Newsroom Archive

The Council is urging borough residents to volunteer to become a “Community Champion”, to help make a difference in the communities they are living in. 

In particular, volunteers from “seldom heard groups” are being asked to come forward, from groups who might be struggling to access council services (such as people from ethnic minority backgrounds or from disability communities) but applications from other communities across the borough are also welcomed. 

The Community Champions will be trained by the Council to support their communities by spreading essential Covid-19 messages, helping people follow safer behaviours and reducing the impact of the virus on themselves and those around them.

At the same time, these volunteers will be listening to what communities need and will be feeding this back to the Council.

The project will see Telford & Wrekin Council working closely with voluntary groups across the borough including Telford and Wrekin Interfaith Council, Telford and Wrekin CVS, PODs (Parents Opening Doors) and Signal. Other interested groups from the borough are being encouraged to get involved as well, by emailing Telford & Wrekin Council’s Community Services team on cpt@telford.gov.uk  

Recruiting “Community Champions” volunteers will help strengthen community protection and give the Council a better understanding of what it needs to do to reduce health inequalities amongst the ethnic minorities, disabled communities and other communities across the borough. 

Cllr Paul Watling, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for co-operative communities, engagement and partnerships, said: “We already have a strong network of council volunteers in place to connect with and help communities, such as “Health Champions”, “Feed the birds” volunteers, Community Connectors and many others. 

“However, living in such a diverse borough, we recognise there are still groups and communities that struggle to get essential information or do not have the same chance to access our services as others do.

“We want to help more of these groups – in particular ethnic minorities and disabled communities - especially as the pandemic still continues to present challenges.

“The Community Champions volunteers will be recruited from their own communities. They will be people that these communities trust and that can represent their interests and make their voice heard, as well as enabling us to share with them essential, useful information related to the pandemic and support services.”

Cllr Watling added an appeal: “Please, if you want to make a difference in your community, apply to become a Community Champion. There will be plenty of training and support from our Council in your role and you will be part of a strong network of volunteers supporting our residents during these still challenging times.”

To apply to become a Community Champions volunteer, go to the Council's volunteering website or email community.champions@telford.gov.uk 

Any other community group that would like to take part in the Community Champion programme and work with the Council to recruit volunteers can contact the Telford & Wrekin Community Services team on cpt@telford.gov.uk