Rochdale's response to coronavirus - how the community has pulled together to support its elderly and most vulnerable

Date published: 18 June 2020

At the turn of the year, Rochdale appeared to have everything to look forward to.

Dippy the dinosaur was set to begin a five-month stay courtesy of the National History Museum, the new Riverside shopping centre would open its doors at Easter and the annual food and Feel Good festivals were again key dates for the diary.

But then came coronavirus. A devastating pandemic whose arrival could not have come at a crueller time for a borough in the midst of reinventing itself.

As the virus began to spread, visits to the world-famous diplodocus cast were suspended indefinitely, while the grand opening of Riverside was also put on hold.

Both festivals would later been cancelled as protecting the public’s health became the overriding concern.

Leisure centres, pubs and restaurants had already closed their doors before Boris Johnson declared a full lockdown – and the most vulnerable were told to ‘shield’ for 12 weeks to protect themselves from the virus.

With people under orders to ‘stay home’, some of the borough’s most elderly and needy residents were left isolated and cut off from support, while families faced hardship as the economic consequences hit home.

In order to support the most vulnerable, five coronavirus hubs were set up: local response centres in Rochdale, Pennines, Heywood and Middleton.

Run by the council and aided by voluntary groups, volunteers and local businesses, their work is expected to continue for at least several more months.

To date they have made more than 3,000 calls to shielded residents, supplied nearly 2,000 emergency food parcels, undertaken 500 shopping trips and offered help to some 1,400 struggling families.

They continue to offer daily support, including delivering medication to some 200 residents – as well as signposting them to other voluntary groups and services.

 

 

Tracey Knight, a council worker based at the Pennines response centre, says it has been ‘a privilege’ to work at the hub during the pandemic.

She said: “The emotional rewards from helping and supporting people have been considerable. It has been a great example of partnership working, with many local food suppliers all playing their part and helping out those residents most in need.

“I think the community support for many residents has provided a vital lifeline at a really difficult time. On a personal level it has given me so much more confidence in my own ability and this is something that I would want to continue to do throughout the recovery phase and beyond.”

She added: “I’m really proud of our council and community and I’m looking forward to a time where we can celebrate our successes together as a whole team.”

The voluntary sector has played a vital role in the partnership work which has been key to the borough’s crisis response.

Kerry Bartram, of third-sector support organisation Action Together, says the hubs have been vital for supporting people.

She explains that services, charities and volunteers work together with neighbours, mutual aid groups and faith organisations to meet the needs of people in their communities.

The charity worker added: “Through these connections, the centres provide in-depth and rich knowledge of community offers, local business offers, specialist services and a friendly listening ear to those who are experiencing adversity. 

“Not only responding to need, the response centres are strengthening the fabric of communities, together.”

Harriet Morley, an apprentice with the council who has helped to deliver 400 emergency food parcels say the response from people on the doorstep has been ‘overwhelmingly positive’.

She said: “People have been so grateful, especially shielding residents who have been unable to leave the house for weeks.

“One resident hadn’t been able to get to the shops for several weeks so called the council’s contact centre asking for help.

“We were able to get her an emergency food parcel delivered to her door less than an hour after she called, and she was so thankful for the help we were able to provide. It’s been totally different to my usual role and has been a humbling experience.”

But it’s not just the five official council hubs which have been keeping people going during the pandemic, as groups have been set up across the borough to feed, shop and support people.

• hwww.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/133913/if-you-need-groceries-or-prescriptions-let-this-team-of-volunteers-go-geddit-for-you
   
• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/134526/community-spirit-brings-middleton-together-by-middleton-in-action-together-volunteers

Balderstone and Kirkholt launched its own response very early on in the crisis, with ward councillors bringing together community initiatives – including those from the local church, scout group and football team – under one banner.

The Strand Community Hub has provided the perfect base for the community-led response, which also includes Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH).

Volunteers help local pharmacies get vital medicines to vulnerable residents and also deliver emergency food parcels.

