GOOD THINGS

DIL RAJ - MARCH 2020

A restaurant offered free meals for NHS workers to thank them for their efforts on the coronavirus frontline. Dil Raj, on High Street, Dodworth, closed its doors following advice from the government to prevent unnecessary contact with others.

As the restaurant also operates as a takeaway - and takeaways are permitted to remain open - the manager, Miron Rahman, wass determined to help the community during these desperate times. He said: “We want to do our bit to help the community under these circumstances - we recognise how hard NHS staff are currently working. We’re more than happy to cook and deliver food to the frontline staff at the hospital free of charge should they require it. “We want to help as much as we can as we know people need to eat and that is one way we can do our bit.”

RYAN BOOCOCK - MARCH 2020

A joiner used his skills during social distancing to honour the NHS with an eye-catching sign outside his home. Ryan Boocock, from Darfield, used his extra time to create a lit-up sign.

Ryan, 39, said: “I’m a joiner on lockdown and taking it seriously, but fortunately I have a workshop at home.

“I thought it was a nice gesture to all NHS staff as their hard work is appreciated.

“It’s the very least we can do, if it makes someone smile it’s worth it.”

STEPHEN TAYLOR - APRIL 2020

A Barnsley resident decided to drive NHS workers to Barnsley Hospital free of charge to help them get to work and avoid public transport. Having worked as an HGV driver all his life, Stephen Taylor wants to put his expertise to good use during this difficult time for the borough.

He told the Chronicle: “I’ve been in the transport industry all my life and, with my experience, I feel as though this is something that I can do to help others. “The bus times have been slashed and so it’s taking far too long for these key workers to get to work.”

Stephen, of Athersley North, ensured that he took the correct precautions when driving staff to work, supplying plastic gloves and sanitising the car after every use.

“Everyone I drive will have to sit in the back seat and will be offered gloves to stop the spread of the virus,” he added.

“If I can just help one person then this can be seen as a success in my opinion. “I’ve been telling everyone I’m not bothered if it’s morning, day or night, I’ll travel and help who I can.

JACK COEFIELD - APRIL 2020

A Barnsley man cut the NHS logo into a football field to show his support for frontline workers. Jake Coefield, 25, of Wombwell, decided on the idea after seeing a farmer on the news create a similar design and put his plan into action at the Dorothy Hyman Stadium in Cudworth.

He told the Chronicle: “There was a bit of a discussion with my family about whether or not I’d be able to replicate it, because it’s a lot more difficult than it looks.

“But I’ve managed to do other creative designs in the past before so I thought that I’d give it a try and it came out quite well.”

Jake’s grandfather passed away in 202, and he saw this as a way to say thank you for all the hard work NHS staff did to help him.

“I just wanted to do something good for the NHS after the support they gave him,” Jake said.

“It put smiles on a lot of faces so that’s a positive as well, the response I’ve received from all my friends and family has been fantastic.

“I can’t believe how quickly it’s blown up, it’s a great way to show support for the NHS staff at the hospital.”

A local resident set up a donation network to support those who are most vulnerable in Barnsley.

Alex Forrest began the campaign, ‘The Gift of the People’, last week to help the residents who need it most. He told the Chronicle: “It all started when I was furloughed from my current job, meaning I didn’t really have much to do. I noticed that a couple of my friends were struggling, but they didn’t want to make it known, so I brought them some milk and bread, the essentials, to just do my bit. That’s when I found out one of them was unable to even leave the house due to her underlying health conditions.”

Alex decided to make a food box for her to ensure that she wasn’t going without the essentials, and the response he received inspired him to do more.

“I got a text message just explaining how thankful she was, it made me think about all the people in Cudworth, let alone Barnsley, that are suffering in silence,” he added.

“That’s when the idea popped in to my head that I should start a campaign helping all of those that need help in this time. I’ve been inundated with support so far, and I’m just really hoping that it’s something that will put a smile on everyone’s faces.

“At the end of all of this, the plan is to donate the remainder of the money to the NHS foundation trust, but to do that we ideally need more food donations.

“I’ve been going out recently and sharing the food packages with those who ask, I’m just hoping for more donations to help everybody. I’m ensuring that I’m taking all the correct health precautions so the spread of the virus is at a minimal – wearing gloves and disinfecting everything that comes in.”

Among the supporters of the campaign are Coun Joe Hayward, Barnsley CVS and even a documentary team at Channel Four.

“I had a call from someone from the channel who wants me to film a few videos for them to help a documentary they’re doing on the outbreak.

