TWO EARLEY residents have been celebrated for founding a support hub during the pandemic.
Lyn Craddock and Ritesh Nigam have been added to the Earley mayor’s Covid Roll of Honour.
They founded Neighbourhood Needs, a social media group supporting residents living across Lower Earley, Earley and Woodley.
On March 7, 2020, a week before the UK’s first mutual aid group was launched in Lewisham, a resident posted on Earley Residents Discussion Board, creating a thread dedicated to helping others through the pandemic.
The response was overwhelming, and as a result, Neighbourhood Needs was created.
Mr Nigam said: “The whole community came over to help each other in a time of need.
“Everyone knew that it can be really hard to cope with such feelings, but all the more reason why they should come together and support each other.
“We would like to thank each of you for your generosity and kindness.”
Mr Nigam also thanked Ravikanth Vakada and Kajal Mathur for volunteering as moderators of the Neighbourhood Needs group.
