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As the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise right across the country, so does the growing sense of turmoil the people of Wales face.

It is a time that has proven difficult for many people across Blaenau Gwent, with the global pandemic touching every corner of the borough, and forcing many residents into self- isolation.

However, in these challenging times there are some members of the community who are finding new ways to come together and support the most vulnerable among us.

From donations of food and cleaning equipment, to free taxi rides and deliveries, here’s how some of the residents of Blaenau Gwent are doing their bit to help during the coronavirus pandemic.

Kevin Phillips, 46, of Tredegar, is project manager for local media company Cymru Creations and when the firm stopped working due to the spread of Covid-19 last week, he was keen to help them divert all resources into aiding the vulnerable people of his hometown.

The team quickly mobilised and helped form a group named the Tredegar Community Task Force in just five days, with the aim of meeting the needs of elderly and vulnerable residents who have been forced into self-isolation.

(Image: Kevin Phillips)

But while Kevin praised the work of all involved with the group so far, he is also eager to stress that as the crisis worsens, there will be much more that needs to be done.

He said: "We are trying to play our part and do the best we can to help out at this time, but it isn't easy. All our staff and volunteers came together to set this up in only five days so as you can imagine we've been flat out working around the clock to get to this point, and it isn't slowing down.

"There's so many people to thank, and they've all done a great job in delivering food to people’s doors around the borough, picking up medications, and just generally taking care of the vulnerable people who need a hand.

"It's a terrible time but one thing it has done is show the amazing spirit we have here in the valleys with everyone in the community coming together.

"From local businesses giving donations, to volunteers from different community groups all helping with deliveries, the response has been absolutely great, and it’s something I think we're going to need more of in the coming months.

"We're all going to stick together throughout this pandemic and we want people to know that we're here for them if they need us. "

Another such volunteer is Emma Dyte, who lives in Cefn Golau near Tredegar, where she works with a local community group called Cefn Together.

(Image: Cefn Golau together)

Like others from the group, mum Emma spent most of her Mother's Day this year delivering parcels of food and supplies to elderly people in the village, though she says she is happy to help out as much as she possibly can.

She said: "We're more than happy to help out, as this is such a difficult time and we know there are so many people around us who could use a hand.

“There's a good community spirit up in Cefn Golau and we always want to make sure we take care of each other as much as possible.

"I like helping people as it always makes me feel good, and with having two kids of my own to care for I want to show them that it's important to help others in times such as these.

"There are a lot of single parents and elderly people who can't get to the shops at the moment so it's an important task for us, and when we do make the deliveries people are always very grateful and appreciative, so that means a lot.”

In Ebbw Vale, Melanie Langford and her husband Ryan were thinking of ways they could help the community, and took to social media to find out what they could do.

After a massive response, they spent their weekend cooking almost 40 roast dinners and delivering them to residents in the Ebbw Vale, Abertillery and Brynithel areas.

Melanie said: "It was a long day doing the cooking and the deliveries on Sunday but in the end it was all worth while.

"We know people who have tested positive for the virus, as well as a number of people who have gone into isolation, so we've seen the effect it can have on their lives.

"While a lot of people are getting food delivered to their houses we knew that some of them would be unable to cook a hot meal for themselves so that was something we knew we could do to make a difference.

"We bought a pile of veggies from Aldi, and when we told the people at Brookside Meat in Ebbw Vale what we were doing they gave us the beef and pork for free. It was a wonderful gesture and we were very grateful for the help.

“We'll keep doing things like this if we can, but we just hope now people listen to the advice given by the government and stay at home. Hopefully that way we can slow the spread of the virus and get back to normality as soon as possible.”

Local councillor Alyson Tippings lives in nearby Trefil and was eager to echo this sentiment, hoping that residents will now stay at home in order to contain the virus, in what is currently the worst affected area in Wales under the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.

(Image: James Davies Photography)

She said: “Our communities are very fearful and concerned about what the future holds at the moment, particularly with places like chapels and churches that normally open their doors at times of crisis having to close down.

“In the midst of this crisis however, we have had some amazing volunteers coming forward right across Blaenau Gwent to help the needy and the most vulnerable. We are seeing Facebook being used to share information and keep in touch with people, and groups are coalescing so that no one is left isolated.

“It makes me very proud to see what can be achieved when we work together for the good of each other. I just hope that we can all heed the advice from the experts to isolate now, so that the impact of this dreadful virus can be contained.”