First City Nursing launched a new recruitment campaign to support other businesses and help protect elderly and vulnerable people in Swindon.

The homecare company is looking for people who would be interested in short-term or temporary employment to care for those in need. Bosses want to work with other businesses to redeploy interested staff on a temporary basis.

Managing director Stephen Trowbridge said: “These are uncertain times for business and once the pandemic is over, we’re going to need the whole workforce ready to move immediately.

“If businesses need to start losing staff, then recovery will be much slower. We want to work with them to redeploy their staff into caring roles temporarily, should their employee be interested, and provide full training and all PPE equipment such as masks and gloves.

"We will provide financial support, such as possibly taking on responsibility for that employee’s wages over the period, and would return the employee to their original role when the business was ready to have them back.

“This could be the ideal solution for those working for businesses that are facing reduced incomes due to social distancing and self-isolation guidelines, such as retail stores, restaurants and other businesses which may need to close or reduce their opening hours.”

First City will coordinate efforts to ensure that volunteers have the right support and knowledge to protect themselves and their families, as well as vetting volunteers so that the most vulnerable in the community are protected.

Mr Trowbridge continued: “The care system has never known pressures like this before and the key to alleviating as much stress as we can is in the hands of the community.

"I’ve been watching the global situation closely and can see where we might be heading here. By drawing on a new army of volunteers, we can benefit the whole system and put Swindon in the strongest position to recover, both physically and economically from Covid-19.

“I’ve watched friends and families volunteer their time on social media on a street by street basis and believe that a town-wide approach would impact so many lives at this unprecedented time. At no point would our volunteers be asked to carry out any caring duties, which our excellent teams of carers and partner providers continue to do.

"We want people to help relieve the strain by delivering shopping, picking up medications or being a friendly ear on the end of the phone. Together we are stronger to fight this national and international crisis and protect our town.”