Businesses share support for local heroes
Celebrating local heroes with displays in some businesses around the Borough
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic people from across the community have gone above and beyond to help others during what has been a very difficult time for so many.
We asked for nominations of individuals, groups and volunteer groups who gave up their time to help others over the last year and a half. Residents in the Borough submitted over a hundred nominations of people they thought deserved to be ‘Local Heroes’, sharing stories of kindness, creativity and hope.
Following on from last week’s National Volunteer’s Week which saw volunteers celebrated across the country, we wanted to share our appreciation for the volunteers that offered support and kindness to people and communities across the Borough.
Everyone that has been nominated as a ‘Local Hero’ will receive a certificate and letter from the Mayor’s office to praise their efforts and compassion they have shown towards people in need. To help celebrate these amazing heroes, Eastleigh Borough Council, has shared a touching video tribute that the Council’s Arts and Culture team worked with local artists to create. Poetry collective ‘Ghost River’ were commissioned to write a poem based on the nominees, which was then recorded by performer Anna Carr and animated by Corinne Pollock. To make it extra special, they also included additional voices from members of the Eastleigh community – including some of those who nominated someone to be a hero.
Cabinet lead for Health Cllr Tonia Craig said: “This is such a wonderful tribute to all of the people that have made a difference to the lives of others during such a turbulent time for everyone. We are so pleased to be able to celebrate our incredible volunteers and share the stories of kindness and care that they showed towards their neighbours and friends in the community.”
Extracts of the poem have been printed and put up around the Borough in café and shop windows and in Council buildings with a QR code for members of the public to view the touching tribute video for themselves. You can see all of the businesses that are displaying parts of the poem here. The words of the poem give a message of unity and hope following a challenging time for everyone and are featuring in business windows around the Borough for people to spot as they get out and about as restrictions ease.
Watch the animated poem here