‘Looking out for our neighbours’ is an award winning social movement that aims to prevent loneliness and its associated health issues throughout West Yorkshire and Harrogate. It succeeds by encouraging people to do simple things to help out their neighbours.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership (WY&H HCP) got over 49,000 people involved by making a positive difference to their neighbours lives through acts of kindness a part of the ‘Looking out for our neighbours’ campaign.
Building upon the success of the previous work, the winter 2020 campaign will launch in November with opportunities for local people to get involved across the six local places of Bradford district and Craven, Calderdale, Harrogate, Kirklees, Wakefield and Leeds that make up West Yorkshire and Harrogate.
This third phase will be delivered whilst COVID-19 remains part of our lives and will see local charities working in communities and the launch of the ‘Looking out for our neighbours TV’. Messages told by real people who are making a positive difference in their communities in these tough times, and who want and share their experiences.
West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership (WY&H HCP) are currently recruiting a panel of diverse neighbours across the area, to take part in a short online conversation to show how neighbourly kindness is making a difference to people’s lives. You can find out more and apply by Thursday 22 October 2020 at https://rb.gy/wy68zs
Rob Webster (CBE), CEO Lead for West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership said:
“COVID-19 has made two things very clear – that health and wider inequalities persist in our society; and that West Yorkshire and Harrogate are places where people will support others in their neighbourhoods in ways that are kind and compassionate. This is important because we know people are experiencing increased loneliness and isolation in times of restriction. We hope this campaign will continue to encourage people to support one another through the winter.”
Wasim Feroze, Policy Officer at Leeds City Council and member of WY&H HCP BAME network said:
“COVID-19 has meant we have had to make significant changes to our lives and it has been an incredibly challenging period. But as we continue to tackle this crisis, what has remained constant is the strong resilience within our diverse communities highlighted in the many powerful examples of neighbourliness. We are incredibly proud of our special community spirit in this part of the world and it would be great to capture some of this as part of this new online reality series. Let’s celebrate the many examples of neighbourliness in our diverse communities and I hope many will take part and inspire others to take small actions to look out for one another.”
Rod Barnes, CEO for Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust said:
“By looking out for our neighbours we can all do our bit to look after each other and especially those who are feeling alone and more vulnerable during the winter, long days and dark nights. It doesn’t take much to brighten someone’s day. It can be as simple a wave, a hello over the garden fence, a phone call or text offering to pick items up from the shops.”
A new web page will be developed on the campaign site at ourneighbours.org.uk to signpost people to local support services.
This post is based on a press release issued by West Yorkshire & Harrogate Health & Care Partnership
