Working from home

Working from home – the new normal? By Pa Modou Faal

If your usual place of work is the office, it is likely that you have been asked to work from home in recent times due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown. No doubt, you have found it a both challenging and rewarding experience. It might be that, as a result of this adaptation to the way we work, some organisations may look to continue with more roles working remotely either on a semi or more permanent basis.

Here are some useful tips to consider: It is important to evaluate how well your environment suits your needs. Your home working space should follow the same standards as any office environment. Ask yourself the following, and if the space still needs improvement, address it as quickly as possible: Are your desk and chair comfortable, or are you experiencing any back problems? Ensure that you are not facing the camera with a window behind you as colleagues may have difficulty seeing you. Are your cables tidy and out of the way so they don’t present a trip hazard? Do you know where to find files and other paperwork easily and quickly? Are you taking breaks or lunch at your desk? If so, change your environment when you are taking time out. Human beings are social animals, so working from home may have taken some getting used to. You may have found ways to cope with feelings of isolation or you may still be struggling. Keeping to a schedule is important for our wellbeing so if you are finding that you are ‘out of sorts’, consider the following: Wake up at your usual time. Granted, you won’t have a commute ahead of you, but you’ll need enough time for your morning shower, breakfast and any personal tasks before you start your working day. Don’t roll out of bed and straight onto your computer or work calls. You’ll feel disorganised and this will come across to others. Even though you are not in an office, wear something smart casual during working hours. This does not mean that you have to wear a suit when working from home, but day clothes will help you to start your working day mentally focused and ready. If you do not have office furniture like an adjustable chair, try using things like cushions to support you in your chair, or a box as a footrest. While it might be tempting to sit on the sofa, it is much better to sit at a desk or table. Give yourself time to concentrate on something else so w you feel more focused when you return. Let your friends and family know that even when you are working from home, you are unavailable for visits. Say you will return their calls and emails after working hours. Hydrate throughout the day to maintain mental focus but avoid consuming too much caffeine. It can be tempting to tidy the house, do the dusting or throw the laundry in while you’re working. Housework can wait and do not be tempted to use your lunch hour to do the chores!

Many people enjoy social media and it can be tempting to log on for ‘just a minute’ to check for updates. Ensure that your favourite websites are not open during the day and if you receive updates to your personal email account, disable them during working hours. Update your online office diary every day and ensure that your colleagues have access to it. You and your co-workers may all be working from home but it’s important that you all know when you’re unavailable due to conference calls.

Connect with your manager and colleagues during the day – even a quick ‘hello’ can help you to feel a part of office life. If you have the IT systems in place, you and your team might also choose to have face-to-face contact via video conferencing. Coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed everything, and we have all had to adjust to new ways of living and working. Working from home means you might be spending a lot more time without moving your body. If you’re feeling stiff or tense, try doing some light stretching or exercise with our 10-minute home workouts. Follow your normal sleep and work patterns if you can and stay consistent. You may be continuing to work from home for a while, so think about ways you could improve how you work while at home. Even just 5 to 10 minutes of short breaks each hour can really help your productivity too. If you have a garden, could you work there if the weather’s warm? Remember, this is an unusual situation and things will not feel normal! Be kind to yourself and acknowledge that you might not be as productive as you usually would be. Be realistic about what you can achieve given the circumstances and relax when your work is done. When you finish for the day, shut down your workspace for the night. Get out for a walk, working from home does not mean that you do not have a personal life. Do not forget the NHS guidelines to set up your workspace correctly, as much as you possibly can.

Creating a Multimedia Website Interview with DJ Owen By Pa Modou Faal

Could you please introduce yourself? When I came for my volunteer interview at FMB Radio My name is Owen and commonly known as DJ Owen. Office for a radio presenting job I thought to myself I I live in Nottingham might not get the opportunity but then FMB team gave me the opportunity since I started in February How did you hear about FMB? 2020. I am now a Programme Assistant Manager. I heard of FMB by seeing it advertise on Facebook.

How have you been doing with your programmes?

