By North Lincolnshire Council has received almost £400,000 to expand its work to support those most at risk from Covid-19 and boost vaccine take up.
The money will be used to expand the council’s Community Champions scheme to protect those most at risk – building trust, communicating accurate health information and ultimately helping to save lives.
It will enable the council to reach groups such as older people, disabled people, and people from ethnic minority backgrounds. The council has developed a plan to improve communications with these groups.
The Community Champions will tap into their local networks to provide advice about Covid-19 and the vaccines. Champions will also work with the council to identify barriers to accessing accurate information and to provide tailored support, such as phone calls for people who are digitally excluded, helplines, and linking to GP surgeries.
The funding will also support areas to tackle misinformation and encourage take-up as the vaccination programme expands across the country.
Communities Secretary, Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP, said ‘It is vital that everyone has access to accurate and up to date information about Covid-19. False information about Covid-19 vaccines could cost lives. Today’s funding will help councils and community groups expand some of the excellent work already underway and reach out to their communities to ensure they have the information they need and get their questions answered. Ultimately this funding will help save lives.’
Cllr Rob Waltham, Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said ‘While North Lincolnshire has been congratulated for the speed in which our most vulnerable residents have received the vaccine, we cannot afford, at this critical stage, to take our foot off the pedal.This new injection of Government cash will be carefully targeted to encourage those that are eligible to get the vaccine, which we know is so important to reduce transmissions, protect the NHS and save lives.’
