Grantham Journal talks to the man behind the SKDC Community Hub
When South Kesteven District Council prepared to launch a community hub to support the elderly and vulnerable during the coronavirus crisis, there was one man perfect for the challenge.
With 27 years’ experience at SKDC covering a variety of roles, corporate operations lead Paul Stokes stepped up to the plate.
What began with just a handful of SKDC staff manning a couple of phones between them has turned into a crucial lifeline for so many of the community’s most vulnerable.
Since Saturday, March 21, the hub has received more than 1,100 calls from those in need of help. Their calls are answered by a small but solid team, with Paul steering the way.
Despite putting in hundreds of hours since the hub was launched, we managed to catch up with Paul this week to find out more about this incredible team.
What have been some of your SKDC career highlights?
I have been with SKDC for 27 years in a variety of roles but it was when I started managing the leisure and arts portfolio that I felt a real change in direction.
One of my highlights has to be orchestrating the Olympic torch through Grantham, Stamford, Bourne and the Deepings. It was such a unique experience and one that I will never get to do again.
Other highlights have to be helping out with the Gravity Fields festival in Grantham and the Stamford Georgian Festival.
It was also incredibly satisfying to help secure more than £800,000 of National Lottery support to help transform Wyndham Park in Grantham.
I am council through and through and have a wonderful job. I’ve always said that SKDC suits me as I originate from Bourne, I’ve worked in Stamford and moved to Grantham, so I know the district thoroughly.
What has it been like to be in charge of setting up the community hub?
It was quite daunting at first. There are now 16 of us taking phone calls and answering emails. The hub is open from 8am to 7pm every day and we work on a rota system. It can be quite intense at times but we all feel like we have been given a chance to give something back.
What are the most common types of calls that the hub receives?
We receive all sorts but the main ones are about general shopping, foodbank enquiries, prescriptions, befriending calls, financial queries, PPE and people offering to volunteer. We’ve also received several calls to thank us, which has been lovely and a real boost for the team.
What has the reaction been like?
Really good. We have our peaks, for example when SKDC leader Councillor Kelham Cooke sent out nearly 18,000 letters to residents over the age of 70 to remind them of the support available. We also usually see a spike when the Government makes an announcement. It is our role to support people, advise and signpost them to the relevant agencies.
Have you received much support?
The support has been incredible. Around 1,500 people in South Kesteven are volunteering their services to help the vulnerable during the coronavirus outbreak, including 55 volunteer groups across the entire district.
We have also received continuous support from Coun Cooke, chief executive office Karen Bradford and SKDC cabinet member for communities Coun Annie Mason.
Everything the council has done throughout this crisis has been first-class.
It must be quite intense at times. How do you keep spirits up among the team?
I have chosen a great team who have all performed impeccably from the beginning. There’s 16 of us altogether and they are all solid people who have really gelled together as a team.
We hold a community hub quiz every Wednesday to give us all a lift.
The team are a credit to us.
What will you remember the most from all of this?
How everyone has worked together to help one another. I feel that it has really brought the public and the community together. It’s so gratifying to see.
We’ve also been able to keep all the weekly markets going in Grantham, Stamford and Bourne while adhering to social distancing guidelines. They’ve become the hub of the community.
To those above me who entrusted me with setting up the hub, I may not have thanked them at the beginning but now I want to say thank you for giving me the chance. I feel like I have really contributed to my community and to the national cause.
It has been so great and deeply satisfying to be able to give something back.
- Potential volunteers or vulnerable people seeking help should, in the first instance, contact the community hub on 01476 406177 or email SKCommunityHub@south
kesteven.gov.uk
