A number of Falmouth-based businesses have adapted the way they operate during the coronavirus pandemic in order to help keep the community healthy, connected and stocked up with supplies.

Among the examples of businesses working together is Abacus and Falmouth Taxis Ltd offering a free prescription delivery service for the elderly and vulnerable who might be in financial distress.

Reynolds and Slater Opticians is open by appointment for urgent and emergency eyecare and spectacles on the NHS, and privately, throughout the crisis, while keeping spirits high and helping people feel good about themselves is Zebra Finch Hairdressers, which has gone online to deliver a range of hairdressing tutorials demonstrating how to keep locks looking good in lockdown.

Owner Zeb Luke Gethen said: “People in Falmouth have a can-do attitude and it's great to be able to play my part.

"I felt I wanted to do what I could to try and help people feel better about themselves during lockdown and learn some new techniques for making the best of their hair.

"We all have more time on our hands than ever before so it’s the perfect moment to start experimenting with styling and changing up your daily routine. I look forward to seeing some great hair dos when the lockdown is lifted!”

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In celebration of National Gardening Week, the children of key workers who have continued to attend King Charles and St Francis schools received a growing pack from Jacqui Owen, the visitor and community engagement officer at Falmouth Town Council.

The seeds and compost were provided by Falmouth Cultural Services and the pots to grow them in from Cormac.

Seeds have also been delivered to community hub the Dracaena Centre, to be included in the weekly food parcels that the centre is delivering to people of the community, encouraging recipients to get outside and start growing things.

In addition to this, there are a number of Falmouth-based firms that have been making vital PPE and scrubs for healthcare workers, including the inception of CoVisor - a collaboration of local engineers and entrepreneurs.

Led by Sam Lanyon, whose work has been featured all over the world, from BBC’s Dragon’s Den to international tech magazines, the group has formed to mass-produce face shields in Cornwall to help protect as many healthcare workers against Covid-19 as possible. Its efforts have also already raised more than £15,000 toward the scheme.

Sam, who owns Concept Shed, decided to join forces with product design and development company Dufort Associates in Wadebridge to mass manufacturer reusable face shields to donate to hospitals in Cornwall and provide at cost price to other healthcare organisations.

Within two weeks of starting production, CoVisor had supplied thousands of visors across the UK, become an official supplier to an Ambulance Trust, had its design approved by a number of other NHS Trusts and provided everyone from midwives to undertakers with PPE.

To donate to the cause, visit covisor.org

Falmouth lifeboat crew member, Nick Head, has not only been saving lives on the water throughout the pandemic, but has also been working with a cutting machine usually used for sails to cut cloth for making scrubs for health workers.

If that does not keep him busy enough, he has also created the fun #PassThePager video and creative mini campaign on Facebook, to raise awareness that the RNLI volunteer crew remain on call 24/7 and are urging all to do their bit by staying at home to save lives.

Meanwhile Falmouth restaurant, MINE, run by Angus Bell and Katy Mulheir has re-opened its kitchen as a social not-for-profit project to bring chef-cooked meals to the people of Falmouth.

As previously reported, by the Packet, the couple have been busy cooking dishes that can be delivered to homes or paid forward to an NHS worker or vulnerable person.

Read more: Falmouth Restaurant MINE takeaway also helps NHS and homeless

After a couple of weeks of trial and error, the team has also decided recently to reopen to the public for Saturday brunch and Sunday lunch whilst cooking for the vulnerable and the NHS throughout the week. Find the Crowdfunder set up at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/mine-community-kitchen

Other community initiatives include HelpFal, created by Falmouth resident Emma Trelawny and designed by local design agency Kingdom & Sparrow, which collates useful information for residents of the town during the crisis at www.helpfal.com/keepingbusy

Falmouth Business Improvement District manager Richard Wilcox said: “We are very proud to be part of such a resourceful community and continue to be blown away by the kindness and innovation that all are showing during these unprecedented times.

"What many businesses, organisations and groups are doing during this time to help others is truly remarkable.

"We at Falmouth BID are keen to know ways in which we can practically be supporting businesses during this difficult time and encourage businesses to get in touch with us with their news.”