Sharing the Positives: C for Community Spirit

Taking a break from the news, our Agency Recruitment Manager, Emma Burke has been looking for the positives in her local community and beyond.  

2020. What a year it has been so far. We seem to be following a trend of moving through the alphabet with regards to national discussion. First there was the Australian bush fires, then there was finalising Brexit, now Coronavirus. If it continues on this trajectory, I’m already wondering what the dreaded D will be.

However, after Brexit, it seemed as though the UK was completely divided. There was hostility, prejudice, disagreements and it felt people were at war with one another. In the midst of a global pandemic, what I’ve found incredible, is the community spirit that can be found in a time of complete and utter devastation.

I think this was initially emphasised by the clapping for the NHS. After seeing the posts circulating on social media informing of the occasion, I never anticipated it having the effect that it did. Throughout the day, I was wondering whether it was just a “fad” or whether it was going to be a solemn clap for these people going to the front line, and I was dreading it, to be honest. We have a number of NHS workers down my road, and I hoped that everyone would get involved. Needless to say, a couple of minutes before 8pm, I heard a roar of clapping, whistling and banging; walking outside, I was greeted to every single neighbour and their families in celebration at their doors and driveways, making as much noise as they possibly could. I didn’t find it emotional at the time, I was in awe and felt like we were actually doing something to give back, but when we closed the door, I was hit with an incredible sense of unity, admiration and pride. Not only was I proud of our NHS, who are risking their lives daily to keep us safe, but I was proud of the neighbours, who all got involved to share their support. It was truly moving.

As someone who has been inside without symptoms for 3 weeks, its easy to feel powerless. Of course, we’re staying indoors, but what more can we be doing to help a nation that is being buckled by the weight of this pandemic?

Love thy Neighbour

Seemed like a fitting header for this topic; we have an initiative down my road where one neighbour posted a green and red card, with a letter of instruction. If you need food, support and to be checked in on once in a while, you should place the red card visibly in your window. The green card signals that everything is ok. There’s also a women’s Whatsapp group down our street, where everyone checks in, posts uplifting videos and shares insight and stories. If someone is going to the shops, they’ll ask whether anyone needs anything. Needless to say, the annual street party is going to be a blinder this year!

Anyone who knows me, will know I’m an unofficial brand ambassador and advocate of Gousto, the food delivery service. With their food boxes, they have included a slip which you can give to a neighbour that you feel may be vulnerable, which you fill out and post to them; offering to pick up their shopping, whether they’d like a phone call, to post any mail or if they need any urgent supplies. You can make these slips yourself and would quite easily be posted within a block of flats or down a street to anyone you may be worried about.

News about neighbours now dancing daily in the street to keep them active are stories we love hearing about!  

Support local businesses

Deliveroo have a national TV campaign promoting their services and in turn, promoting local businesses, who are providing deliveries to the area. You can also check out local Facebook pages to see who will be offering their services to deliver. It’s vital throughout this period to support these businesses as much as possible, and ensure that we keep them going. Shop local!

We’ve also been made aware of bakeries who usually specialise in weekend treats and business deliveries, who are now baking cakes for key workers! You can donate money to these businesses for ingredients, which are being turned into cakes feeding the NHS, teachers, police, factory workers and care/support workers. Well done to The Cake Hole in Preston, where over £300 has been raised so far!

Call your loved ones regularly

Loneliness is an epidemic in itself, which requires a whole other blog topic to analyse. Making sure you call family and friends regularly and “checking in” is vital in times like these. Keeping to a routine, staying active and connecting with people whether it’s on Facetime or online can help alleviate loneliness, and there’s even been a Quarantine chat service set up to help people who are feeling lonely throughout this time.

Speaking to my 95 year old Grandma, who is having to stay at home on her own throughout this period, she commented that when the war was over, everyone went party mad. People had parties in the street and celebrated. There will be devastating losses, and I’m in no way comparing this to the end of the war, but my Grandma is looking forward to this all being over, and we will have a greater sense of humanity, closeness and reasons to be thankful.

Whilst we are in troubling, uncertain and very testing times, how we react and overcome to this tragedy will determine our fate as a nation. We can unite and continue to care for one another, as well as having a greater sense of not taking the little things for granted. It’s important throughout this time, for the sake of our loved ones, neighbours and local businesses to try and keep the positive vibes going.

Therefore, I’m turning the C of 2020 into Community Spirit.

Thanks Emma for these lovely stories! 

If you are interested in sharing your story or promote anything that you feel is important then please email [email protected] and we would love to share it for you on our blog! 

To read our positive news, click here!