A DEDICATED team of care home staff in Kidderminster who sacrificed seeing their families during lockdown to keep residents safe have received our latest Lockdown Heroes award.

Staff at the Gables Care Home in Broomfield Road have worked tirelessly since the start of the coronavirus pandemic to keep their residents safe - working longer shifts to cut down on footfall into the home and even staying away from their own relatives to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus.

Workers even built unique visiting pods and entertainment pods to allow residents to see their families and keep spirits up.

To this day, the home remains Covid-free and Gables director Lindsey Clark thought the team deserved some special recognition.

Kidderminster Shuttle: Bewdley Rotary Club's Michel Gaud, awarding a Lockdown Heroes certificate to the Gables Care Home team. Photo by Colin HillBewdley Rotary Club's Michel Gaud, awarding a Lockdown Heroes certificate to the Gables Care Home team. Photo by Colin Hill

Nominating her staff for our Lockdown Heroes award with Wyre Forest Rotary, Lindsey said: "I have nominated the Gables Care team who have supported and helped the manager throughout the pandemic, above and beyond.

"They have given up seeing their own families to make safe the Gables family. They have worked tirelessly to keep the residents and themselves Covid-free throughout the pandemic.

"They have worked hard with residents to lift their spirits by creating wonderful memories with them with lots of Zoom entertainment like online pantos, choirs, cooking competitions like Ready Steady Cook.

"We have continued to do gardening weather permitting, bingo, exercise classes and our celebration days like VE day."

On receiving the award, registered manager Kim Northwood said: "I think it is a marvellous accolade that the Kidderminster Shuttle is doing to award those in the community who have continued to shine throughout this pandemic.

"I feel very privileged to receive this award on behalf of my care team.

"I am immensely proud of my team. Everyone has worked together to make life here at the Gables as normal as possible, all staff are committed and dedicated in ensuring that residents are kept safe and happy.

"They have all learned how to use technology to enable residents to keep in contact with their families and run a wonderful system to provide safe visiting in our visitors centre throughout the pandemic.

"As their manager I would like to show my appreciation too - thank you Team Gables, my true Lockdown Heroes. I could not have done it without you."

Presenting the award to the Gables team, Michel Gaud, of Bewdley Rotary Club, said: "Too often carers are the unsung heroes, most people do not realised the hard work and dedication needed to be a carer, and the Gables team have gone the extra mile.

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"And it give me a great pleasure to present this award to a dedicated team, congratulation and well done all of you."

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

Those who have gone that extra mile to help their community will receive award certificates from the Rotary club.

To make a nomination, 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.