Keeping Our Communities Connected said Dean Emson, 37, of Abercynon, who works as a Team Manager for Community Services
The Council’s seven Community Resilience Centres, established in the wake of the COVID-19 Coronavirus situation, are ‘vital cogs in the wheels of our communities,” according to one centre manager, whose team helps hundreds of individuals each day.
Dean Emson, 37, of Abercynon, who works as a Team Manager for Community Services, and who, since the formation of the Council’s Community Resilience Centres in March is now located at the Centre in Ferndale, working with a team of around 20 individuals, comprising of redeployed Council staff and members of the voluntary and housing sectors, who are supporting over 200 vulnerable individuals across the upper Fach and Fawr.
Their main aim is to provide support to those people in our communities across the County Borough who have been advised by UK and Welsh Governments to self-isolate – those over 70, have pre-existing health conditions, are pregnant, and also those displaying symptoms of the virus.
Dean said: “These are worrying and difficult circumstances for so many people, especially those who are not able to go outside of their properties, and the Council’s Community Resilience Centres are here to offer support to vulnerable residents who are isolating – from simple things like speaking to them on the telephone, to collecting shopping or prescriptions, and also arranging deliveries from the food bank.
“We are getting lovely feedback from those we are supporting and its rewarding to know our efforts are appreciated. All the staff and volunteers at the Resilience Centres are pulling together and playing a vital part.
“Like cogs in a wheel, the support from management, my colleagues at the other Centres, the people on the ground and supporting agencies, enables us to get help to the people who need it most. No one can achieve this alone.
“Our particular team in Ferndale has been made up of redeployed Council staff and individuals from the voluntary and housing sectors, and I’m sure that the bonds that have been formed will be around long after the Coronavirus is defeated.”
“These unprecedented times have called for true community spirit, and here in Rhondda Cynon Taf, so many people are doing absolutely fantastic work.
“The Council is working with hundreds of volunteers who responded to a public campaign in March and are now working alongside our Council frontline staff, third sector organisations and community groups to help those in our communities who need support and assistance.”
Over 1,060 people have so far come forward to volunteer and the Council is working hard to perform the necessary checks and make contact with each individual. Please bear with us at this time and we will be in touch at the earliest opportunity to discuss any support required.
In addition, thousands of Council staff are continuing to provide a vital frontline service to residents, along with further support where necessary. Many Council workers have been redeployed from their usual service areas to assist where possible to ensure that the Council can keep essential services running.
Refuse and recycling crews are continuing to collect kerbside refuse and recycling, whilst staff from Adult social care and Children’s Services are working with colleagues in Education and other services to provide vital support to those in need.
Over 600 community meals are also being delivered each day, alongside the provision of essential services such as childcare for essential workers and homelessness support.
All Council staff classed as key workers are out and about in our communities, and are adhering to the Government’s social distancing guidelines.
Stay Home. Protect The NHS. Save Lives.
