to benefit from the scheme – or people interested in volunteering to help – should contact Sheila on 07512 063437 or call the shop on 07340 342500.

The shop also has a Facebook page – at facebook.com/eastmortoncommunityshop – and a website, at eastmortoncommunityshop.org.uk.

A huge community effort resulted in the shop opening in April last year.

The premises were once the village toilet block, which was closed in 2015.