We’ve had cards, letters and emails from people saying what we’ve been doing has been a lifesaver

As part of the Council’s Worker Bee campaign, we’ve been sharing stories of staff working across different departments on adapting to their roles during the Coronavirus outbreak.

This week we are highlighting the work of Mohamed Sidat, a Project Manager at Blackburn and Darwen Council.

Prior to lockdown, Mohamed worked for the adults and prevention directorate in the social integration team but since lockdown began he has been helping with the Home Hub.

“We’ve had cards, letters and emails from people saying what we’ve been doing has been a lifesaver,” says Mohamed.

The hub monitors welfare, provides food, assists with health, wellbeing and befriending residents.

I normally work a four-day week. But I’ve been working seven days a week, weekends and bank holidays – but I was happy to jump in and do it.

To get together as a team and to pull together to make this happen in itself is something to learn from and take forward when we have the ‘new normal’.

Mohamed, from Blackburn, is regularly checking the Hub portal to ensure no emergencies are missed.

The work that I do is behind the scenes, but we’ve had cards, letters and emails from people saying it’s been a lifesaver.

For example, there was a chap we couldn’t get in touch with so we contacted the police. They did a visit to the house and he’d fallen down inside the house. These examples of the kind that make it all worthwhile.

I’ve not done this to achieve anything – It’s just my day job. To have our work recognised is a kind gesture because I wasn’t expecting it. It’s nice to be recognised, and it gives you that motivation to carry on.