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 Friday 12 June 2020
Dear Colleague,
We are aware that we have shared a lot of important information with you this week in our regular COVID-19 broadcasts, but we hope you have found them useful and reassuring.
We have also invited you to tell us how you are feeling and working as part of our Working Together Safely all-staff survey. While we can't get out to see many of you, which we dearly miss, we still want to listen to your views and welcome the opportunity to be challenged on the things that matter to you the most.
This has been a difficult week for many, not just in Manchester but around the world, as we face the ongoing challenges of the current pandemic and the fight against racism.
We stand strong against inequality and discrimination with all our black, Asian and minority ethnic colleagues. Our BAME Staff Network is a place where you can have your voice heard and help develop, influence and contribute to change. We pledge to listen and take the actions needed to make our workplace and the city a more equal place for all.
This Friday’s broadcast is once again dedicated to saying thank you to all our colleagues across the whole of the organisation for all that you are doing from home, on-site or out in our communities.
There’s now a new way we can support others and give our thanks to one another – by sending a virtual hug, launched as part of the Welcome Back Manchester campaign this week.
We share it now with all of you.
We hope you enjoy this week’s collection of staff stories. Please continue to send your stories, videos and photographs to the internal comms team, so we can share your good news, best practice and ideas with everyone.
Thank you and stay safe.
Sir Richard and Joanne
 Lourabelle Hill talks about her work with the BAME Staff Network
Lourabelle Hill, a Business Analyst in Adult Social Care, is the Communications Officer for the BAME Staff Network, a staff peer-support group that provides a forum for staff to network, share their experiences, increase empowerment, and provide peer support:
Chaired by Lorna Willams, Customer Service Operations Manager, the steering group has members from across the Council and is always pleased to welcome more members to the network.
Says Lourabelle: “My role is to ensure frequent and consistent messages for the group. We’re fortunate to have the shared knowledge and experience of our network members, which is invaluable in supporting us to achieve our future ambitions for the group.
“We want to challenge and support the organisation to achieve its Our Manchester obligations. Our black, Asian and minority ethnic workforce will play an integral part in achieving the Council’s vision and delivering the Our Manchester strategy.”
“Since May, we’ve been holding virtual meetings using Google Meet,” adds Lourabelle. “These offer advice and peer support during these unprecedented times. Why not join us at our next meeting on Tuesday 16 June? Details of this, future meetings and more can be found on our intranet page.
“I’ve found this to be a really positive assembly of people and I've really enjoyed being involved,” continues Lourabelle. “It’s been a great support network for both my personal and professional development. Since joining I’ve been able to access support to help with my recent studies in a Management and Leadership Degree, and I’m also now involved in a Council initiative to mentor a looked-after child.
“I would encourage more people to get in touch and get involved. Everyone has something to offer the group (as little or as much as you like). We’re here for you: bame@manchester.gov.uk.”
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Greater Manchester’s Caribbean and African Health Network
Greater Manchester’s Caribbean and African Health Network (CAHN) have organised various services to help the community and provide support with anything COVID-19-related. This includes a series of videos hosted on their YouTube channel.
The Network have also launched a support helpline for the community, which will provide information and advice, food, and peer support for single mothers. Contact the helpline on 0771 002 2382 between 6am and midnight, or email COVID-19@cahn.org.uk.
Over recent weeks, MCRactive have connected and shared CAHN online activities via Zoom videoconferencing. If you’d like to get involved, you can try a range of online activities with your friends and family from home.
 From care leaver to carer
Career Connect is a charity commissioned by the Council to support young people who are not in education, training and employment (NEET), or at risk of being NEET.
Paris, a care leaver, is now working for the Council’s Disability Supported Accommodation Service, and was supported into the role by her Connect Career Coach, Dee. As a Level 2 Support Worker, Paris is now working with vulnerable adults in neighbourhood communities. She is really enjoying her work, finding that no day is the same, and is always experiencing and learning new things.
Paris said: “I was really nervous about going into employment and could not have done this without the support and motivation from Dee. She was always available to support me and to help solve any issues.”
The current pandemic has provided some interesting challenges for Paris, now a key worker and someone relatively new to the care industry. Yet she has remained professional, empathetic and resilient at a time that would be testing for those with far more years of experience. The experience has confirmed to Paris that this is the right career for her now and in the future.
She adds: “Knowing that I have the continuous support of Dee and my leaving care PA makes such a difference and has helped me with being able to cope during these times. It is difficult to watch people I am caring for suffer with the virus, but I am proud to know I am making a difference.”
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Mental Health Awareness – Oliver Larke
Last month, we celebrated Mental Health Awareness Week and the theme of ‘kindness’.
Throughout the coronavirus crisis and lockdown we have seen some incredible examples of kindress across the Council and the city, and we wanted to remind you that sometimes it is okay not to be okay.
Oliver Larke, a Neighbourhoods Officer, shares his personal story of mental health and the support he received.
