Faces of Bolton’s Community Champions will be seen across Bolton from this week as part of a campaign to recognise the fantastic work they have done over the last year.
Through the government funded champions scheme, the council works with trusted community voices to share important information with residents in communities.
Now a new campaign aims to show the champions just how much their work is appreciated, and to show Bolton residents some of the people taking part in the programme.
From buses and phone boxes to large billboards and advans in local communities, 24 of our champions will be on display right across the town.
With over 230 champions signed up, the project has been going from strength to strength since being launched in April last year.
Between them, the Bolton champions speak 30 languages, have racked up thousands of volunteer hours and have engaged thousands upon thousands of people.
They have been a valuable part of the COVID-19 response, sharing important information in their local communities to help them to stay safe.
Champions have worked tirelessly on the streets helping the Community Engagement Team to speak to local residents and businesses and pass on key messages.
And their hard work was recognised recently at the Bolton Council staff awards ceremony where the team won the ‘Community Award’, an outstanding achievement for such a new project.
And the future of the champions programme looks just as exciting as the last 12 months.
In addition to COVID-19 messaging, the programme is now moving into other key areas and seeking to empower the champions to work in even closer collaboration with the community and shorten the link between residents and local services.
The programme will continue to offer training and membership of new groups that will specialise in different themes such as Business Champions, Winter Champions and Climate Change Champions.
These will all link into local priorities using key public health messages and enable residents to access the support they need.
The future of the project will be co-designed with champions to make sure it is meeting the needs of residents.
Bolton Council’s Assistant Director of Public Health, Suzanne Gilman, said:
“I am delighted at the success of the champions programme, and the sheer passion and determination that our champions have shown.
“Through difficult times, they have put their communities first and helped to keep people safe, often alongside working their regular jobs.
“They are a credit to the town.”
Associate Director for Communications and Engagement at NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group, Nic Onley, said:
“The Community Champions in Bolton have proved to be invaluable during the NHS Vaccination Programme.
“As the organisation responsible for planning and delivering the programme through primary care networks, we also had a duty to ensure our residents were kept informed of the latest changes in eligibility and availability of the Covid-19 vaccine.
“As a result, we strengthened our relationship with engagement teams at Bolton Council, working collaboratively on insight gained directly from communities and the Community Champions themselves in order to produce responsive communications, which addressed the needs and concerns of the local population.
“The Champions in turn provided residents with a ‘trusted source’ of vital information in what was an emergency situation.
“On behalf of NHS Bolton CCG, I am looking forward to the next phase of the Community Champions programme which will hopefully have an impact far beyond the Covid-19 pandemic, and be an integral part of community involvement and engagement for Bolton.”
Bolton Community Champion, Mandy Jelenje, said:
“Having such a diverse community of champions has certainly allowed us to make inroads in the hardest to reach communities.
“I would urge anyone who is thinking about signing up, to do so.
“In addition to helping one’s community, family and friends, you also get to do training which is crucial to self-development and lifelong learning.”
If you are passionate about making a difference joining the team is your opportunity to lower health inequalities and drive up a healthy life expectancy for your family, friends and community.
Look out for the refreshed Community Champions website in the next few months.
Find out more, or sign up to join our team, by visiting the dedicated page on the council website.