Remember last year…

One year ago, the world was a very strange place. And yes, I know it still is, but a year ago to some of us it felt like we were on the edge of something exciting – coming out of a hideous pandemic that allowed us to dream of coming back bigger, stronger, greener and kinder.

We made a point of thanking those who were helping us – NHS workers, key workers, teachers, neighbours, volunteers. Remember the huge efforts of those who pulled together to ensure that nobody went without food and prescriptions? The shops that changed the way they operated by doing deliveries? The delivery drivers working flat out to meet the online shopping demands? The bin men dealing with Christmas week-sized rounds every week as everybody was working from home? The people who started making PPE equipment for NHS frontline staff who were going to work ill-equipped? The teachers who worked throughout the lockdown keeping the children educated, both in school for some and online for those at home?

The overwhelming feeling for many of us at the time was gratitude and a new found respect for those who kept our country going.

Fast forward a year and it feels like that goodwill and love for fellow man has been put to one side. So many of us are fed up with continued restrictions; we’re tired of being told what we can do; the confusing messages of large sporting events but small weddings being allowed has jarred with us. Social media is a hot bed of toxicity. Patience has run out. The awful mix of Brexit and Covid has left us with staff shortages, businesses closing, services interrupted.

The Vision Group for Sidmouth, in partnership with the Sidmouth Plastic Warriors, Transition Town Network and Sidmouth Town Council, decided to do something to try to reverse this. We want everyone to think back to those who helped them get through. We have set up three awards, and want you to think of individuals, groups or businesses who helped in one of these areas. The awards are entitled:

  • Community – who activated troops, who made the world more positive, who made sure nobody got forgotten?
  • Resilience – who has adapted to the ‘new normal’, changed their business plan or outlook effectively and inspired others?
  • Sustainability – who has a business or group that is innovative, that does not drain resources from the planet and shows us a new way of working, and champions environmentally friendly ways of operating? Which groups improve our environment? Who works hard to stop us being a disposable society? This is a broad category, looking to champion and share good practice.

We would really love everybody to get involved in nominating people and groups who made a difference to them. We hope to be able to have a ‘real’ awards ceremony, where we can recognise all those who are nominated, and lift the spirits of the town to remind us of that feeling of pride in our community. You can nominate a group, business or individual for just one category if you want to, or nominate for all the categories – it’s up to you. We’d love this to become an annual event. Please have a look at the website at sidmouth-champions.vgsidmouth.co.uk and follow the link to the very simple form.

For the past few weeks I have experienced the negativity and toxicity of social media and so am taking a break from Facebook. Whoever said ‘sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me’ didn’t have a clue about what they were talking about. We must all remember that behind the names on social media, or here in the paper, there are real people. Why don’t we just all try to be kind? My favourite literary character, Atticus Finch, said 'you never know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk about in them' and we need to remember in our gloom that other people are also suffering. A smile and a kind word can make such a difference to a day – but anger and bitterness can too. Let's all try to encourage everybody else, and by doing so may feel better ourselves.