What impact has the pandemic had on you personally and professionally?
Like everyone else, the pandemic was a huge shock. Everything happened so quickly. I was in Russia on 22nd February 2020 at a conference where I delivered a presentation on our work in the UK. I met some fantastic women from Italy, Iceland, Spain and of course Russia, all working to combat Violence Against Women and Girls in their countries. I can remember people joking about the Corona Virus because everyone still thought this was something that was happening in China, and the reality of it spreading in the way it has was still unimaginable.
Shortly after I came back, we realised at Staffs Women’s Aid that we needed to prepare ourselves. It was a period where things changed every day. We would meet and put together a risk plan, and then the next day, we had to revise it as things were changing so quickly. I was so worried that we wouldn’t be able to keep our refuge open safely, or continue to support women in the community. It was also so challenging to keep our team feeling safe and secure.
I am so proud that our team managed, in spite of their anxieties, to work so hard to keep our services going. They were flexible and committed, and everyone went the extra mile to keep the refuge, community services and 24-hour Help Line going. I have always been proud of the commitment shown by our team, but on a professional level, I have never been more proud.
On a personal level, I have missed my loved ones and will always appreciate ordinary things like family gatherings so much more. I make sure to keep in touch with people more than I used to. I live alone, so it was especially tough in the first lockdown as there were no support bubbles allowed. I rescued a pair of black kittens and they helped me get through that period. I defy anyone not to feel pleasure with a pair of little kittens running around the house!
How has Covid-19 changed your way of management?
It has been a huge adjustment working from home, adapting to remote meetings, and so on. It has taken time to work through the best ways of managing in these new circumstances. I have been very conscious of the impact of working from home on the team, and the anxieties that go alongside knowing we are all at risk of the pandemic.
In a completely unfamiliar environment, I have tried to adjust one step at a time. We had lots of support which enabled us to ensure everyone had a laptop and mobile phone. We gradually were able to make our buildings covid safe, and our counsellors are seeing women and children with a Perspex screen or doing their work via Zoom.
In terms of management, I have learned that I need to make sure that I am in touch with my team as much as possible, albeit remotely. And to be sure they are aware of how much they are appreciated. So we work hard to give back to them what they have given during this challenging time. Many of them are working and home schooling at the same time, so we have adjusted working times, and supported them as much as possible. This pandemic means we have to be flexible and work together.
Going forward, is there anything that you will be doing differently?
We have discussed whether or not we will ever return to the old ways of working. Certainly, we are looking at home working as a way forward in terms of cost savings and also being able to allow mothers and carers in the team some flexible working conditions. Because of the nature of our work, we expect most of the team to turn up when we have an emergency. So we need to respond to their needs too. I do feel that we will need to find a balance between home working and having the benefits of being together physically. I know lots of the team have said they miss those little catch up conversations, or those times when they have a difficult case and a colleague is on hand to discuss and support. So I think we will seek a balance in the way we work in the future.
As an organisation we are so conscious of the impacts of covid and the lockdowns upon women and children, and we continually look at ways we can meet changing needs. We have noted an increase in complexity of cases, more mental health problems arising from lockdown and living with abuse, and increased financial problems. So we are working to help meet the needs that arise from this.
What has kept you hopeful during this time?
As Staffordshire Women’s Aid has its 45th birthday in 2021, I think we have never been more needed. This keeps us going. But what has helped us remain hopeful is the community support we have received during what is probably the most difficult period we have faced as an organisation. Individuals and community groups had our back from the very start of the pandemic, ensuring we had funding to get through, acquire PPE, adapt, and most importantly, to ensure the women and children we exist to support had what they needed. We received so many donations during this time, so much care and support from our local communities. I honestly don’t feel we would have got here without that. It gives me enormous hope. Difficult times often bring out the best in people and communities, and I have seen such incredible support for our charity over the last year. That keeps me hopeful in my work.
Women inspiring action, transforming lives – We stand up for Women – Believe to Achieve!
Why not join us?