What motivated you to join FMB? Since I started back in February 2020, it went really well I really wanted to join the FMB team because I have but then COVID - 19 came and it got a bit difficult. I been running radio shows for 2 years within different tried doing radio shows from home, but I could not radio stations. I want to bring a lot more experience record them for rebroadcasting, so I stopped it until it and make the radio more fun. was safe to return to the studio. Since then everything was safe, and I have been hosting more special guests What position did you occupy at the time of start? through online Zoom. In today’s web-orientated world there is a huge demand for people skilled in web design and Radio Presenting development. Almost all organisations and professions have and require websites and so do people of influence or those doing own business. Gaining skills of creating and maintaining multimedia website is a highly marketable skill. How did your passion for radio start? In 2018, I’ve found out that there was a group workshop in radio presenting and I thought to myself How do you feel joining the FMB team? I feel so happy and excited as I love getting the audience entertained as that is what is important about being a radio presenter, is keeping everybody I really wanted to entertain people across the East entertained and I love interviewing special guests too. You will learn: Midlands so I took part in workshop to learn how • Identify different website purposes, features and structuresto become a radio presenter. It took 2 months and I What Impact does coronavirus has on you in regard • Plan a basic website (5 pages) from a specified brief / for specific industryreally got stuck into it since then and they offered me to your work? • Create a website based on given brief settings • Test website created – Navigation, Links, Search Engine Optimisation etc) • Use at least one Content Management System - Joomla or WordPress a slot 2 of hours every Wednesday’s from 4pm - 6pm. Then I found FMB Radio and I really wanted to have another radio show to keep more people entertain. It has been very difficult for me because I wouldn’t be able to go out in the community or be able to do pre - recorded interviews with guests and also not been able to do LIVE shows in the studio.

What do you do at FMB?

This course will give you the knowledge and tools to create, manage and run a great business or I run a radio show every Monday on FMB Radio called What are your expectations for post Covid-19? professional website. You will get access to Joomla / WordPress premium features. Monday Madness Live from 11am to 1.30pm with DJ I hope that things start to settle in and get back to Owen. I am a Programme Assistant Manager where I normalcy and to enjoy our lifetime by meeting friends look after the radio station to make sure the shows and going back to LIVE shows, gigs and much more. Key Informationrun smoothly and make sure other presenters keep up to their duties. What are your last words if you have any? 30 Hours Flexible Free Level 1 (3 Credits) Access to Hosting, Domain Name & What were your expectations when you Joined FMB? Tune in every Monday’s with DJ Owen from 11am - 1.30pm with a lot of banter and great music in the mix! premium Joomla & 14+ Classroom, online & WordPress features website project Book courses at https://fyaonline.com/training-programs/

Learn to create website with Learn to create website with

FGRC Project 97

FGRC PROJECT97 is a Full Gospel Revival Centre & St Faith project operating in the Meadows area which focuses on interfaith and interethnic activities through community training and support. The aim is to promote community cohesion within Nottingham and the wider communities to emphasize the importance of practical Christianity within the Christian faith. We support BAME communities mainly Africans, Caribbean and older people to cope with bereavement, loneliness and mental health issues.

SERVICES Covid -19 effects emergency support • Support of many interfaith & Counselling engagement services address Culturally Harmful Mental Health, loneliness, wellbeing Practices support • Boy child empowerment through “A Support services for older people whisper to my son” programs Skills and community social capital • Health & Safety training development • Food Hygiene training Online funeral & bereavement • Cleaning and support services services training Interfaith & interethnic online social Safe space

For more Information Julia Paul 07799 967516 info@fgrcproject97.org 97 Bathley Street NG2 2EE

ABDOULIE VOLUNTEERS TO HELP VULNERABLE FAMILIES

Abdoulie Jah, a Nottingham City Homes tenant, has volunteered during the pandemic to help delivering meals to families living in Nottingham. He was determined to help the less fortunate during the global pandemic. Many families suffered greatly as a cause of the COVID-19 by losing their jobs or staying at home because they could endanger their loved ones.

In this crisis situation it was amazing to see how people got together to deliver food to other community members. Abdoulie who lives in Hyson Green joined the Nottingham COVID-19 Support Network that was made up of local small charities and groups to work together and offer residents access to food. During the holy month of Ramadan, this network included the delivery of hot meals to Muslim families.

‘Abdoulie is a tireless volunteer for the people in his local community. The support he has provided to families through the Network has made a big difference to local peoples’ lives said the spokesperson for Nottingham City Homes.

Abdoulie helped because he felt that ‘there are families who are not only suffering financially every day but are going without everyday essentials. Unfortunately, the coronavirus has highlighted ongoing inequalities that we work each day to change’. He acknowledged the difficulty of those families and this is why he decided to help them restlessly.

“If we can feed one person, then it is one less hungry person to be worried about. We all need to do our bit together and by doing that, we’ll come out of this together.’ Said Abdoulie.

Original article: https://rb.gy/8hmllc