Attleborough councillor turns pub into collection point as town rallies
From repurposing her parents’ pub to door-to-door leafleting, a young woman is working tirelessly to ensure her town comes out of the coronavirus crisis in good shape.
Following the closure of The London Tavern in Attleborough last week, bartender and district councillor Taila Taylor began repurposing her parents’ business of 17 years into a donation and collection point for vulnerable residents to get their hands on essential supplies.
The 25-year-old said: “You would think that, with the pub being closed, I would have a little bit of free time on my hands, but it hasn’t actually been the case.
“We thought people are going to need supplies, and we’re right in the town centre and we’re easily accessible, so it makes a perfect place for a drop-off and collection point.
“Obviously, now the pub has closed, but we’re still having deliveries, so it’s still working and it’s still effective.
“The demand is going to increase as this situation gets worse, but the idea has really taken off and it seems to be working.
“We’ve started selling food and drink, cleaning supplies toiletries and pretty much anything you could potentially need in a crisis.”
Alongside fellow Attleborough town councillor Lucan Grave, she is also handing out ‘kindness slips’ – forms where people can offer up charitable services, from getting somebody’s shopping to friendly phone calls.
She said: “There’s literally an army of residents out here handing out these slips – the community spirit here is inspirational.
“We’ve also made a WhatsApp group, so if somebody is going to the shops, they can ask if anybody else needs anything.”
Despite the testing circumstances, Miss Taylor remains determined and upbeat, with an unwavering pride in her home town.
She said: “It’s been difficult, but there’s been so much support from residents around here, and that’s lightened the load – no one individual has this all on their shoulders.
“As long as we’re united, we’ll be absolutely fine.”