WHEN the pandemic gripped the country and lockdown was imposed many people were left isolated and fearful for their future.
However a band of volunteers from Newtown leapt into action and provided meals and a safe environment for people to relax and socialise.
Helen Kynaston played a prominent role in the work and has now been deservedly proclaimed Lockdown Hero of the Year.
The Newtown Community Cafe continued to play a key role today with Helen sure the pandemic only further highlighted a need in society which had previously not been met.
Of course it has come with its challenges.
Helen said: "Setting up the open door café in October 2018 and our necessary change to a 'meals with wheels service', due to Covid lockdown, has been a very rewarding team effort.
"Our open door café regularly served between 25 and 35 customers, our 'meals with wheels' at it's busiest, served over 80. We are settled now at around 55."
Helen said the cafe had come to be popular among people who had feared the risk of going to other establishments due to the risk of contracting Covid with many enjoying the relaxed and informal setting the cafe offered.
The service continues to play a vital role in society - all the more so with day care centres remaining closed across Powys.
"There are so many people that I need to thank. Many of them joined us at the outset and are still volunteering with us today," said Helen.
"First and most importantly our fantastic volunteers: our chefs and kitchen staff, servers and packers and our brilliant team of drivers. They are my A team.
"I would also like to thank PAVO and Fareshare for advice and support from the outset and the leaders at the Methodist Church who allow us to use the church every Wednesday."
Helen also thanked the group's funders, including Newtown Town Council, the Rotary Club, The Moondance Foundation as well as donations from customers and private individuals.
"We also thank organisations large and small who have provided food for us to cook: Evans Café, Tesco, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl, Iceland, Cultivate, Newtown food surplus and Severn Street Chippy.
Finally some individuals who must be named like Jenny Coppell, Morrisons food champion, Lavinia Vaughan, who has been our kitchen mainstay and Andy Finch and the team at Express café who stepped into the breach and enabled us to have a much needed break in the summer."
LOCKDOWN AWARD SPONSORED BY CONTROL TECHNIQUES
What made us want to sponsor the Lockdown Award? It’s simple really.
Across the country, people everywhere had to get used to living in lockdown or with tough restrictions. Living under lockdown can be an overwhelming and exhausting experience for everyone.
Control Techniques are proud to sponsor an award that recognises the great efforts made by individuals when struggling—having a difficult day, or week dealing with the unprecedented pressures of lockdown.
As a business employing around 600 people in Newtown, we experienced first-hand how hard it was for people to adjust their daily lives and get used to a world in lockdown. To find someone who has gone above and beyond for their community is certainly something to celebrate and acknowledge.
Control Techniques, a Nidec brand, is the global drives specialist. We are a challenger with a big name in the drives industry. We pride ourselves on the service we provide, not only from Newtown, but also from our network of 45 drive centres around the world.
Our drives are the hidden unsung heroes behind machines created by innovative
engineers. They are everywhere. We might not see them, but they are there, behind
the scenes, inside cupboards, making things spin and move.
Drives play a pivotal role in key industries like food and beverage, the manufacture of medical supplies, and water treatment plants, so shutting down was not an option for Control Techniques. We are proud of every one of our employees for the resilience they showed during lockdown, keeping the wheels of industry turning. Bravery and dedication got this country through one of the toughest lockdowns we have ever experienced.
Its time celebrate those that have been doing excellent work for their community that would otherwise not be celebrated.
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