COVID-19 has really started to have an impact on day to day life for many today, with a real possibility that very shortly within days, we could see some of our most. Vulnerable being asked to isolate, there is even talk of schools shutting for what could be long periods of time and other. Precautions and advisory measures being put into place, but as with anything when people are scared, feel vulnerable and are facing the uncertain they panic, they stop listening and they think about how all of this could affect their own loved ones and families.

What was and has been a long and at some points stressful day has been made all the easier to face with the best and strongest team we have ever had, we have a small staff/volunteer team every Monday that we always have 10 attend as we have so much on and so much flexible hours worked, but what was fantastic today was being able to walk into a full room not a seat left in to our café space, 30+ attending to see what they could do what we had to say and what Neo was going to plan together. This was just what I selfishly needed after 2 hours in front of a camera crew being asked so many questions I was wondering what my name was, I was wondering if I still had answers or even ideas, and there instantly seeing community coming together and that strength in our team from the age of 19-84 all together ready to insure that the most vulnerable in our communities would have all that we can give, and all looking after each other and listening to advice given protecting each other and all looking at even if people fell into one of the high risk categories they would still have a role and would still be supporting people. 

The teamwork we showed today is the teamwork I know will continue forever with Neo and I know it isn’t just in place while we face such uncertainty, but what I can say is we have an inspiring team! One that going forward with grow strengthen and no matter what happens safeguard each other and our community.

The biggest point of this is the huge growth of skills and strategic development we have gone through over the past 2 years, I would worry if we could have stepped up and planned all we have in place so easily and succinctly as today this time 2 years ago, what we have had in place in this time different than before this is a much more rigid business model, board of trustees and governance in place, I remember being so scared to take the leap from community organisation to Registered Charity but with that support of Funding from Steve Morgan to take a strategic leadership role within the organisation and not just the funding but with the training and development alongside this and the support and peer education, learning with other similar organisations within Wirral and the wider area, we have grown together at all levels and have built and recorded or work and have templates and plans to go back to and the right processes and policies in place, that when you are writing them you wonder how there isn’t just a book of them or somewhere you can cut and paste them from, but at times like this is when you really see the importance of being part of writing them and making sure they are specific to your work and your ethos and values, as they are such important documents and ones that will help inform your immediate responses to work needed, and as well as this those tedious budget meeting those hours or spreadsheets and making everything add up and projections for the year ahead and cash flow this is when you know you are able to make quick decisions but not snap decisions that you may regret.