Preston North End Community and Education Trust has been awarded a Coronavirus Pandemic City Hero Award by the Mayor of Preston David Borrow.

The Mayor presented a certificate to the Trust at Deepdale earlier this week in recognition of its response to the pandemic after it adapted its provision to meet the needs of the local community during the past year.

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When the first lockdown hit last year, the Trust set-up its PNECET Helping Hampers initiative, seeing more than 1,300 essential food hampers to elderly and vulnerable members of the community, including Preston North End season ticket holders, PNECET programme members and those most in need in the local community.

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Other initiatives over the course of the last year, which has seen the Trust adapting its provision in response to the ever-changing needs of the community, have included a Community Support Hub to deliver essential goods to vulnerable members of the local community and signpost them to local food banks.

Several Happy Holiday Club programmes have been running during school half-terms, offering free school meals and activity sessions to children who typically receive free school meals during term time, and more recently, the Trust has joined forces with local external partners to deliver culturally appropriate goods to ethnically diverse residents in Deepdale.

Programmes have also adapted to run online, with exercise challenges for all ages, lesson videos on social media, and weekly talking groups running each week – including the Sporting Memories programme that sees those living with dementia, depression and loneliness continue to meet online every Tuesday to talk about sport.

Read more: Pupils and staff in Preston and Lancashire schools advised to continue wearing face coverings

Chief Executive Officer of the Trust Tom Drake said: “We are pleased to have been recognised by Preston City Council and Mayor of Preston David Borrow for our response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

“The Coronavirus pandemic has presented many challenges and will continue to do so, but as part of our vision to create a safer, stronger and more resilient community, we will continue to adapt our provision to meet the needs of our local community.

“Whether through our newly formed food provision services, taking our programmes online, or in some cases continuing face-to-face delivery while complying with Covid-19 and social distancing guidelines, we believe we have been able to continue to inspire generations, connect and bring people together, and support people to achieve their goals.

“We will continue to adapt our provision to best cater for those most in need in Preston and the surrounding areas, whatever the challenges we face in the future, while we continue to work towards a full return to face-to-face delivery in the hopefully not too distant future.”

Proud Preston. This, and many stories like it, show how the people of Preston are making a difference. Our Proud Preston section showcases all the charitable, kind, uplifting and great things about our city and the people who live here. #ProudPreston is alive and well, and there’s much to celebrate and be proud of, despite the challenging times we all face.

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