Dear Member
This first part of this update is for Derby City Council Employees, Can you help?
Many of you are calling us at the moment and I have had many discussions about transferable skills, please do not think you don’t have any, we all do, we all have so many skills that give us the ability to help others in these crazy situations we find ourselves in.
I have been involved in discussions with DCC, and we at UNISON are very much aware that essential service areas such as caring roles, crematorium and cemeteries roles, and refuse collectors role are in desperate need of some extra hands to the deck. After many of the phone calls I’ve taken I know lots of you want to help out in these difficult times.
Do we have any UNISON gym junkies who are missing there regular workout, could you help out with the amazing refuse team? full training is being delivered and full support from the managers and the team themselves. Every one of us wants our bin emptied right now! not having them emptied just causes us more stress and anxiety. Are you part of a team in your “normal” day job, could a few of you rise to a challenge? could you?
We all want to be looked after and cared for in our older years and right now its even more important, Our UNISON carers in our homes and in the community are doing a fantastic job, but again this is a service area where DCC are really struggling to get extra support. Every one of us cares for and has looked after someone at some point, could you offer some time now to help and support this service?
Our very own UNISON Derby City Branch Women’s Officer (Anita Jones) is being redeployed to help with essential services at one the city’s care homes. We fully support Anita and wish her well in this role.
Please remember, if you cant offer full time hours, one day a week helps keep these vital services running, 4 hours a day twice a week would also help, what can you offer? How can you help? For refuse you will need to be physically fit to be able to pull/push bins and walk to and from the refuse truck. For the other services you will need to have good customer care skills and be able to deal sensitively with vulnerable citizens. You will be given appropriate training and PPE for the role. All posts require travel to the site.
This will truly be very rewarding work and you will make a huge difference to the people of Derby. If you are interested in volunteering for this rewarding work, please complete the skills audit on the attached link here (Derby City Council Employees only) and the Redeployment Hub will be in touch with you.
Derby Volunteers at the Community Hub, for anyone who wishes to volunteer.
Volunteers are working hard to support those who need an extra helping hand during this pandemic. However, we still more need volunteers to help deliver this vital support across the city. We are receiving calls now from citizens who have no-one to rely on and we need to try and help fill that gap. We need your help to collect and deliver shopping, supplies, prescriptions etc.
Any volunteers who’d like to offer their services and those who need help can contact DerbyDirect on 01332 640000. The lines are open between 9.00am and 6.00pm every day, or you can email the Hub.
Deaf people can use our text service 0777 4333412.
Please share with any friends or family members, especially to those who have recently been furloughed. We’d also welcome any colleagues who would like to register as volunteers in their own time.
Many of you are already delivering Essential Services and we send our continued THANKS to you.
UNISON Derby City Branch want to thank you in advance for considering these opportunities to support these Essential job roles and want to say a huge THANK YOU to you all. We are fully supportive of the great work that is being done by all the volunteers and especially volunteers who have offered to be redeployed to other critical front line services.
Kind regards
Becky Everett
Branch Secretary
UNISON Derby City Branch