Copies of The Star delivered to vulnerable and elderly people in Sheffield during coronavirus lockdown

In partnership with The University of Sheffield, hundreds of copies of The Star will be delivered to vulnerable older people who are struggling to survive during the Covid-19 outbreak.

The paper will be included alongside vital food parcels from Age UK Sheffield who are helping to feed isolated elderly people who have no family or friends to rely on for help in lockdown.

The charity, who support older people in need across the city, have delivered over 750 essential food parcels since lockdown was announced on March, 23.

Chief Executive of Age UK Sheffield, Steve Chu, explained the response they’ve since including copies of The Star with the deliveries this week.

“It’s been really well-received”, he said.

"People are obviously isolated at home with very little social interaction and perhaps not much of a knowledge of what is going on around them in the community.

"If they aren't able to go out and get their own newspaper, it's a really vital tool to keep in touch not only with their community but with the latest advice in terms of the coronavirus pandemic.”

St Mary’s Church and Community Centre in Highfield are one of the organisations helping the charity package and deliver essential items such as bread, milk, eggs and news to vulnerable people, twice a week.

Reverend Karen Cribb, shared the feedback she's had from beneficiaries since the newspaper has been included in the parcels.

“I was speaking to a lady who got a bag on Tuesday and she said it was lovely to have The Star in the bag, she used to read it and haven’t seen it for years.

“She said it was lovely to have something extra she wasn’t expecting.

“I could tell from her voice it just made her day.”

Local businesses and residents raised £50,000 for Age UK Sheffield in March, to help fund food parcels for elderly people during the pandemic.

The money raised will enable the charity to continue providing essential food to vulnerable people for the next two months.