 

 

Among them are leaders of First Rochdale (St Thomas) Scout Group, who began delivering bags of essentials to isolating and elderly people before hooking up with the operation at The Strand.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/133754/community-effort-looking-after-kirkholts-elderly

Kymberley Astwood-Wainwright, whose day job is at the Medicines Evaluation Unit in Wythenshawe, says having to put her scout group’s activities indefinitely on hold has been hard.

But joining the Kirkholt community response with her fellow leaders, including wife Helen, has been a rewarding experience.

She said: “It’s a really tight-knit community, they are all helping each other and it’s nice to be welcomed into the community where everyone is doing their bit – that’s been the highlight.

“It’s gone from delivering paper bags to a couple of old people to this big thing going on, getting referrals from adult services and making sure everyone gets the support they need.”

Balderstone and Kirkholt councillor Danny Meredith says it has been ‘amazing’ to see the way the community has come together during the crisis.

“A lot of volunteers are furloughed and not doing anything at home right now and want to help – It’s great to see people coming out and helping the community,” he said.

“It’s quite a heartfelt thing to do – going out, delivering food to people, having a conversation with them, making sure they are actually okay and, if there are any problems, making sure they get the correct care.”

While the community response has been inspiring, Danny says, there is a more difficult side to helping those in need.

“People have been struggling and have ended up on the breadline when originally they were not on the breadline,” he said.

“It is upsetting to see those people getting into vulnerable positions, but It’s about getting the correct help for people.”

He adds that, while times have been hard, he has become closer to the community he is elected to serve.

“By speaking to people and making sure they were okay, I have got to know people a lot better,” said Danny, who has also returned to nursing during the pandemic.

“People have been thanking me for what we have been doing, it’s brought our community together a lot more.”

Meanwhile, over in Middleton, volunteers from Bowlee Community Association and Status 4 All have been delivering afternoon tea boxes to vulnerable people who are shielding.

 

 

The boxes, which also contain information leaflets, are emblazoned with a smiley face and a ‘don’t worry be happy message’.

“It’s a little bit of help, a message to say 'we have not forgotten you',” Councillor Sue Smith, one of the team of volunteers, said.

“We let them know we are on our way.  We go to the top of the path and say ‘Hey, are you okay, do you need anything, just let us know’. 

“Once we are there then we can have a little bit of a chat, but we follow the rules of delivery – we put the box on the step and walk to the gate.”

The volunteers deliver to 180 addresses across Middleton and recently the project has also extended to include arts and crafts items from Jamboree Arts.

Among those to receive a box is Winnie Page – the inspirational centenarian who has raised nearly £20,000 for North West Ambulance Service NHS Charity by walking 100 lengths of her driveway before her 100th birthday.

Sue said: “We’ve had really good feedback, people have been saying it’s absolutely brilliant, and it’s just nice someone has knocked on their door because they have not seen people for weeks.

“It’s not much, but it’s a little bit of happiness for them, we put a smiley face on the box and ‘don’t worry, be happy’, so when they open it, that’s the first thing they see.”

One of the volunteers, pensioner Ivy Isherwood, has been baking cakes for the afternoon tea boxes while in isolation herself.

 

 

“She has been amazing,” said Sue. “It kept her going, the fact she is baking these cakes for us to put in the boxes because she has had to isolate because of her age.”

The project, which operates from Bowlee Pavillion, has been part-funded by Action Together and also works in partnership with Rochdale Council.

Council leader Allen Brett has spoken of his pride over the borough’s ‘inspiring’ response during what has been a difficult – and painful – time for so many of its residents.

He said: “We established a vital support network from day one of the crisis and this has provided a lifeline, especially for older and shielded residents.”

“We have overcome many challenges, but the hard work is ongoing and will remain in place for weeks and months to come. I want to thank everyone who has played their part, as it has been a really strong partnership approach embracing many sectors across the borough. 

“It’s showcased the borough and our pioneering approach to delivering services at its very best.”

Residents can access support through the community hubs by phoning 01706 923685.

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter