Adult Scouting Volunteers Step up to Help Local Vaccination Centre Hit Over 14,000 Jabs!
Medici Medical Centre, London Road, Luton has been overwhelmed with the support from our local adult Scouting volunteers.
Various adults from across Icknield District have given up yet more of their precious time to help the wider community whilst still supporting young people within Scouting.
“It all started back at the start of January” says Nick Jarman, when he took his mother for her vaccination. Whilst waiting for his mum to return from her vaccination Nick started a conversation with the Operational Manager, Sarah Forster who was on the door. Whilst chatting he assisted other elderly people into the centre and engaged them in conversation whilst they waited for their turn to be called in.
‘I naturally became the ‘meet and greet’ and also began helping in the car park’ said Nick.
Other adults from Icknield Scouts have been volunteering too - Alan Wood, Group Scout Leader of Sells Seventh - Andy Reeve-Smith, Section Assistant at Riparian Explorers - Ash Chambers, Scout Leader at Warden Hill - Gareth Phillips, Section Assistant at First Luton Cubs - Ghosia Fatima-Mahmood, Secretary at Blenheim, as well as Liz Burnham, a SASU member - Sandy Reeve-Smith, Assistant Section Leader at Riparian Explorers and Nichi Chambers, Beaver Leader at Warden Hill - all regularly assisting at the Covid-19 vaccination Centres in true Scouting spirit.
After the centre saw how professional and reliable these volunteers were to them, Nick was asked if he would like to train as a vaccinator. ‘I completed the theoretical training which was about 40 hours of online learning (including 14 hours of adult/child safeguarding), I spent several half days with experienced nurses understanding the practical elements of vaccination and was "signed off" by Dr Barhey who is in charge of the entire project. I now add vaccinator to my roles at the centre. In practice this means that if I am physically there, if there is a peak demand, if there is a vaccinator who needs to leave or who cannot attend, there is flexibility.’.
The Scouting team have been phenomenal in their vital support in these difficult times and despite being outside in all weathers they have remained a cheerful team to welcome in the public.
Group Operations Manager, Sarah Forster says she very much values every one of these volunteers and their contributions and that her relentless asking of help is always responded to cheerfully with them continuing to come in each day.
(Photo: from left to right - Gareth Phillips, Cub Section Assistant at First Luton Sea Scouts - Ash Chambers, Scout Leader, Warden Hill - Alan Wood, Group Scout Leader, Sells Seventh - Nick Jarman, Appointments Secretary, Icknield District)