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Moray Council's frontline volunteers


By Chris Saunderson

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REDEPLOYED Moray Council staff have been thanked for their contribution to the emergency Coronavirus response to celebrate Volunteers’ Week.

Their 'normal' day job has changed because the service they usually work in has been temporarily reduced or stopped.

However, many have volunteered to work in other critical services.

The PPE delivery team.
The PPE delivery team.

One of the most crucial groups just now in the council is the PPE hub. Hamish Johnston, Diane McLeary, Darren Angrave, Sam Stewart, Pam Napolitano, Moira Cooper and Katrina Martin are co-ordinating PPE for social workers, care workers and care homes, among others.

Led by former British Army officer Hamish, the team comprises of colleagues from social care, roads maintenance, procurement, social work and the mobile library driver, who all volunteered to be redeployed.

Bringing together their different skills, they’ve formed an effective supply chain in the most challenging of circumstances, to prevent the spread of Covid-19 among Moray’s most vulnerable.

Hamish said: “They all came into the team knowing the importance of the job we had to do. They have done, and continue to do, a remarkable job. I am very impressed and grateful for their efforts.

“The team has overcome some difficult challenges, but despite only working together for a short time, they are close-knit, work well together and, most importantly, are a team.”

Eileen Riddell and Jacqui Stewart - who usually work in leisure centres in Lossie and Keith - are currently delivering essential supplies to support vulnerable people; Eileen in Elgin, Jacqui in Mosstodloch and Garmouth.

They both say they offered to help to do something meaningful for Moray communities, and have grown quite fond of their rounds.

Eileen Riddell and Jacqui Stewart are delivering essential supplies.
Eileen Riddell and Jacqui Stewart are delivering essential supplies.

When the impact of Coronavirus became apparent, the council urgently reviewed and introduced new services to make sure essential services were prioritised.

The Grampian Coronavirus Assistance Hub was one of these new services, and 47 colleagues volunteered to be redeployed to support its work. Some are answering calls, others are matching requests to the most appropriate local support. All are making a difference to local people in Moray.

Julia Allan, who normally works in health and safety, said: "I was asked in early April if I would be interested in helping with the Grampian Coronavirus Assistance Hub.

“I’m volunteering as a call handler and this role involves taking calls from members of the public who may be shielding, may be elderly, have medical conditions that mean they are not advised to leave their house and those who do not have any family or friends who are nearby to help them with things like going shopping for them, collecting prescriptions or medicines, dog walking or even just having someone to talk to.

Julia Allan is the helpful voice on the end of a phone.
Julia Allan is the helpful voice on the end of a phone.

“This is very different to my usual job within the health and safety team as I’m usually out and about throughout Moray, whereas this role is being carried out from my dining table.

“I’m happy to be able to be part of an organisation that was set up to help people in our local area during this pandemic, and I’ve found this to be interesting and rewarding.

Two months ago Emma Petrie was supposed to be walking down the aisle. When Coronavirus put a stop to that, she volunteered to spend what would have been her wedding day working in Seafield hub, helping to care for the children of key workers.

Teacher Emma Petrie had been due to get married.
Teacher Emma Petrie had been due to get married.

Many school staff working in the hubs have given up holidays and are also juggling the demands much of the country is facing, including childcare and home learning. But their dedication is appreciated, by volunteering to support children in the hubs they are enabling key workers to continue their vital work in responding to Covid-19.

Staff who would normally work in the school catering and criminal justice teams are now helping in kitchens to assist Moray Food Plus in preparing and delivering 200 meals each week to vulnerable people in Buckie, Lossiemouth, Aberlour and Lhanbryde.

Catering assistant Marie Fraser.
Catering assistant Marie Fraser.

Moray Council chief executive, Roddy Burns, has praised all staff for their dedication to maintaining critical public services during the pandemic.

“The last few months have seen rapid change, at a time when we’ve faced personal and professional challenges like we’ve never experienced before in our lifetimes.

"I’m proud of how our staff have responded to these, whether changing their way of working or, in many cases, volunteering to take on an entirely different role to make sure we focus our resources where they are most needed. Thank you to all.”

Moray Council chief executive Roddy Burns.
Moray Council chief executive Roddy Burns.

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