It has been almost a month since the Students’ Union launched the COVID Community Champions Scheme. Has it been a major success, or is there still more to be done? Label investigates.
The COVID Community Champions Scheme was launched on the 10th of October and was designed to help students that were isolating. You would submit a request through a Microsoft Form and then a volunteer would go and collect the items you required (such as a prescription or a parcel – food was delivered by University staff and is a different scheme).
The Scheme seemed to be an instant success; being launched only 48 hours after conception and within 12 hours of launch had 100 volunteers sign up and 60 support requests placed.
Just 12 hours after it’s launch we’re approaching 100 volunteers.
60 support requests have already been placed by students across the University community, and 8 urgent parcels have been delivered.
Become a COVID Community Champion: https://t.co/0Btwl5hOp1 pic.twitter.com/YYuO4Sx2K7
— Matt Youngs (@LSU_President) October 10, 2020
Within six days 200 volunteers had signed up to help and there had been 400 support requests submitted.
The Union President, Matt Youngs, took personal responsibility for the delivery of the scheme, as well as the personal responsibility for delivering a large number of parcels in the LSU van:
It may be Saturday but our self-isolating students still need their parcels!
This time @LSU_Enterprise is joining @LSU_Action and I as we head out later today. pic.twitter.com/KbYSaXhOHR
— Matt Youngs (@LSU_President) October 17, 2020
By the 25th of October, the scheme started to supply feminine hygiene products after the University advised them it was something that wasn’t being supplied.
ITS OFFICIAL! @LoughboroughSU’s CCC scheme are now offering to supply feminine hygiene products to our students in isolation who need it 😆 Thank you to @lborouniversity for bringing this to our attention and helping us be able to add this to our request list 🥰 #lborofamily pic.twitter.com/HNbLfjAhz0
— Jodie Evans (@LSU_Action) October 25, 2020
On the 29th of October, yet more was added to the list of deliveries made by the scheme – “Self-Care in Self-Isolation” leaflets.
COVID Community Champions continues to expand its provision.
Hugely grateful to all those involved in this arm of the scheme. https://t.co/gA4fSH9BoO
— Matt Youngs (@LSU_President) October 29, 2020
However, Label has discovered that there are a large number of requests that have yet to be fulfilled, and with an ever-increasing number of students self-isolating, there may be a point where the Scheme is unable to cope with the demand.
With less than 30% of our requests outstanding as well! So proud of my team, my work and my university #lborofamily 😍 https://t.co/pty8k3FkTX
— Jodie Evans (@LSU_Action) October 30, 2020
The number of cases in Charnwood is increasing at a significant rate, and as the number of volunteers for the Scheme remains relatively flat, the number of requests being made are sure to rise exponentially, with the volunteers struggling under the pressure.
Overall, cases have continued to rise exponentially in the Loughborough area, despite a plateau a fortnight ago (Wk 42).
The effect of the ‘High’ tier restrictions imposed today will not likely be seen in the statistics for a fortnight. pic.twitter.com/T48ATcdKhq
— LSU Media (@lsumedia) October 31, 2020
Luckily for the scheme, the National Lockdown announced by Boris Johnson on Saturday does not affect ‘volunteering’ so the COVID Community Champions Scheme is likely to continue through the month-long lockdown.
Despite the successes of the Scheme, there have been those who feel that this shift in priorities for the Executive Team and the Section Chairs has had a detrimental effect on the other Student Activities held by the Union.
Mr Youngs addressed this in his original newsletter about the Scheme:
“Following the formation of this project and the respective Gold and Silver Groups, officer’s priorities have rightly shifted to support the student community in new ways at a time of national importance.
“That said, they will continue to give time towards their sections and support staff who have been pulled in to offset the increased workload. I anticipate this level of re-prioritisation to continue for at least the next 6 weeks but decrease over time as Covid Community Champions becomes more autonomous.”
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