Braveheart’s Response to Covid 19 : reasons for hope
We adjusted so nimbly. One day we were in the office, the next in our own kitchens or living rooms, working and worrying. We keep in phone and zoom contact and work out our plans together. We share a great belief in Braveheart and this pulls us together. We have found a resilience which we didn’t know we had in discovering new ways of providing services and this experience of coping with the effects of the pandemic has given us renewed confidence in ourselves, in our volunteers and in what Braveheart can do.
Health has moved up everyone’s agenda – so much so that advice imparted by senior medical officials, has become a daily TV event as they explain the complexities of our current plight. And as people look for reliable trustworthy information they are engaging more to ensure that they are getting the best healthcare and advice. Braveheart has long fulfilled this role of supporting people to take more responsibility for their health.
The fight against Covid 19 has been described as a marathon not a sprint. And as lockdown eases, the virus is still very much out there. Experts say we need to learn to live with it and the risks it poses. Handwashing, hygiene and continued social distancing will help minimise our risk of infection but is there anything else we can do? The answer is a resounding yes. Professor Kausik Ray of Imperial College, London suggests we view this time as a window of opportunity, He says “we must not lose sight of maintaining our health. Our lifestyle choices including diet and exercise are key”. And experts say that taking a holistic approach may well improve our outlook should Covid 19 strike. The advice on arming your body to defeat coronavirus is to lose weight, get fit, stop smoking, reverse diabetes and improve your state of mind. Braveheart will be right here to help you tackle that spare tyre, eat healthily, get out and get walking and have some fun.
Really heartening during the lockdown has been the vast numbers of people volunteering support to those around them and to organisations providing care. Thank you all Braveheart volunteers for stepping up quickly to respond to need by making connections with isolated and vulnerable people, making phonecalls,helping with shopping, dog walking and many other kindnesses not in the job description. Bravehearts expertise and our talented volunteering workforce have the opportunity to respond to public health need for a focus on prevention which will create lasting change. A healthier population is indeed a reason for hope.
