POLICE are making sure vulnerable and elderly people have everything they need for Christmas by delivering hampers across the county.

The Thames Valley Police (TVP) South and Vale neighbourhood policing teams have been collecting donations from shoppers Non-perishable food, clothing and entertainment will be packed into boxes and delivered by police, who were in Sainsbury’s in Didcot on Wednesday.

The boxes will go to those on TVP’s list of people flagged up by the Vulnerable and Elderly Risk Assessment (VERA).

They are people at risk, who need extra help or reassurance and include people who have been victims of crime.

Didcot neighbourhood police team’s Pc Beverley Kaur said: “We’re always so impressed with the public’s generosity and interest in the hamper scheme. It’s a privilege to co-ordinate it.”

Acting inspector Stephen Hookham said: “Co-ordinating the VERA Christmas hampers is definitely one of the jobs that our neighbourhood police teams enjoy the most.

“Being able to serve our communities in this way gives us great pride, particularly at this time of year.

“The VERA list first came about a few years ago during severe weather warnings, and since then has become a central part of the team’s work.

“Schemes such as VERA help to boost confidence and promote community spirit.”

Police conduct regular welfare checks to make sure certain people are warm, safe, and have enough provisions and medication.

Age UK Oxfordshire donated exercise DVDs and room thermometers for the Christmas hampers.

Community networker Laura Freeth said: “The VERA list and neighbourhood policing tie in nicely with Age UK Oxfordshire’s work with the community information network.

“The network aims to pull information together into one place that will help older and vulnerable people find the services they need more easily.

“Whether it’s the police or a new exercise class, we can put the resident in touch with the right contact to help.

“The VERA list is another way to ensure that people who maybe aren’t as mobile as they once were are cared for, and the hamper scheme is a lovely and informal way for residents to stay in contact with local authorities, organisations and communities to maintain those networks.”

Our top stories

 

 

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.