Health & Wellbeing Activators support COVID-19 vaccination rollout in Castleford.

Members of the Coalfield Regeneration Trust’s newly established Communities Active team have been drafted in to support the vaccine rollout efforts in Castleford. Matt Foster, Ella Oldroyd and Philippa Priestley have all recently been appointed as Health and Wellbeing Activators and are now playing a key role in the vaccination rollout in the five towns. The Five Towns Primary Care Network recently partnered with the Coalfields Regeneration Trust to improve the health and wellbeing of residents across the five towns area of Wakefield through the deployment of these three new members of staff.

The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, both nationally and locally has been welcomed by all, and is seen as the main route out of lockdown. The promise of the return to some sort of normality has been a huge driving force for many receiving the jab, Health & Wellbeing Activator Ella Oldroyd commented “After the first day I was driving home beaming…Everyone’s so keen to be there and can’t wait to get vaccinated”. The prolonged lockdowns and periods of self-isolation have had a big effect on many local residents, and for many the vaccination was their first trip outside for some time, as Ella explains; “It’s the first time some have been out for months so having a laugh and joke with them really raises everyone spirits”.

The monumental effort by all to ensure the vaccination rollout can be as seamless as possible has relied on a number of organisations and volunteers coming together to work in unison. Health & Wellbeing Activator, Matt Foster who has been supporting the vaccination process with his colleagues remarked “We’ve been working with health and wellbeing professionals from a range of different organisations”, highlighting the togetherness of the effort.

Activator Philippa Priestly added “I have found the vaccination role out really rewarding and being able to talk and engage with the local community has been fantastic”. The activators have been proud to support the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination, the UK’s biggest vaccination programme in history.

For the immediate future, Matt, Ella and Phillipa remain committed to the task at hand of supporting the vaccination efforts in the five towns. They are delighted to be able to play a critical role in the rollout of the vaccine in the community they will be serving. The vastness of the rollout cannot be downplayed, however, as Ella explains, all involved are committed to the task; “They can be hectic days but they’re worth it as it brings us one step closer to a sense of normality.”

When normality resumes, Matt, Ella and Philippa, along with Lindsey Best-Fryer will make up the Communities Active team, supporting the Wakefield communities of Normanton, Knottingley, Airedale and Castleford. The Activators will provide Five Towns Primary Care Network GP surgeries patients with dedicated guidance and advice to help improve their mental health and physical wellbeing, as well as delivering 1-2-1 bespoke sessions to residents. The Activators will also be active in the community, support existing community programmes and introduce new health and wellbeing activities that are available to those that need them most.

To find out more information about the programme please visit our communities active page.