Kidderminster lockdown hero's Facebook shows inspired a new career

Andy Leake is the latest person to be receive one of our awards with Wyre Forest Rotary groups, recognising those who have gone that extra mile to help others during the coronavirus pandemic.

After losing his job at the start of the first lockdown last March, Andy started a new Facebook group 'Awesome Together' to build a community of people who may have have been struggling or feeling isolated.

Lockdown Hero Andy Leake

Andy said: "I lost my job in the March and got a new job but I was furloughed within a month. The Facebook group was just a bit of fun at first - I started doing five minute videos and that evolved into hour or even two-hour-long videos every morning.

"I'd just play some songs or go live and just have a laugh with people who were listening. I wanted to try and change people's mindsets and start people's day off with something positive.

"I started doing evenings as well. I'd do a sort of concert every Friday night and get a local artist or a band and a DJ to take part.

"I've suffered with mental health problems myself, which I finally took control of in 2018 after many years.

"The lockdowns have been very tough on so many people's mental health.

"From there it's just evolved even more into a sort of support group with hundreds of members. People share quotes or they contact me privately and I'm someone for them to talk to. We have people in the group from all over the world."

Andy has been so inspired by the Awesome Together group that he's decided to train as a life coach.

He said: "When I was laid off from my new corporate job in July, I'd already taken a lot of positives out of Covid. It gave me some time to sit back and look at where I was.

"I wanted something different out of life. I'd already been supporting people privately but people had said that it really helped them.

"I do want to help other people have a better life. I've started doing some training online and I've got half a dozen clients already."

Sarah Cole, who nominated Andy, said: "Andy started a blog on Facebook at the start of lockdown from his kitchen! This was a mixture of music requests, just good old banter, but also support for people in lockdown.

"This reconnected a lot of people throughout Kidderminster and wider areas even friends from as far away as Spain and Australia joined as the common theme was Kidderminster, with Andy being a born and bred Kiddy lad.

"Off the back of this, we also had performances from various musicians and DJs, with Andy also performing himself.

"Andy then started a chat show - sometimes Andy would do these shows twice a day.

"Andy has now started a Facebook group called Awesome Together which is a group that supports each other informally with mental health wellbeing.

Lockdown Hero Andy Leake with Kidderminster Rotarian Richard Groom. Photo by Colin Hill

"This group has grown recently and I know has been a massive support to everyone. I just think he should be recognised for his selfless support to many."

Alongside Wyre Forest Rotary groups, The Shuttle is searching for the heroic individuals, community groups, charities and businesses that have kept people safe and well throughout the lockdowns.

We’ll be publishing your nominations in the paper each week and Wyre Forest Rotary will award certificates to those who have gone that extra mile to help their community.

To nominate a lockdown hero, readers need only fill out our online nomination form below before Sunday, January 31, telling us why that person or business is deserving of some recognition.