The leader of Brent Council has appealed for as many people as possible to sign up as volunteers to help community organisations cope with the coronavirus pandemic.

Cllr Muhammed Butt said any contribution will help the borough – and the country as a whole – tackle the virus, which has affected all aspects of society.

He thanked those who have already signed up to support the region’s community and voluntary sector and said this will help those who need it most.

He said: “We have already reinforced the safety net in Brent by redeploying council staff into different roles.

“For example, we’ve transformed Bridge Park Leisure Centre into a new food delivery hub, staffed by teams from across the council, which is delivering much-needed supplies to the most vulnerable, receiving things like pasta, cereal, fruit, tea bags and toilet rolls.

“But more community support would be very welcome, and I urge anyone who feels they could give their time and energy over the coming weeks, or even months, to register their details on our website as soon as possible.

“Working with our partners, the faster we act now, the more lives we can save.

“Your help could make such a huge difference to the lives of so many people in Brent and, from the bottom of my heart, we thank those that are already signed up, for making such a difference already.”

Cllr Butt explained that volunteers would be matched to roles that utilise their strengths, skills and attributes.

He added that the council can help people apply for disclosure and barring (DBS) checks if they have not already passed one.

Those who are interested in volunteering can visit www.brent.gov.uk/your-community/coronavirus/vounteering to sign-up or find out more information.

Community groups can go to bit.ly/2UXU0KK to join the council’s mutual aid group, which provides help and support during this time.