Covid Community Champions tell virus ‘We Will Stop You!’

A group of Covid Community Champions who have learning difficulties and disabilities have produced their own video to share Coronavirus safety messages with their families and friends.

The Champions, aged between 19 and 71, all attend a daytime support service run by Purple Patch Partners, based at Bangor Street Community Centre in Blackburn.

Purple Patch Partners is taking part in the government-funded Covid Community Champions programme, using their networks to share accurate and trusted Covid public health messages.

They are partners in a Blackburn with Darwen Council commission, led by Care Network UK, to support people with learning difficulties, disabilities and autism to recover from the effects of the pandemic.

Over the last few weeks, the Purple Patch Partners Champions group have been working with tutors from Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Adult Learning team on the video, which is being widely shared on social media.

Shaun Garrigan, Purple Patch Partners’ Business Manager, said:

What better way to send out a positive message about how to take control of Covid than to involve our Partners (service-users), who themselves have experienced the significant impact that the pandemic has had on their families and community life. The release of the video is testament to the hard work and dedication that our Partners, families and staff have shown during the last three months.

The making of the video has been great fun and we hope that we have conveyed the message in a fun, yet informative and sensible way. Now more than ever, it is important to get vaccinated, keep your distance, wash your hands and cover your nose and mouth – that way ‘We will stop it!’

Jan Horsley, a tutor with Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Adult Learning team, said:

We involved as many learners as we could in the weekly workshops at Purple Patch to produce props and costumes for the drama performance and to practise their roles.

They have all thoroughly enjoyed the experience and gained some all-important knowledge on how to keep themselves and others safe from Covid.

Tutor Lynette Banister added:

Everyone at Purple Patch has worked so hard on the props and costumes for the video – it’s a real credit to their commitment. Learners even learnt how to make the red pom-poms that were sewn onto their costumes – hours and hours of winding wool around fingers to make them!

In the video, the Purple Patch Partners Champions share advice on how we can all keep ourselves safe by washing our hands, keeping our distance from others and continuing to wear face coverings.

They also declare ‘We Will Stop You!’ to the virus, to the tune of Queen classic ‘We Will Rock You’.

Watch Purple Patch Partners’ Covid Community champions video:

21-year-old Suleman Haider appears in the video. He said:

I really enjoyed taking part in the performance. Coronavirus is everywhere.  By being a Covid Community Champion, I know how to protect myself and my friends, family and the wider community.

Blackburn with Darwen Council is one of around 60 local authorities to receive funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government to set up a Covid Community Champions programme. Champions are a network of volunteers who can help keep their friends, family, neighbours, and colleagues up to date with the latest public health information from the Council and our local NHS.

Coun Mohammed Khan CBE, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said:

Our Covid Community Champions are already doing a sterling job helping us to reach people right across our diverse communities with important information to help keep everyone safe.

I know that this video from the Purple Patch Partners Champions will be shared far and wide, and I think they should all be very proud of the contribution they have made to keeping virus rates down in our borough and helping everyone stay safe.

Anyone who lives or works in Blackburn with Darwen can volunteer as a Covid Community Champion. Find out more at www.blackburn.gov.uk/communitychampions.