Community Champions

Who are Community Champions?

Community Champions are people who like to keep up to date with the latest COVID-19 guidance and advice, and share it with people they know.

The aim of the Community Champions programme is to distribute messages through the community and to stop the spread of the virus, encourage people to get tested and book a vaccination when they are eligible.

The Public Health team will provide Community Champions with the latest advice and guidance and by sharing accurate and clear information, Community Champions can help friends, family and community make informed choices.

As COVID-19 restrictions ease and the world starts to open up again, more of us will be able to do the things we enjoy, like going to walking groups, art classes or football training. A Community Champion will also help people understand what is opening and when.

A Community Champion may choose pass on the guidance to family, friends, colleagues or their community group. It is also important that we get the messages to groups at risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19. These include residents who are elderly, from ethnic minorities, and who have long-term health conditions. So we are particularly interested in people who work with these residents.

Delivering up to date information is not the only way our Community Champions will make a difference. It is also important that they listen to people in their community and let us know how the messages are being received as well as what questions they are being asked. Covid-19 not only continues to affect health but other aspects of people’s lives and we would like our Community Champions to feedback these experiences and any issues they want to report or improve.

You can support amongst the community as much or as little as you like in a variety of ways from simply passing on information, to having conversations or volunteering your time.

Being a Community Champion can be a rewarding activity. For some, it offers the chance to give something back to the community or make a difference to the people around them. For others, it provides an opportunity to develop new skills or build confidence, experience and knowledge.

If you are interested in other volunteering opportunities in Trafford, visit Thrive.

How does it work?

  1. You let us know that you want to be a Community Champion
  2. We will give you the latest advice and guidance
  3. You share this information with people in your community
  4. You tell us what is working and share any concerns from your community

How we communicate with each other

We want our Community Champions to have all the latest and accurate information as well as the opportunities to ask questions, give feedback and make suggestions.

  • Information session with Public Health – fortnightly. The latest information from our Public Health Team as well as the opportunity for a Q&A.
  • Check in session with the Community Engagement Team – fortnightly. Your opportunity to let us know how the messages are being received and give us any other feedback and suggestions.
  • Message the team with any queries or feedback and suggestions.
  • Weekly emails with all the key information – straight to your inbox.

Code of conduct

Being a Community Champion is not an enforcement or regulatory role but there is a Code of Conduct we ask all Community Champions to follow.

The purpose of the Community Champion programme is to help ensure that residents across Trafford hear correct and consistent information about COVID-19.

We recognise that there is often debate and sometimes disagreement, but our role is to inform people of the latest guidance so they can make their own decisions.

Therefore, by signing up as a Community Champion, you are agreeing to the code of conduct, which requires that:

  • Any information or advice you circulate comes from the council, NHS, Public Health England or the government.
  • You do not make political statements in respect of the COVID-19 arrangements.
  • You do not debate the merits of the guidance or criticise the government, council or partners – if somebody is incorrect, simply signpost to the correct information. This is to ensure that key messages are not undermined.
  • You do not apply your own interpretation of guidelines – if in doubt, ask for clarification.

I want to be a Community Champion