Volunteer-led community support schemes created during the last lockdown have swung back into action.

They range from a rugby club’s doorstep delivery service for the elderly and vulnerable in the north to a support network based on a traffic light system for parishioners in the south.

Ramsey Rugby Club converted their skills on the pitch last year to lead the charge in a remarkable community effort.

The brainchild of retired players Gareth Hinge and Dave Harding, it started out with the idea of doing the shopping and collecting prescriptions for the old folk and vulnerable of Ramsey.

But it quickly expanded into collection and doorstep deliveries across the whole of the north of the island with a team of 40-plus volunteers.

Gareth Hinge was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours for outstanding community service during the pandemic.

He posted: ’Unfortunately we are up and running again.

’Our volunteers are here for you if you are vulnerable and self isolating.

’We can help with shopping, collecting prescriptions and dog walking. Please spread the word.’

You can contact Ramsey Rugby Club Doorstep Deliveries on Facebook are by phone on 473087 or 423911.

Another remarkable community initiative, this time in the south of the island, earned an MBE for the chairman of Arbory and Rushen Commissioners Jane Glover in this year’s New Years Honours.

The Arbory and Rushen Connect monitoring scheme was devised to identify those most in need during the coronavirus crisis.

Households in the two parishes were asked to display an orange or green sheet of paper in their window - green meant everything is okay but orange indicated you might need help, perhaps with shopping or just need a friendly chat.

A team of more than 100 volunteers - each allocated to cover a particular area - were then sent round to every home a couple of days a week to check on homes where an orange card was on display.

And now this scheme, too, is back.

The Commissioners posted on its Facebook page that they will be reactivating "Arbory & Rushen Connect" in light of the lockdown.

’If you need assistance please place something red or orange in a prominent place so that our volunteers know you need our help,’ it said.

Volunteers will be visiting every home in Ballabeg, Colby, The Level, Croit e Caley, Ballakillowey, Ballafesson, Surby, the Howe, Glen Chass & Cregneash each Monday and Friday.

If you live outside these areas, or need immediate assitance for instance with shopping or other errands, you can contact clerk Phil Gawne at [email protected] or dial 834501, 835013 or 492010.