PRACTICE
ALL IN IT TOGETHER
The lockdown is reinforcing
the power of partnership,
collaboration and innovation,
says Helen Thompson
The coronavirus
pandemic has caused
massive social upheaval
but communities
across the country
have joined forces, stepping up to
volunteer, organise, and strategise
how to help those who need it
most. During these times of fear
and uncertainty, the very best
elements of human nature have
prevailed, demonstrating the power
of displaying care and kindness to
those less fortunate.
My role at Change Grow Live
is all about communities, groups
and people – I’m a connecting
communities regional lead and
I support services sitting within
Yorkshire, Humberside, the North
East and Scotland to create a range of
innovative and creative opportunities
for those who access our services –
expanding experiences, networks
and long-term connections to
support healthier lifestyles. If people,
ask what I do my response is I try to
make recovery fun!
No two days are the same – one
day I could be running a ‘human
library’, the next day I could be
organising a pride float, an art
exhibition or supporting someone
to share their story on a video or
podcast with a view to inspire
others. I’m so lucky to do the job
I do, but since the outbreak my
role has fundamentally changed.
I’ve been drafted in to support
teams who are helping those who
are considered most vulnerable,
adapting to meet the needs of
individuals and services.
My first stop was with the street
outreach team in Leeds. The closure
or reduced hours of soup kitchens,
food banks, drop-in centres and
feeding services – as well as
the limits on movement – were
having a huge impact, as was the
need to support those who were
rough sleeping into temporary
accommodation.
The closures of cafes, shopping
centres and restaurants meant
limited opportunities for people to
wash their hands, nor were they
in a position to be involved in the
panic buying of hand-sanitising gels
or pain relief. Many street groups
stopped coordinating activities and
we were strongly encouraged to
provide outreach in pairs, keeping
a two-metre distance apart at all
times – difficult when providing
sometimes essential interventions
for people across the city.
Each day, seven days per
week, we were out on the streets
alongside housing workers, mental
and physical health workers,
complex case workers, volunteers
and others. Healthcare checks were
provided and naloxone given out
where necessary, as well as housing
advice, COVID-19 leaflets, hand
sanitiser, wet wipes, clean clothes
and food packs and drinks two to
three times per day.
Part of my role was to look at
how we could increase provision of
food supplies and hygiene products
with limited budgets and an
ongoing need. It was our intention
that if we could show additional
care and compassion to those in
the hotels by involving the wider
community this would encourage
people to stay inside until it is
safer to leave. We sourced hygiene
packs with support from the local
community and through fundraising
– items such as toothpaste,
shampoos and soaps were
purchased and given out, as were
cleaning products to help people be
proud of their surroundings.
We provided snack bags to the
hotels where people are staying
with the support of the local food
aid network, while local cafes and
businesses that were closing during
lockdown shared the contents
of their fridges and shelves with
local soup kitchens. The positive
relationships between partners at
all levels meant that the homeless
community received the best service
possible – there have been many
positive success stories, with some
residents who are entrenched rough
sleepers engaging with services for
the first time or after a long break.
Partnership working and
collaboration were no longer
aspirational goals – they were a
necessity. Over 120 people were
‘Since the outbreak
my role has
fundamentally
changed. I’ve
been drafted in
to support teams
who are helping
those who are
considered most
vulnerable,
adapting to meet
the needs of
individuals and
services.’
safeguarded from the streets,
supported into hotels, hostels and
temporary accommodation and
provided with the best possible
holistic support.
We were trying to keep our best
faces on – the brave face, the happy
face, the supportive face, just trying
to keep everybody’s morale up. To
support in this endeavour, I took my
dog Pablo Escobark with me to work
– everyone came to recognise him as
a support dog and the smiling faces
followed. He even received a virtual
award in the city as a virtual hero!
Helen Thompson is connecting
communities regional lead at
Change Grow Live
Illustration: sv_sunny/iStock
WWW.DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS.COM
JUNE 2020 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • 17