 Run of the mill
So many of you have been doing incredible things for this city by volunteering to help other services. There are lots of ways you can help services across the Council in this difficult time, and today we wanted to share the inspiring story of how Mel Cook, a Corporate Communications Business Partner, and her son Will have been raising money for their local gym:
“My local gym is run by volunteers and is free, or charges £1 donation per class for those who can afford it. All the money goes to the hire of a room in an old mill and towards the equipment needed for the classes. A few weeks into the lockdown the mill burnt down and everything was lost.
“To try and raise funds to buy equipment and hire another room, we all decided (33 people) to run 100km in May. I'm not a runner and was very daunted by the idea, but I was determined to help the gym and to try and get a bit fitter at the same time. My 11-year-old son was inspired to take part, so he decided to run 25km, cycle 25km, and to complete 400,000 steps in May too.
“We managed to do it, but at times it was a real slog; I think the last 5km in 24-degree heat was the worst. Not only did it raise money and help with my mental health, but I got to spend some lovely times with Will away from the pressures of lockdown (safely distancing of course).
 If, like Mel, you’ve been doing something different throughout the coronavirus crisis, you’ve volunteered to help a service in need, or even been temporarily redeployed, we want to hear from you. Email internalcomms@manchester.gov.uk to share your inspiring story.
Libraries reach 500 PPE prints
Earlier in lockdown we told of how the Business & IP Centre in Central Library has been helping the COVID-19 response by using its 3D printer to create parts for protective headgear for health and care workers.
Now the team has hit the milestone of producing its 500th piece of PPE for the Manchester and Trafford PPE Mutual Aid Hub – the team in charge of co-ordinating the distribution of Manchester’s personal protection equipment. The PPE from the libraries team has mainly been distributed to schools, reablement services and day care providers.
Tiernan Newell, a member of the libraries team, has been key to this incredible achievement. With the library’s 3D printer temporarily set up at his home, he is working tirelessly to keep the process running day and night. He’s also using his own self-built printer so he can double the output.
What a fantastic achievement. Well done Tiernan!
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Lorna Young shares her experience of shielding in lockdown
Although people who have been shielding are now able to leave the house once a day to exercise with a member of their household, or with one other person if they live alone, the past few months have been particularly challenging for those with health conditions that make them more vulnerable to the impact of coronavirus.
Lorna Young, Equalities Specialist (Disability), shared her story of her experience of living through lockdown after being categorised as Clinically Extremely Vulnerable.
 We all deserve a MCR Hug
Social distancing is here to stay but a bespoke virtual hug – made by the Council’s creative team – has been designed so that anyone can send it with a message to those they feel could benefit from a sign of appreciation, or even just a little TLC.
 The initiative has been used to launch the campaign welcomebackmanchester.com, which has been set up to let the people of Manchester know that support is available as we journey on the road to recovery together. The site will share the most recent public health advice, guidance for businesses, mental health support, and the latest travel advice.
We asked staff to tell us who they were sending their MCR Hug to:
Andrea Marshall, Senior Project Manager (Our Manchester), sent us this video:
 MCR Hugs from Sharon and Maxime
We think Sharon Brown (ICT) and Maxime Woods (Procurement) deserve a huge MCR Hug for their tireless work securing essential PPE for the Council and our communities, but the ever-humble pair have been quick to show their appreciation to their colleagues. They are sending MCR Hugs to Warren ‘Sid’ Siddall, Simon Gardiner, Tom Powell, Carol Culley, Kevin Bennett, Andrew Jackson, Gary Campin, Joe Healey, Barney Hale, and Jenny Osbourne. Read what Sharon and Maxime have to say about these inspiring individuals.
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A virtual hug for a Manchester PPE hero
Warren 'Sid' Siddall, one of our internal auditors, who has been brought into the PPE mutual aid hub team at New Smithfield Market, wants to send a ‘virtual hug’ to Manchester resident Karl Byfield, who has donated some 200 home-made face shields to the hub. The shields are made to a design and specification much in demand, so Karl’s generosity is greatly appreciated.
A part-time product-design student, Karl has currently been furloughed from his job. He was keen to offer his support in any way possible to respond to the coronavirus crisis, so when a friend of his wife posted an instructional video on social media, showing how to make face shields, Karl was inspired to act.
Generously paying for the items out of his own pocket, and despite the difficult and costly challenge of sourcing the parts needed, Karl has pledged to donate a further batch of PPE face shields to the hub.
 L–R: Warren 'Sid' Siddall, Karl Byfield
We Love MCR awards £750,000 to Manchester groups and charities
Have your say in the Working Together Safely – all staff survey
It’s been incredible to see that so many of you have begun completing the all new staff survey aimed at finding out about how you’re coping in lockdown and what you’re experiences working through it have been.
The Working Together Safely – all staff survey is open to all staff (both online and offline) and is completely anonymous.
Your feedback will really help us to continue shaping our future as we plan for our emergence from the coronavirus crisis and as the national lockdown guidance continues to develop.
Complete the short survey before Tuesday 23 June and help us understand how we can support you more and help plan for the future.
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