Author: katieoljohnson

During these difficult times, the community of Huntington are trying their best to do all they can to ensure that people stay two metres away from each other due to COVID-19. There has been a lot done to help the vulnerable and elderly, and recent action has been taken around the walking area of Huntington.

Caldy Valley is the popular nature park in Huntington where many people go to walk their dogs and exercise. Due to the amount of people now working from home there is a lot of spare time on everyone’s hands.

According to the Office of Official Statistics,  34% of people have said that there has been a decrease in  hours worked for employed people. This means that people now have more free time to do the daily activites they can do, for example, walking their dogs and exercise around Caldy Valley.

The Parish Council of Huntington have now came up with the idea of creating a one way walking system in the nature park, so that people can walk freely without the worry of coming too close to someone else.

https://www.facebook.com/huntingtonpc/

This seems to be helpful for many as people are now keeping their distance on the narrow paths, meaning that everyone can enjoy their daily exercises. This also shows Huntington’s fast response to this pandemic.

Jane Spenser, a local resident living in the area, said: “I think it is helpful because it means that most people follow the right way round so that everyone is social distancing, but I also think that there are some people not following it which is a big inconvenience to everyone else.

“Some people have been going round taking the signs down and putting them in bushes. I feel that the signs should be made bigger and clearer. I think they should do this all around Caldy Valley park and have someone checking the signs regularly to make sure no damage has been done.”

There has also been many positive responses on the Huntington Parish Council Facebook page as people are saying that it is a sensible approach and a really good idea.

The virus (COVID-19) has affected a large amount of people in the world which makes people only think bad things. However, most people do recover as the death rate is small. This may have caught the world by surprise but we will be better prepared in the future as they will be a faster global response. To prevent the spreading of more cases it is important to keep your distance and wash your hands.

Food is an essential part of daily living. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, this essential way of living has been taken away from a great deal of people. Many people’s daily activities have been taken away from them and they are left with the minimum. This also affects the food that is made by the people that are most vulnerable as they cannot leave the house.

Embed from Getty Images

Despite this tragedy, many people from the village are going out of their way to cook meals and deliver them to the most vulnerable individuals who are worried to leave their house. This is a safe way to ensure that we keep them protected as they are high at risk. The citizens of Huntington are also making sure to ‘stay two metres away‘ from other people at all times.

Evidence from the Office of National Statistics show that 33% of young people feel worried about the pandemic, whereas, 41% of aged 70+ people feel worried. This figure shows that there is more worry amongst the older generation which encourages more people to look out for their elderly relatives and neighbours. This consists of even dropping off food or having a little chat with someone to brighten up their day.

How help is appreciated in Huntington

During such an unfortunate time, there are many good things that a lot of people are doing. This is especially evident for out of the village as the endless work of health-care workers has proven to be a boundless force. Many people are donating to food banks, and even delivering weekly shops to their doorstops.

John Hudderson, a resident living in the area, helped many elderly people in Huntington by delivering food to their houses throughout ‘lockdown’. This brought multiple smiles to many during such a difficult time. John had made various different meals depending on individual’s personal preference. This varied from desserts to amazing meals.

John said: “I enjoy to help other people during these times, especially because I often cook anyway. I make a big meal and then the next day I deliver it to a few elders living on the street, making sure I keep my distance from them and then they wipe down any plates or tubs afterwards.

“I enjoy seeing the smiles on their faces knowing what I have done is greatly appreciated.”

John’s small contributions definitely go a long way for the people of Huntington. He encourages many other people who have a lot of free time to experiment and do the same to help their community.

Local shops that are open for essentials

Due to pandemic, many shops and restaurants are now closed to prevent the spread. However, there are still accessible shops near many local areas so that people can still buy their essentials, especially for cooking.

Here is the map of shops open near Huntington area:

The wide range of options available for shoppers reflects the hard-working individuals to ensure that the nation always has food during COVID-19.

There has been a deep amount of humanity within the village of Huntington as the international crisis has brought so many people together in a time of despair. COVID-19 has affected the lives of many, leaving families and individuals isolated from the rest of the world. The usual way of living has been taken away, however, we must view this pandemic in a positive light.

There has been an improvement on environmental issues as levels of air pollutants and warming gases over some cities and regions are showing significant drops as coronavirus impacts work and travel. There is a sense of hope for the world. What we do now will impact and shape the future ahead.

The element of the unknown seems to be the worst of the pandemic. Nonetheless, technology has proven to be a saviour to many people as they can speak to loved ones. David Wygant, an author and speaker who wrote about The Power of Facetime, said: “If we just took time to get on a Facetime call, and got to see somebody for five or six minutes, you get a feel for them, you get to know them.”

This is the world’s coping method of not seeing your loved ones. Wygant also explains how people should get ‘dolled-up’ if they want to, even if it’s a five-minute thing.

This crisis has also proven to be a lesson as you don’t need money to have a good time. Many individuals are investing more time into things that actually matter. Whether that be from gardening to helping those in need.

Huntington is heavily populated with elderly people, this means that during this time, many people are vulnerable. People of communities are going out of their way to help the elderly which is a huge inspiration to the rest of the world as this is a very important time for everyone to help out.

What are people doing to help?

Amy Jones, a care worker from the village, showed an amazing example of community sprit whilst she helped the vulnerable. Amy had been working in healthcare even know she had known about the risks. She was helping a paralysed lady and a man with cerebral palsy to continue to live at home, hoping that they do not end in hospital.

Amy said: “I have been helping with their care because their normal carers are isolating. One of the carers is pregnant so will be off now for a few weeks so I’m helping to cover some of her shifts.

“It’s important to smile at people and talk from a far distance if you can make people feel less alone. I think we just need to try our best to make something positive out of a bad situation.”

According to the Office for National Statistics, 30% of people feel lonely during these times. Also, 66% feel stressed or anxious, this is why it is important to check up on your relatives and neighbours.

The citizens of Huntington persuade people to take this time to do positive things for yourself and others.