STAFF from Barnoldswick’s West Craven Sports Centre have volunteered to help the community while on furlough.

All Pendle Leisure Trust employees from lifeguards and beauty therapists, to gym instructors and swimming teachers – have volunteered to help roll out the coronavirus vaccine in Pendle.

They, along with other volunteers, have been helping out at the Colne Health Centre every Thursday to Sunday, guiding patients to the correct entrance from the car park; checking in patients and guiding them to the correct treatment room; observing patients after the vaccine and continually disinfecting bays.

Pendle Leisure Trust’s Chief Executive, Alison Goode, said they had been approached by the NHS and were more than happy to get involved with the vaccination programme.

“We decided this was a brilliant opportunity for us to be involved in making a positive difference by getting as many of the local people vaccinated as possible,” she said.

Last year, between the beginning of April and when the trust’s leisure facilities reopened at the end of July, a team of furloughed staff volunteered seven days a week in the Pendle Community Support Hub, which was set up to co-ordinate support for the borough’s most vulnerable residents and those without a circle of friends or family nearby to help them.

The team of fitness instructors, lifeguards, beauty therapists, reception and administration staff swapped their usual roles to volunteer in the hub, taking calls and responding to emails to match people up with the support they badly need.

They also called back the hundreds of residents who contacted the Hub to make sure they had received the help they needed, as well as making thousands of outbound calls to people who had been identified as vulnerable or who were on an NHS shielded list – which they are still doing on a regular basis.

Alison added: “We are really pleased again to be supporting Pendle Council and the NHS, playing our part in helping the local community during this very difficult time.”