A leading Sheffield charity says it is ‘stunned’ after being presented with a special award recognising its work for older people during the pandemic.
Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care (SCCCC) fitted more than 2,000 pieces of equipment, distributed 3,015 pen pal letters, moved 187 furniture moves, installed 202 key safes and received almost 3,000 referrals for hundreds of isolated, over 60s across the city since Covid-19 first hit.
Now the charity has picked up one of just two special recognition awards presented by Sheffield Chamber of Commerce president Matt Jackson – the other going to the city’s director of public health Greg Fell.
Mark Storey, CEO at SCCCC, said: “After an 18 months like no other, I was absolutely stunned when we were presented with this award. It represents deserved recognition for the way our brilliant volunteers and small team of staff have stepped up to help hundreds of isolated, older people in our communities.
“Like so many good causes, we’ve had to adapt our work to a world remade and our face-to-face interactions have understandably been limited. But whether it’s fitting equipment to make life that bit easier, writing a letter to someone who’s lonely, or helping someone to leave hospital safely, I couldn’t be prouder of the impact we’ve had.”
The charity was presented with the award at the President’s Garden Party – a special event held in the grounds of Kenwood Hall to bring business people together again after the pandemic.
SCCCC – one of the city’s leading older persons’ charities – maintained much of its vital work during the pandemic. For the Hospital to Home team, it was business as usual, collecting older people from hospital upon discharge, taking them home, and ensuring they were integrated back into their routines.
Friendly visiting under the charity’s flagship Good Neighbour Scheme was put on hold, but SCCCC adjusted by implementing a telephone service so its service users still had volunteer support.
It also launched a pen pal scheme, which has been so successful that organisers intend to carry on the scheme for years to come.
SCCCC works closely with the statutory agencies in Sheffield to provide a network of support for mainly older people, their carers and families. Most of the charity’s work helps older people in their own homes, but can also support them if they are admitted to or discharged from hospital or living in a residential home.
