With the coronavirus outbreak, every organisation is learning to adapt to a new way of working. Whether it’s remote working for the first time, shifting the focus of the company’s ‘regular’ work or adapting to working with fewer staff members and new safety measures – no workplace is the same as it was before.
Here at Heart of Bucks we’ve been busier than ever. In only a few days, we went from being a flexible, largely office-based team to a remote team setting up a brand new appeal to help those in need at this time. We got the Bucks Coronavirus Response Appeal (BCRA) on its feet in a couple of days and have since been overwhelmed with the number of generous donations the appeal has received, from both individuals and local businesses.
Shortly after the BCRA was set up, we began to receive funding from the national NET Coronavirus Appeal to distribute locally, too, and the team has been hard at work identifying local organisations in need and swiftly responding to all the applications for both funds to ensure financial support is given where it’s most needed.
You’re probably seeing a lot about what we’re getting up to on social media – with some truly incredible donation figures being announced – but we thought you might like to learn a little bit about the team behind the grant giving.
Meet the team and see how we’ve been keeping ourselves busy and looking after ourselves during lockdown.
Anna Turner
Finance and Accounting Manager
Currently watching: We’ve watched Tiger King and Save Me in lockdown.
What are you doing to pass the time during lockdown?
I have 2 small children, so I spend most of the time I’m not working playing make believe games, doing craft and trying to homeschool. We’re really enjoying spending more time together and getting outside in the fresh air.
What would be your one piece of advice for people finding things difficult at the moment?
Be kind to yourselves. Some days are more successful than others and that’s OK.
What is it like to be working for Heart of Bucks during this time?
Working for Heart of Bucks makes me really feel like I am doing something positive towards helping other people. I’ve been so impressed by my colleagues’ dedication, flexibility and good humour!
Carolyn Clarke
Operations Manager
Currently reading: The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel
How are you finding the lockdown?
The lockdown is frustrating and stressful some days, but I think it has forced me to be more mindful of how to take care of my own well-being, mentally and physically, which is probably a very good thing. Being able to check in with colleagues, family and friends via video call has been helpful, although I suspect everyone is getting tired of seeing the back end of my cat wandering across the camera!
What are you doing to pass the time during lockdown?
I am re-discovering the joy of reading, especially when I can sit in a patch of sun in my tiny garden to read. I’ve also found a couple of online gong baths which are just perfect for relaxation. In “normal” times I would now be deep into preparations for Rickmansworth festival (I’m the Entertainment Manager there), so instead, I’m currently working on a way to deliver a virtual festival. I’ve also joined an online historical wargames group and I’m enjoying developing a new character and creating his “back story”. I even started a huge “painting by numbers” project, but swiftly discovered that the patience and steady hand required is good reason why this is not the right hobby for me.
What would be your one piece of advice for people finding things difficult at the moment?
I always find it helpful to visualize ourselves on the other side of this lockdown, say in a year’s time, and imagine how we will be talking about how it was difficult, but we got through it.
Try to get out for a walk every day (so long as its safe for you to do so). I know that I always feel better for having done it, even if I’m not feeling hugely motivated when I start out.
I have found setting myself a target to find interesting or beautiful things to photograph whilst walking, makes me more mindful and appreciative of my surroundings as I walk.
What is it like to be working for Heart of Bucks during this time?
We’ve managed to reconfigure our work so that we can all work safely at home, and I am so proud of how we have been able to respond to meet the needs of our community. We are getting funds out to groups faster than ever before. Some of the stories we hear are heartbreaking, but it’s been really rewarding to hear how the funds we have raised and distributed are making such a difference to the most disadvantaged.
Catherine Miller
Grants & Loans Officer
Currently reading: I am reading This Lovely City, a debut novel by Louise Hare, which is the story of one of the Windrush Generation and his experiences when he first moved to London.
How are you finding the lockdown?
I really miss my children (early 20s) who are both spending the lockdown period elsewhere. However, Zoom, WhatsApp calls and FaceTime help to make this easier.
What are you doing to pass the time during lockdown?
As well as spending more time in the garden than is normally possible, my husband and I have set ourselves the challenge of of a jigsaw puzzle – something we both enjoy which we normally do not find the time to do. I am also enjoying baking: not good for the waistline but it satisfies my creative urges.
What is it like to be working for Heart of Bucks during this time?
I’m finding it hugely helpful – from a personal point of view – to be able to focus on awarding grants to help the most vulnerable in Bucks during the Coronavirus outbreak.
Catherine Pearson
Marketing & Communications Officer
Currently reading: The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn. I recently finished Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith and Ayoade on Top by Richard Ayoade – a tongue-in-cheek ‘academic reading’ of one of the worst rom-coms ever called View from the Top.
Currently watching: Community, Ru Paul’s Drag Race, Friday Night Dinner, Killing Eve.
How are you finding the lockdown?
I have good days and bad days. I find I’m very productive working at home but I can often feel quite listless in my spare time – it’s good to have a rest but I often don’t know what to do with myself!
What are you doing to pass the time during lockdown?
My fiancé has had some time off work and he’s been doing woodwork, building us a side table and a container shelf – and I’ve been sitting in the garden reading and watching him hard at work! I’ve been watching a lot of Netflix and bought myself a bird-themed colouring book (I love owls and parrots!) to occupy me while I’m watching some of my old favourites. Every Friday night my family gather via Skype (from Aylesbury, to Leeds, to New Zealand) to do a quiz and we take it in turn to write the questions. On Sunday nights, my immediate family, my fiancé and I take part in a film quiz.
What would be your one piece of advice for people finding things difficult at the moment?
