IF the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that the little things really do matter.

Realising this early on during the coronavirus outbreak, Denise Silcock set up Lend a Hand Horwich ­— It’s the Little Things!

She said: “Like many when coronavirus hit I really wanted to do my bit.

“For me Covid-19 was far more than a virus, it could be totally life changing as my husband suffers from a very serious lung condition. Due to the health risks and being his full time carer we both went in to ‘shielded’ isolation.

“As coronavirus continued to spread, everyone was going through the greatest threat to normal everyday life ‘as we know it’. The situation was very worrying for ordinary folk who were feeling that they were just being left to get on with it, there didn’t seem to be any help at grassroots level.

“Due to being in ‘shielding’ I understood the effect the pandemic was having and although I couldn’t actually help on the streets, I could help in another way, by bringing people together and Lend a Hand was born. Using social media and lots of amazing people who volunteered we hit the ground running, I produced a simple leaflet for people to share with their neighbours and within no time my phone started to ring and an army of Lend a Hand volunteers were soon helping doing shopping, picking up prescriptions, walking dogs and just doing the little things… even knocking down a shed!”

Lend a Hand proved to a be a real lifeline when panic buying set in and shelves were stripped bare of staples ­— leaving families desperate.

Denise said: “A mum in isolation with her husband and three children contacted Lend a Hand, in floods of tears because she couldn’t get an online delivery but we arranged a volunteer to do her shopping and drop it off. A single mum of two, had no money at all, due to a delay in benefits, Lend a Hand organised nappies, baby food, and a food parcel to help.

“I just don’t want anyone to worry or feel they are on their own ­— and that’s basically what Lend a Hand is about.Lend a Hand put a call out for everyone to start looking out for the people right on their doorstep and check on their neighbours.

"It was heartbreaking to hear so many stories from families who had no money to buy food because their benefits hadn’t come through or local business owners who were at risk of losing everything.

"Lend a Hand worked with Bolton Nice and Bolton Homeless Aid who delivered food parcels to struggling families.

"We’re all made of tough stuff in Bolton and the community soon started to come together we all supported each other.

"Our amazing volunteers are truly incredible."

Lend a Hand has received a Certificate of Achievement from the Mayor of Bolton, awarded as a Horwich Community Champion and runner up in the BBC Radio Manchester Make a Difference campaign.

It works with Bolton CVS, Bolton NHS CCG, Bolton Nice, Bolton Homeless Aid and Urban Outreach, Bolton Carers, Bolton Lever Rotary and Tesco and many more.

For more information visit Lend a Hand in Horwich Facebook.