Generous desk screen donation boosts Sheffield charity’s pandemic recovery

Two Sheffield businesses have joined forces to help get an older persons charity back on its post-pandemic feet.

The donation of perspex portable sneeze screens means staff at Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care (SCCCC) can return to the office to continue their vital work helping dozens of isolated older people across the city.

Arden Winch & Co managing director Steve Barker answered the charity’s plea for help and bought the screens out of his own pocket from Broadfield Signs who completed the order.

The screens have now been delivered to the charity’s offices, where its small number of paid staff coordinate the work of its army of volunteers who deliver everything from its friendship schemes, to home help after an older person is discharged from hospital.

Mark Storey, CEO at SCCCC, said: “We’re proud to have continued delivering as much of our vital work as possible throughout the pandemic, but like many organisations we’ve also started planning for a new future including the opportunity for some staff to return to the office when it is safe to do so.

“Unfortunately, the costs of making workplaces covid secure are quite high, especially for a small charity like ours, which is why the help that both Steve and Paul Burton at Broadfield Signs have given us is such an amazing, generous boost.”

Steve Barker said: “Arden Winch is in the very fortunate position of being busier in the pandemic, so we have used the extra resources we have to help other organisations in the community, including the NHS and its staff.

“We wanted to help SCCCC in getting its staff back to their base as soon as possible. Their work supporting older people who have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic is inspirational.”

SCCCC has continued to provide its services to isolated, older people in Sheffield throughout the pandemic.

Good Neighbour Scheme volunteers have swapped visits for phone calls to help keep older people company, dozens of people have responded to the newly launched Pen pal appeal and the charity has maintained the help it gives to older people when returning from hospital.

For more information about SCCCC or to donate, visit www.scccc.co.uk/donate