As part of the Reds’ Unity is Strength community response to the crisis, a team of LFC staff volunteers is providing support to Tranmere’s own community response initiatives, working together to help those in need.
LFC staff volunteers will join Rovers volunteers in distributing leaflets to thousands of residents outlining what support is in place for those in need. These will help to raise awareness of their support initiatives among people who perhaps do not have access to the internet or social media.
Alongside this, they will be offering a helping hand in preparing and delivering meals and food parcels to residents in the area. LFC has seconded one of its professional chefs usually based at Anfield to Tranmere for one day a week to help their team to produce meals for the most vulnerable people in the local community.
The League One club (along with its partner charity, HelpLink) is also running a befriending service, which will be supplemented by LFC staff volunteers, to make befriending phone calls to older and vulnerable people who may be isolated, worried and lonely during this challenging time.
Nicola Palios, Tranmere’s vice-chairman, said: “At a time of crisis it is great to see any football rivalries being put aside, and two Merseyside clubs working together to help our communities.
“When the COVID-19 lockdown was announced, Tranmere and HelpLink quickly established a scheme to support the elderly and vulnerable in Wirral, and we are delighted that Liverpool FC are able to offer us some additional resources for that initiative, as demand for our support is increasing daily.”
Matt Parish, director of LFC Foundation, said: “We are proud to be working alongside Tranmere Rovers FC to support their local community response work.
“It’s so important that we unite during these difficult times to help each other and support as many people as we can in our local communities.”
To help spread the word and raise awareness of the support that is available, a poster has been created that is available to download and print by clicking here, which residents can post through the letterboxes of neighbours or, with permission, pin to the wall of local shops in the area that are open.
Tranmere Rovers is urging anyone who would like to become a volunteer to provide phone and shopping support to email tellus@tranmererovers.co.uk for an application form.