14 October 2020
Medway Council, Kent County Council and NHS Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) are encouraging residents to sign up to become COVID-19 Community Champions.
The community champions will share the latest government advice and coronavirus guidance with their local community, friends, family, neighbours, in their workplaces and on social media to advise others about how to stay safe during the ongoing pandemic and reduce the spread of the virus.
They will receive regular updates and fortnightly calls from Medway Council and Kent County Council’s public health teams to keep them informed of the latest guidance and the support available for vulnerable residents.
Anyone can volunteer to become a champion and the councils are keen to recruit champions who are in contact with the residents who are at the highest risk of coronavirus including older residents and representatives from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities.
KCC Director of Public Health, Andrew Scott-Clark said: “While we thank Kent’s residents for playing their part and following social guidelines to keep the rate here lower than other parts of the country, we know that Covid is still a severe health issue for vulnerable people in our communities and this is an opportunity for people to get involved in helping to keep their family, friends and relatives safe.”
Leader of Medway Council, Cllr Alan Jarrett, said: “We have all been affected by the coronavirus pandemic and I have been proud to witness the strong community spirit that our residents have shown over the last six months. Now, as we head into winter, we must all continue to follow the latest government advice and guidance and do our bit to stop the virus from spreading. I would encourage residents to sign up to become COVID-19 Community Champions and help share advice and guidance to protect your loved ones, and your local communities.”
James Williams, Director of Public Health at Medway Council, said: “We are doing all we can to stop the spread of coronavirus in Kent and Medway and it is crucial that we all work together to protect our loved ones. Becoming a COVID Community Champion will empower residents to remain up to date with the latest advice and guidance and share clear information to help their local communities. I would encourage residents to find out more about the scheme by visiting www.medway.gov.uk/coronaviruschamps.”
Dr Navin Kumta, Clinical Chair at NHS Kent and Medway CCG, said: “As well as sharing messages around the latest guidance to combat COVID-19, we really want to hear feedback from our champions. We need to know how the pandemic has affected specific communities and suggestions of how we can do things better. This is all about working together to manage coronavirus as best we can – it’s very much a two way process.”
How to sign up
To sign up to become a COVID Community Champion, and attend fortnightly meetings and receive regular updates, visit www.medway.gov.uk/coronaviruschamps for Medway and phworkforcedevelopment@kent.gov.uk for Kent.