Here's the latest update from Darlington Support, the voluntary organisation in the town with which the club has close links. Thanks once again to Joanne Cameron, who plays a leading role in it.

2020 is a year that most of us would rather forget.  In addition to the tragic loss of many lives, the global pandemic has had significant consequences on our community and our country in other destructive ways.  These include poorer physical and mental health, financial and economic hardship, and social isolation and loneliness.

However, out of this Coronavirus darkness, a shining light was born.

Many public-spirited volunteers stepped up to the challenge and joined Darlington Support to dedicate their time and energy to serve vulnerable residents during a tough period for our town.

All of us working together, we supported everyone who has contacted us seeking help.  We were not only providing assistance to people who were shielding, but also to anyone who faced a difficulty.

We have completed referrals and requests for help from many organisations, including Darlington Borough Council, local GPs, pharmacies, hospitals and other charities.  Furthermore, we have expanded the services that we offer and have been supporting other groups and good causes, such as King's Church Foodbank, the Library and Age UK.

As a result, hundreds of volunteers across dozens of teams around Darlington have served local residents on thousands of occasions.

The heartening and touching messages that we have received from grateful individuals ensured that we all remained motivated and energetic no matter how tough and stressful the situation was.

It is sometimes easy to forget the contribution that we have been making, but messages like this one from people we looked after put it into perspective:

Once again…thank you SOMuch for your incredible help and support.  We will always remember this time and how you may have saved our lives.

Earlier this week, one of the residents who contacts us regularly called to say thank you.  She was explaining how helpful to her the volunteers have been throughout the year.  As her voice began to crack, she said that if she continued speaking any longer, she will start crying...it was quite emotional and humbling listening to her and realising the difference that we have made.

As a result of the pandemic, a national analysis was carried out about the most thoughtful places in the country.  Because of the impact the Darlington Support team has had on the town this year, we were asked to comment on the news that Darlington was ranked the most thoughtful community in the North.  Our answer was:

We are not surprised…we knew that all along.  Without the continuous hard work, kindness and selflessness of so many volunteers in our town, Darlington Support would not have become one of the most successful groups – if not the most successful – in the country to tackle Covid at a local level.

So, from the bottom of our hearts and on behalf of all the residents we have served, we would like to express how grateful our community is to you for what you have achieved in 2020.