SPECIALIST volunteers are urgently needed to help care for vulnerable people in the community as the NHS struggles to discharge patients from Covid hit hospitals.

Community360 needs people to come forward to help with domiciliary care, specialist rehabilitation and provide support to care homes.

The charity is urgently looking for occupational therapists, physiotherapists, personal trainers and sports exercise staff to help with motivation and rehabilitation.

Volunteers are also needed with experience in care, catering, administration and clerical work.

Workforces shortages are being experienced across the Colchester and Braintree areas due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Tracy Rudling, chief executive officer of Community360, said: "Never more than now do we all need to pull together and our system colleagues need your help and support.

"Anyone that has recently retired or been furloughed or has some spare time please consider volunteering to help patients achieve their rehabilitation potential in these challenging Covid times.

"This could be from doing some simple tasks such as cooking meals and cleaning for someone to helping with exercise and motivation.

"If you have specialist skills and would like to use them to support a good cause, we can match you to the right volunteering opportunity and make it easy and rewarding for you to give back."

She added: "You will be part of a team and could really make a difference to the local population."

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North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group will provide training and protective equipment for volunteers.

If you are interested, call 01206 505250 or visit www.volunteeressex.org/opportunities/covid-community-support-12421.