Trafford Council is looking for hundreds of residents to become Community Champions.
Community Champions are people who like to keep up to date with the latest Covid-19 developments and advice.
The aim of the Community Champions programme is to embrace the power of word of mouth. As the government’s roadmap out of lockdown progresses Champions will be kept up to date with the latest information on Covid-19 in the borough and asked to champion Covid-19 testing and the Covid-19 vaccination programme.
Champions will be kept up to date with the changes as Covid-19 restrictions start to ease and they will be encouraged to pass on what they know to their family, friends, colleagues or wider community.
Central government has provided funding to 60 councils and voluntary groups across England, including Trafford Council, as part of the government’s response to helping the country recover from the impact of the pandemic. The money is allocated only for setting up a Community Champions scheme to support those most at risk from Covid-19 and boost vaccine take up.
The Champions will also help to shape the Council’s Covid-19 recovery by sharing their views on life after lockdown and how residents would like the future of Trafford to look. Being a champion offers the chance to ask the Council questions and to make suggestions.
Councillor Mike Freeman, executive member for Covid-19 recovery and reform, at Trafford Council, said:
“We are really pleased to be launching our Community Champions scheme. Across the country we can see the Champions scheme working very well to keep residents informed and to provide councils with feedback on what people want the ‘new normal’ to look like.
If you like to get involved in your local community please apply to become a Community Champion today, we would love to hear from you.”
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.
As a Champion you can volunteer to get involved 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.
One of the aims of the Champions scheme is to get messages to people most at-risk of becoming seriously ill from Covid-19, this includes residents who are over 50, residents from ethnic minorities, and residents who have long-term health conditions. The Council is keen to receive applications from people in those groups or anyone who works with those residents.
The scheme will also help meet the Council’s priorities of providing targeted support to those who need it and building thriving communities in the borough.
To find out more about Trafford’s Community Champion scheme and to apply visit our Community Champions page . You can also call the community engagement team on 0161 9122 849 to apply via phone. There is no deadline for applying
Posted on Thursday 20th May 2021