This year hasn't been easy for the vast majority of people. At the start of lock-down many people were asked to self-isolate and many volunteers, neighbours and professionals put themselves forward to help out where they could including to pick up shopping, medication or even carry out welfare checks on the most isolated and vulnerable people.

Each month we are going to put a spotlight on some of our community heroes that have gone above and beyond and really done their community proud in Stockport. This months heroes for December are

Sanda Walker and Dianne Scott-Fowler

Sandra Walker

Sandra Walker has received two nominations from two different people. You can find the two nominations below. Thank you Sandra for all your hard work.

"Sandra is the Quality Assurance lead for Stockport CCG. At the beginning of March she was asked to pull together a community swabbing team to provide a service for the local community. Within a week she had a team consisting of staff from the CCG, Public Health and Stockport Foundation Trust trained and ready to provide swabbing.

Initially provided a drive through service at Mastercall for front-line clinicians and their families. This enabled clinicians who had negative results were able to return to work quickly . In addition from the start the team provided swabbing for residents in Stockport who had Covid symptoms. This ensured that they could be provided with appropriate care, enabled any outbreaks to be identified early and appropriate action taken.

Stockport was the first area in Greater Manchester able to provide a comprehensive service like this to their Care Homes. Sandra then developed the drive in facilities at Enterprise House off Bird Hall Lane to expand the swabbing capacity. Throughout all of this Sandra has ensured that staff have been supported though a changing landscape.

The team needed to grow and Sandra always ensured that new staff have had appropriate training and support in an unfamiliar environment. The service has now been handed over and everyone including Sandra have returned to their day jobs. However I do feel that her leadership and contribution she made to the local Covid response should be recognised."

"Sandra Walker from Stockport CCG almost overnight set up a community Covid testing service that provided a service to Care Homes and front line clinicians. The service meant that front line workers could be tested quickly and able to return to work quickly if negative. Care Home service meant that any positive tests could be dealt with quickly to minimise spread.

Sandra embraced a truly collaborative approach and had staff from the CCG, Hospital and Public Health staff from SMBC working together quickly and effectively.

Sandra set up the service rapidly to respond to the situation which was safe and had necessary protocols and procedures in place from the start.

Training was organised for all staff so that they felt supported during such challenging times. She was always on hand to help or answer any queries.

Sandra is a remarkable person and her dedication to the people of Stockport shone through again. She is always thinking of Stockport people in her day job as Quality Lead and this commitment was highlighted again setting up this service. Sandra wholey deserves a nomination and an award for going well above and beyond."

Dianne Scott-Fowler

"Dianne has worked tirelessly over the past 20 years for those who sit on the margins of our communities. During COVID-19 Dianne has led the Stockport local Mental Health Charity, STUFF Stockport User Friendly Fellowship. Form the 24th of March 2029 she has reconfigured the whole spectrum of our delivery of service, stepping away from the usual settings within the Mental Health Unit, Stepping Hill Hospital to serve people throughout Stockport whose services had to be closed due to government restrictions.

She has supported the charity volunteers into connecting within communities not just secondary care service users but anyone needing mental health or practical support. She has raised £9000 which has gone to those most in need around food and fuel poverty,purchasing microwaves for those with no cooking facilities,acted as an advocate for people through GPs and Pennine Care around medication changes,taking in washing for those who have no facilities to do their own.

To date she has led her team of volunteers to deliver 451 social contact and welfare calls, delivered practical support i.e. purchased food for those with special dietary requirements including cultural need 267 times including pharmaceutical pick ups, has supported people via GM Working Well Program, people referred through Viaduct Care to Keira's Kingdom,a local organisation supporting individuals with life limiting and chronic illness, EAICO using her lived experience. She has also developed a recovery model for those who have been self isolating and will be delivering the Emergence of Self through a central location alongside satellite locations.

We feel within our organisation that apart from what Dianne has stepped on to the front-line to deliver has shown exceptional foresight and leadership. I am sure you will agree.This nomination is sent on behalf of myself, the Polish community she has supported alongside volunteers and members."