Wakefield Trinity Community Foundation volunteers praised for 'fantastic' support at vaccine centre

A team of volunteers from the Wakefield Trinity Community Foundation has been praised for providing "invaluable" assistance to staff and patients at Wakefield's largest vaccination centre.

More than 70 volunteers from the Wakefield Trinity Community Foundation (WTCF) have stepped forward to lend a hand at the centre at Spectrum Community Health on Navigation Walk, Wakefield.

The team, who began their work this week, are supporting patients and staff at the centre by participating in non-clinical roles, including helping staff and providing a friendly face for patients.

Craig Shepherd, CEO of the foundation, said: "The prolonged pandemic is causing further damage to the physical and emotional health of residents within our communities.

Mia Nawton vaccinates Diane Slack from Sandal, one of the first people to receive the vaccine at the Navigation Walk centre in Wakefield.

“Anything we can do to support a return to normality is time well spent, whether it be to get children back to school, valuable projects back up and running in communities or even to see fans back in sports stadiums.

"Like many third sector organisations, we stood up to the challenge in the beginning, the middle and hopefully, now, at the end.”

The Spectrum vaccination site was the first large-scale vaccination centre to open in West Yorkshire.

A massive 73 volunteers from the WTCF have agreed to take part in the first five weeks of the volunteering scheme, and have already begun their role at the vaccination centre.

And they have been praised by those working at the site.

Dr. Linda Harris, Chief Executive of Spectrum Community Health CIC and Medical Director for the Vaccination Centre, said: “It’s absolutely fantastic the way we have been supported by the people of Wakefield and the Wakefield Trinity Community Foundation.

“The Foundation came forward and offered their assistance which has been invaluable in this first week’s roll-out of vaccinations.

“Patients visiting our Navigation Walk Centre have been so pleased with how they’ve been looked after – a credit to everyone involved.”

The Wakefield Trinity Community Foundation are looking forward to supporting the Spectrum’s vaccination centre over several weeks to ensure the vaccine roll-out plan goes as smoothly as possible.

We would also like to thank all staff and volunteers for their continued hard work throughout this difficult time.