“A lot of conversation has gone on with Coun Hayward, who’s a good friend of mine, to help me get access to closed down foodbanks and from Barnsley CVS who are helping to retrieve a list of those who need the support most in the Cudworth area. They’re sending me out a card so people know that I’m not trying to scam them and everything I do is legitimate. Overall everyone has been such a great help. I’d like to say a special thanks to Aldi and Co-op in Cudworth, Freshpak Wombwell, Tony Patel, Bev Voster and Mark Dix.”

Virtual learning resumed in April 2020 for its 9,000 students but Barnsley College certainly hadn’t been taking a break over Easter – with staff helping to produce thousands of protective visors for healthcare workers on the frontline.

Digital industries programme manager Jessica LeeHenderson and creative technician Bradley Sharp used the college’s cutting and printing equipment, and with assistance from Jonathan Frost of Sheffield-based SH Lasers, produced 2500 3D visors.

Jessica said: “We feel very humbled to be able to help in a small way.

“The doctors, nurses and wider team are doing such an amazing job and to be able to support them is an incredible feeling.”

“From the second we put the call out to Jessica, the College responded immediately and less than a week later we have equipment being used on our site by our clinical teams,” said Darren Howlett, deputy associate director of oper- ations at Barnsley Hospital.

“We now have a network. It is a real credit to the togetherness of Barnsley. It is making a real difference to us at Barnsley Hospital NHS Trust and for that we are truly grateful.”

Arran McCallum, who is not only a technician in Barnsley College’s construction team but is also a volunteer unit manager for St John Ambulance in Barnsley, has also been supporting the NHS.

“Clearly this has been an Easter break unlike any other for all of us at Barnsley College and beyond – but we are so proud to see our college community joining with our communities locally and across the country to support our frontline workers, care for those in need and to help prevent the spread of Covid-19,” he said.

JUDY BARNSLEY - MAY 2020

A retired fashion designer hoped to encourage a ‘small army’ of people to create handmade face masks to combat coronavirus. According to Judy Barnsley, all you needed to be able to do was sew in straight lines.

Judy, a self-employed designer in the 1980s, made dozens of the masks after seeing a video online on why even homemade masks can significantly reduce the risk of infection.

“There must be so many women in this town who can sew,” said Judy. “I would be surprised if most women in Barnsley didn’t work at SR Gent at one time in their lives. All you need is a sewing machine and some spare fabric.”

Judy used offcuts of fabric used to make garments, but said any fine woven fabric would do and the elastic can be found cheaply Online.

“We could have a small army of people making these,” she said. “You can put them in the washing machine or the oven to sterilise them and re-use them. I think maybe the public weren’t encouraged to wear masks as the rush for them, as for toilet rolls, would have left the NHS short of stock.”

EFFIE CARR - MAY 2020

A Barnsley youngster made her own scented soaps after hearing a local charity was struggling for cash.

Four-year-old Effie Carr, from Wilthorpe, crafted her very own bars to sell and raise money for Barnsley Hospice. Effie’s dad, Brett, suggested that she donate the proceeds to the hospice after being inspired by their public appeal for funding during the coronavirus outbreak.

Brett said: “She’s always loved making things, so it’s been fantastic to see her do this.

Brett said that he had to explain to Effie how her soap was going to help others.

“She grasped what I meant, but thought we were giving soap to people without soap. I explained that we would give the money to the Barnsley Hospice as they are struggling for funds and it’s a great cause.”

A team of avid sewers made hundreds of medical scrubs for frontline staff across the borough. For The Love Of Scrubs started as a Facebook group to get people involved in supplying hospitals with vital protective clothing and equipment.

Many volunteers bought their own fabric and local companies helped donate materials to help with the cause. Sarah White, an art tutor and former designer who created For The Love Of Scrubs in Barnsley, thanked the volunteers for their efforts.

“I set up the For The Love Of Scrubs Barnsley group near the start of lockdown and we now have more than 100 members, so the response has been fantastic.

“A wide range of people are involved in making scrubs and other equipment and in fundraising including current and former college staff and members of the general public.

“We’re really grateful for every one’s help towards this vitally important cause.”

Yiannis Koursis, Barnsley College principal and chief executive, added: “It’s brilliant to see the number of initiatives, such as this one led by Sarah, offering crucial help across the Barnsley borough at this difficult time.

“We at the college are extremely proud of the various ways our staff are supporting our NHS and other organisations and demonstrating the sense of community spirit within our town.”