With most of the country still in lockdown, a number of key workers are still turning up for work to provide essential services, including the staff at Nottingham Community Transport, who are providing more than just a bus service.
For over 40 years, Nottingham Community Transport has been providing transport services to the local community, to enable people who cannot use mainstream public transport, due to age or disability and this includes the Easylink ‘Dial A Ride’ service. Easylink is still undertaking essential journeys for some of its users during the current Coronavirus crisis, but many others are in self-isolation. This has not prevented the team from keeping in contact with people who are keeping safe by remaining at home.
Easylink users include many vulnerable members of the community, and aside of their practical needs, can feel isolated and lonely. Easylink Co-ordinator, Elaine Allitt, has used her own initiative to carry out welfare checks on customers. Elaine commented: “We know that a number of our regular customers are staying at home, but that doesn’t mean that we’re forgetting about them. Over the past few weeks, I have been contacting all of our customers by phone to check on their welfare and to see if there is anything that we can do to help them.”
Elaine added: “A number of our customers do live on their own and I know from experience that I might be the only person they have spoken to for some time, so I feel it is important to let people know that we are still here and that we do care.”
Regular Easylink user, Jean Doyle from Wollaton Park Estate refers to Elaine as the ‘sweetheart’ of Easylink and commented: “Elaine has a happy, cheerful nature and is very understanding.” Jean added: “I only speak to my daughter, so to have a weekly phone call from Elaine is something I look forward to. I do feel isolated and sometimes feel forgotten and to know that Elaine is thinking about me is commendable. I look forward to getting out and about on Easylink again in the near future.”
