What has kept the Connecting Choices team focused during lockdown?
Samantha Banks, Field Claims Officer
Lockdown has enabled me to work from home full time and spend more time with my girls. I have started a new crafting hobby as well as getting back into furniture making which has been great if I have been having a tough day; seeing something that I have created has a positive impact. I find I have to have music on to keep me focused otherwise I struggle to concentrate and get frustrated quickly – the louder the music the more I am thinking!! With working remotely I have only been out once a week, less now as I can’t drive for a while so video calls with friends have been good.
We’ve just had some baby calfs born, in the picture is Bluebell the cow and baby Star!
Jacqueline Leese, Digital Inclusion Tutor
What has been your saving grace? Technology and the ability to communicate either over the phone or the internet.
Where have you turned to in low times? I have turned to my friends or if it was work related then my colleagues over the phone.
What’s kept you sane? Talking to friends. Watching my favourite comedy programs, it’s good to laugh. Editing my photos for Instagram. Watching Venice rolling webcam on YouTube because if you can’t travel, travel comes to you.Â
Do you have any good positive support groups you know of or great quotes? I emailed colleagues and partners about the Changes Health and Wellbeing support groups over the phone or on zoom.
James Smyth-Tyrrell, Field Claims Officer
Our saving grace in lockdown has been our new-born baby, as lockdown happened a few weeks after her birth – she’s kept me sane and on my toes! Although its been difficult being stuck indoors, I have had her to play with along with the not-so-glamorous responsibilities!Â
Exercise has also been key, even just getting out the house for a walk.
Joanne McKechnie, Team Leader
I found lockdown quite hard to begin with, working from home was something that I had never had to do, so it did take me some time to adjust. At first I based myself in my dining room but as it became clear that this situation was going to last some time, I moved into my conservatory which is nice and bright and I can see the garden and the birds. This meant my family could carry on as normal as I was now in a space that I wouldn’t be disturbed and I wasn’t disturbing them.
Anyone that knows me knows that I love animals and wildlife, I support Battersea Dogs and Cats home and have recently become a member of the Big Cat Sanctuary. I have a family of hedgehogs in my garden that I have been feeding for the last three years, for my birthday last year my best friend and colleague , Sam Banks, made me a hedgehog house which once is was placed in the garden became occupied straight away. I find watching the hedgehogs really relaxing and as we had more than one hedgehog in the garden, I thought it would be good to set up a night camera to hopefully catch some night-time activity and see any potential hoglets.
Well after the first night of recording, we had a bit of a shock as we discovered that we have foxes coming into the garden! That was it, I was off to the shops to get some dog food and extra eggs as foxes are partial to an egg. After many nights of recording them in the garden, enjoying the food and the eggs, the mother fox (who is blind in one eye) brought her cubs with her for a feed, four in total who were very funny trying to eat out the bowl, they had no idea what is was so were approaching with stealthy caution. I have had such joy watching the little fox family and the hedgehogs, and by the way to settle a myth, the foxes and hedgehogs are quite happy to eat together, during lock down that I am now very happy working from home, my stress levels have lowered and I don’t have to worry about traffic and being in a noisy office.
I also believe that communication has improved, with the use of technology such as Microsoft Team and Google Meets, I have been able to continue my role as though I was in the office, in fact I have had more video conversations whilst on lockdown than phone calls and emails which is really nice.
Jonathan Daniels, External Engagement Support Officer
Family and friends is a massive part of my life in and out of lockdown, even though we couldn’t see each other in person we still stayed connected, whether that be via social media, text messaging and even standing outside of the house in the pouring rain so we could talk!
Having someone to talk to some people take for granted, but there is always someone out there that is willing to talk even if you don’t know then, seek help and support if you need to.
Another thing that has helped me during lockdown is working on my fitness. Pre-lockdown I used to attend the gym every day, but as they are closed and I had minimal equipment at home I had to look for alternatives, like doing YouYube workouts, using tins of beans as weights and when I felt brave – going for a run!
You can tailor your workouts to suit you, picking easy beginner workouts on YouTube or challenging yourself to walk for 20 mins a day, all the way to HIIT workouts (High Intensity Interval Training) on youtube and timed runs.
Julie Priestnall, External Engagement Manager
My saving grace in lockdown has definitely been music and nature.
I find that Music has helped me to relax and take my mind off things. I have found a spa treatment music combilation that also helps me to relax in the evening and helps support sleep.
I have found that getting out in nature, being in the open space has also helped to keep my mind clear.
Having pets has also supported my wellbeing as I find I have to get out to walk the dog so helps with me keeping fit and healthy and the cats help me to relax with their purring.Â
The use of MS Teams and Zoom with the team, partners and externally has also helped me as it’s felt that I am getting out of my office. I feel communications have improved with everything and I am more constructive with working from home as I don’t have the long commute into work and back so stress levels are virtually none existence. I can concentrate in my home office environment 100% more and I am not constantly interrupted so my working day is more productive. I feel I have the work life balance now which I never felt before so good for mental health.
Martin Burn, Quality Assurance Officer
For me during this awful and frightening time I have coped by educating my three young children in garden, cooking, and also landscaping by putting in a front path around the front and to the side of the house.
Also I have helped my three young children stay focused by completing their learning packs.
Sarah Booth, Digital and Financial Inclusion Tutor
Throughout lockdown I have focused on my garden and making it lovely for my little boy. I have painted the fences which I have looked forward to doing when the weather has been nice. My partner has painted the decking. I have been doing lots of creative activities with my little boy and we have played with different toys in the garden such as the dinosaurs which are in a planter with soil, various rocks, branches etc. We have looked for mini beasts using a magnifying glass. My little boy loves to find wood lice, spiders and ants. I have also put different toys in a tray of water and put them in the freezer overnight. Then on warmer days we have watched the ice melt and find different toy or flowers we have picked. We have played with the mud kitchen and made mud pies. We have made potions with different items we have found on a nature walk such as twigs, leaves, grass and flowers. If you need any photos I am happy to send you a selection.
Sonia Bryan, Digital and Financial Inclusion Tutor
It is strange to suddenly go from being in an office with people around you all day, to suddenly being faced with just a computer and four walls for company. This is our new working life now. I have had to find ways to cope and keep my mental health well. The first thing that works for me is to keep to a routine, just like I did when I was going out to work. I also am now a full-time carer for my mother which is challenging dividing my time between both. It is manageable if you have a routine in place as you focus on certain task at certain times. My passion is baking cakes, and this is very therapeutic for me as I can lose myself in decorating wonderful creations. So, having a hobby is very beneficial at a time like this. So, I am coping very well and looking forward to each day with enthusiasm.
Our Connecting Choices projects in Essex and Stoke support those furthest from the job market by breaking down barriers and opening doors to opportunity to progress into training, education, volunteering and work.