This is an unprecedented time and so you absolutely don’t need to be ‘okay’. No one is expecting you to be your best in the middle of a pandemic! We see lots of people achieving great things on social media with their spare time, but if you just look after yourself and make it through the day that’s equally fantastic.
What is it like to be working for Heart of Bucks during this time?
It’s given me a focus and a drive just knowing how many people we’re helping. I’ve loved sharing the great news and writing stories about our progress (and putting together articles like this one!). Our appeal, just like the situation in general, is evolving on a day-to-day basis and I feel like I’m contributing to something important. It definitely helps when I feel low.
Evelyn Daley
Bookkeeper
Currently reading: I am reading Peter Davison’s (Dr Who and All Creatures Great and Small) autobiography. I managed to grab an eclectic stack of library books before lockdown although the first three I read were all set on the coast in Devon or Cornwall, which tells you where I want to be!
Currently watching: I am enjoying re-watching Gavin and Stacey and I’m looking forward to watching Beat The Chasers as I went to see an episode being recorded when it was safe to do so.
How are you finding the lockdown?
I found it difficult to begin with as I am normally out and about a lot socially and with my volunteering activities but I am getting used to it now and it is not so bad.
What are you doing to pass the time during lockdown?
I foster for the Chiltern Branch of Cats Protection and I have taken advantage of the good weather and painted the cats pens, which is quite a big project and was on my to do list for the summer. I have also done a lot gardening, reading and sorting out. I am really enjoying my daily walk and have found some new routes around where I live.
What would be your one piece of advice for people finding things difficult at the moment?
I think it is a good idea to have a routine and I like to keep busy so I have a long to do list. I try to look for the positives such as having the time to go for a daily walk, which helps me to get fitter and explore the local area.
What is it like to be working for Heart of Bucks during this time?
I am very busy due to the extra donations and grant payments to be processed as a result of the Heart of Bucks Coronavirus appeals and it is also year end.
Henry Allmand
Chief Executive Officer
Currently watching: A series called ‘the Americans’ – a cold war thriller we are half-way through. And a special mention for ‘Killing Eve’ too, a great time for the third series to be released.
Currently reading: It’s strictly reading with my little girl at the moment – last night it was ‘What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday’ but we’ve also been known to catch up with the Rhyming Rabbit, or Twinkle the Unicorn.
How are you finding the lockdown?
It is difficult to work without interruption, locked down with a two year-old who has really found her voice! As I don’t often get the opportunity to work from home, it’s been a bit of an adjustment and not at all straightforward. Having said that, there are people in far worse situations than me, and I’m just grateful Heart of Bucks are able to be so heavily involved in the local response.
What are you doing to pass the time during lockdown?
The days are flying by, but when I am not working I’m spending as much time with my family as possible – with the nice weather we have been outside in the garden a lot, and I’ve even managed to do some daily exercise!
What would be your one piece of advice for people finding things difficult at the moment?
It’s a great time to let go of bad habits, but make sure you keep hold of the good ones too.
What is it like to be working for Heart of Bucks during this time?
I’ve been so impressed with the whole team and how they have responded to the dramatic increases in workload and the shift to remote working. It all happened so fast, but we’ve been able to change our working practices just as quickly. I think we all feel very fortunate to be able to contribute effectively to providing local support for the community, and I’m proud of how the organisation has coped with the challenges.
Phoebe Durrant-Badger
Grants and Loans Officer
Currently reading: Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry.
Currently watching: My wife and I started lock-down by working our way through 23 Marvel films in chronological order. Next up are a few documentaries on Netflix such as ‘How To Fix A Drug Scandal’ and ‘Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness’.
How are you finding the lockdown?
I’m coping fairly well with lock-down, I think. I’m somewhat a homebody anyway so the restrictions do not feel particularly restrictive to me. I also live in a town centre, so the rare lack of foot-traffic is blissful.
What are you doing to pass the time during lockdown?
I’m doing a lot of the usual things I would do including working, exercising, watching tv/films, PlayStation, etc. The things I am doing more of are DIY and reading. I’ve just built a climbing wall for my 4 cats and next up is shelving for my buddha collection, followed by mounting a full-length mirror to the wall for my wife. I’ve also learnt how to clip the sides of my hair (don’t worry, it was like that already!) and am still trying to find the perfect layout for my work area.
What would be your one piece of advice for people finding things difficult at the moment?
My advice would be to do whatever feels right for you. There is of course lots of evidence that exercising regularly, keeping in touch with loved ones, getting out in the garden and keeping busy is all great for your wellbeing and I fully support that advice. That being said, if you want to spend the next week with your phone turned off, watching films and eating pizza in bed with the lights off, that’s fine too. You do you and live your best lock-down life.
What is it like to be working for Heart of Bucks during this time?
Working for Heart of Bucks is absolutely incredible at the best of times but working for Heart of Bucks during the worst of times is even better. Life as we know it now is unsettled, dark and scary but in my role I am blessed to be witness to the most remarkable work being done by local charities, local government, Bucks residents and my incredible teammates. The funding being raised and the work being done is so inspiring and uplifting and I do not know how I would be coping during this time if I was not in the position I am by working for Heart of Bucks.
Richard Miller
Grant Programmes Administrator
Currently watching: Homes Under the Hammer
How are you finding the lockdown?
Good, loads of family time.
What are you doing to pass the time during lockdown?
I have been painting and re-decorating the house and going for long walks and bike rides.
What would be your one piece of advice for people finding things difficult at the moment?
Enjoy the time you have with family, complete all the jobs on your To Do list.
What is it like to be working for Heart of Bucks during this time?
It’s really good, I’m happy to be a part of the team and I am overwhelmed with the amount of support and donations made to individuals, groups and organisations during these hard times.
