Local Heroes

local

Leaving our homes for only essential food and medical supplies, to give vital care, and for just one form of exercise a day - for almost three months this was how we lived. We were confined to the four walls of our homes and to our gardens. Grandparents could not see their grandchildren and best friends were banned from meeting. Streets were deserted. Support groups could no longer meet face to face. They were scary and deeply worrying times.

But our hearts were still full of care for those around us. An Office For National Statistics survey in April found that

just over half the adults they questioned had been offered help from others, should they need to self-isolate or become poorly. This soared to an incredible 83.3 per cent of those surveyed who were 70 and over. Throughout our area groups were formed to look after locals. Collection of prescriptions, shopping, and having a friendly chat on the phone were just some of the ways kind-hearted residents made a massive difference. At a time when people were genuinely frightened to go out – from a selection of people surveyed in May, 41 per cent did not feel safe leaving their homes because of the threat of coronavirus (ons.gov.uk) – ordinary people stepped up and did extraordinary things. One of these local heroes was Keira

Williamson, who founded The Spalding

And Pinchbeck COVID Kindness Team. She summed up the situation pretty perfectly when she told us, ‘we rely on one another to not only survive, but to thrive too. When you support one person, that creates a ripple effect, and the Kindness Team certainly made waves.’ Keira’s dream team responded to around 4000 individual support requests, delivered 1500 care packages, and also distributed 10,000 fresh fruit and veg bags, making a massive difference to many. Keen to help the community and with kindness at the forefront of her mind, Keira explained, ‘I started a Facebook page in anticipation of Lockdown, and asked if anyone would be willing to come on board.’ And caring people certainly did come forward. ‘We are all volunteers,’ she explained. ‘Most of us were still working, some of us with children to look after and some working frontline. There are 12 amazing committee members and close to 200 active volunteers. The Kindness Team would not have been what it was without the effortless kindness given by everyone within the volunteer team. Whether they were out shopping, picking up prescriptions, helping us pack the fruit and veg, picking up fresh produce for us, delivering care packages or answering phone calls, it was a big task with a big volume and everyone just pulled together with nothing but kindness in mind. Our towns should be so proud of the people who live here. It’s so easy to focus on the negatives but these positives far outweigh them.’ Keira formed the team as soon as vulnerable groups were told to self-isolate, before Lockdown was announced. She said, ‘with the demand on supermarkets and no structure in place to assist these people, we wanted to help those in need with vital support such as prescription pick-ups, essential shopping, emergency food parcels for those affected financially due to COVID, and wellbeing check-ins. As well as providing this, we wanted to create as much kindness and sense of community as we could. In survival situations, it can be so easy to slip into individual perspectives but the reality is we are a collaborative and community species. We wanted the community to remember this.

Spalding And Pinchbeck COVID Kindness Team, pictured by Sally Lucy Photography.

‘We covered Spalding, Pinchbeck, Weston Hills, Surfleet, Gosberton, Holbeach and Donington. We also were fortunate to create connections with other volunteer groups such as Market Deeping, where we would share between us the extremely kind donations from local businesses, which again, created the sense of community from a wider perspective.’ And, rightly so, the group feels a tremendous sense of pride. Keira told us, ‘we were blown away by the collective effort from the committee, the incredible volunteers and those who donated, whether financially or food and produce. The scale was really quite overwhelming when you sit and reflect on it. Of course, we experienced great highs, but we were also faced with the reality of COVID and how this was affecting people within the community personally. We all went on a very personal rollercoaster of emotions but we are so glad we were able to support and connect with so many people.’ And the team will still be there for anyone who needs them. ‘We are currently running on a skeleton team basis,’ Keira said. ‘We have an emergency food bank in place and, volunteer depending, can assist with shopping. A lot of our volunteers have gone back to work in some capacity as Lockdown has lifted, but we are very aware we may not be out of the woods yet. The Kindness Team will be here should Lockdown come upon us again.’ Keira was keen to thank the Kindness Team committee members, all the volunteers, and all those who made donations. She also thanked Sally Lucy Photography, for taking pictures of the Team, and who raised more than £600 for the group by taking doorstep photographs of the community Another one of the many wonderful organisations continuing to support those in need throughout Lockdown and beyond is health and wellbeing charity Tonic Health. By delivering much-appreciated gift packs (including by wartime Jeep at one point!), swapping face to face support meetings with virtual gatherings, and helping keep their community moving with exercise sessions, Tonic Health has been a lifeline for lots of locals. Throughout the pandemic, the charity has been providing support to its members where they need it most. This has included making more than 350 befriending/check in calls and delivering over 120 gift packs full of snacks, activities, colouring books, puzzles, and gift cards, for members of their Dementia Support Group. Weekly Zoom meetings of Tonic Health’s Mental Health, Autism and Dementia Carers’ Groups have been held, and members who previously had no internet access were helped thanks to five Kindle Fire tablets, as well as a data SIM card being given to one member to get them connected. All this was made possible thanks to the big-hearted Tonic Health team, along with financial grants, as chair of Tonic Health trustees Michael Morris explained. ‘We secured funding in April from the National Emergencies Trust, via the Lincolnshire Communities Foundation, and from Lincolnshire County Council,’ he explained. ‘With additional NHS funding we have also trained three members of staff in the Mental Health First Aid course.’ Speaking about how Tonic Health have worked hard to adapt, so they can continue providing their caring services during a global pandemic, Michael said, ‘providing this small level of support has helped replace what members would usually receive through attending regular groups at Tonic Health. The Safe Places Mental Health, Dementia Support and Autistic Led group members have all benefitted.’ Michael added, ‘a particular highlight was a VE Day gift pack given to all members of the Dementia Support Group. Those living in and around the Spalding area had their gifts delivered by our focus support worker Marion Gaynor, who dressed in 1940s army uniform and arrived in a former army Jeep! It really brought a smile to people’s faces! ‘We are now working on new ways to continue our support. For example, Tonic 44 Community Café has undergone a major transformation to the garden area, creating an all-weather space for people to enjoy their coffee and cake in, and a place to enjoy taking part in some socially distanced activities. ‘Recent funding from Active Lincolnshire has also enabled us to start producing online seated exercise sessions which will be available for all older adults and people with dementia to follow and take part in twice a week, within the comfort of their own homes, via You Tube.’ And the charity’s efforts during these challenging times have been gratefully received. Members have given Michael and his team some marvellous feedback, including comments such as, ‘the weekly phone call has been excellent, and if I was having doubts about what I was doing it was always good to know that there was someone who I could ask, and know that I would be given an honest answer and encouragement to keep going.’ Updates on activities and future events are posted on the Tonic Health Facebook page. If you would like more information you can also visit www.tonic-health.co.uk.

Michael Morris and Marion Gaynor with the wartime Jeep which was out and about distributing gift packs on VE Day, and a selection of the goodies which have been delivered to members of Tonic Health's Dementia Support Group.