Community Spirit

Below are examples of people who have supported the village or have taken time to go the extra time for Hurworth Parish.

FLORAL WHISKY BARRELS LIFT THE SPIRITS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS!

Last Autumn, residents of Strait Lane decided to work together to provide a beautiful seasonal floral display in whisky barrels on the green opposite each of their houses.

This initiative came about in response to a problem with cars parking on the green and causing damage, especially in the winter, leaving big ruts in the grass; residents had also witnessed vehicles being driven across the green, causing further damage.

Permissions were obtained from Darlington Borough Council and HPC. Tony Jones procured and placed the whisky barrels (which arrived with an amazing aroma). Residents then filled the barrels, using their own money, with their choice of flowers and now the barrels are filled with colourful spring flowers which cheer residents and passers-by alike, and hopefully lift everyone’s spirits during this unprecedented period of our lives.

Proud residents show off their floral barrels.

In addition to the upkeep of the flowers, with the suspension of DBC carrying out grass cutting and maintenance, Tony Jones, Kev and Emma Richards have also cleaned up the edges of the road and have been cutting the grass; all whilst maintaining social distancing of course!

This is a great community project, with one resident adding that ‘it has made a big difference to the outlook for all of the residents, and we feel privileged to live in a village where the sense of community is so strong’.

Liv Baker has dedicated her time and efforts setting up a fantastic group helping Hurworth Community and the vulnerable to get through these worrying times.

As our own business hung on a cliff edge, we reminded ourselves how fortunate we were. We were healthy, happy and if need be, could start again. Our concern was for our staff and all those who found themselves vulnerable as a result of the pandemic.
I dropped a few notes through local resident's doors initially. There was a lot of offers to help online, but I was worried this would not reach those who did not have access to social media or the internet.

After printing hundreds of leaflets and asking for help, I soon had an army pounding the pavements delivering leaflets.
Many phone calls were to thank us and people who just wanted a friendly chat. This led onto regular shopping. The offers of help poured in. People's kindness has been truly inspiring.

To keep volunteers safe, we are trying to set designated days for them to shop, so they are not compromising themselves or the people we are assisting.
We have also received many food donations ready to help those in financial difficulty.
Without the support of this wonderful community, this would not have got off the ground

I thank each and everyone of our volunteers and those that have offered their help, donated food or just offered words of support.
Our company is now supplying essential supplies direct to the NHS which has secured many jobs.

This is a very difficult time for us all, but we have gained so much from setting up this group. We have gained life long friends and links to this wonderful village. My children have had first hand experience of helping others, which is the best life lesson.

I will always remember and always be grateful

Hurworth Heroes supporting front line workers

Like so many of us during this pandemic I have sat aghast, working from home, kids schooling at home feeling like I was in some kind of twilight zone or Hollywood film as the reality of COVID-19 became more and more apparent. A very dear friend of mine is a Nurse at Darlington Memorial and I wanted to help her in some way, so joined a Facebook group of North East Sewers who were sewing items for NHS front line workers, for inspiration and made her two uniform bags as I knew her husband was leaving the washing machine door open for her to put her uniform in, praying that the virus was not being brought back from work, into their own home. On 12th April, I shared the information about this regional sewing group on Hurworth Live and want to say….. the rest is history.

It is now Monday 20th April. The photos show my kitchen this morning, 30 uniform bags with handmade thank you notes in, just waiting for a thank you sticker, which is arriving this morning, as we have gone through 100 in as many days, and these are being gifted too. There is a bag full of pairs of hearts to go to the hospital to be shared with patients and their families to try to bridge the gap of togetherness, as they cannot be together whilst being treated and cared for at Darlington Memorial. There is a bag of uniform bags and ear savers (stop the face masks from rubbing on ears) going to our own Drs surgery today too and a bag of duvets and sheets that a lovely lady has offered to cut up to help our sewers keep sewing as we have used all of the pillowcases already.

This is the end of seven days which must have seen delivery from our amazing villagers of at least 20 bags of bedding to be used as material. We have provided and delivered 200 uniform bags already, plus the 30 bags I have mentioned, so in 7 days, our growing band of amazing and talented sewers, which is now 19 lovely ladies, have made 230 uniform bags, 25 pairs of hearts and they just keep on going.

Children and families have made us dozens and dozens of thank you notes to go in with bags, people have provided labels, stickers, cord for the bags, sandwich bags, pedal bin bags, the generosity of people is and continues to be overwhelming, I cry daily at the support, warmth and community spirit.

The bags have already gone to: carers; support workers; care homes; an infant feeding team; District Nurses; maternity units in Middlesbrough and Darlington; radiology/radiographers; Darlington Memorial; James Cook Hospital; the Friarige and Rockcliffe Court Surgery; all through Hurworth Live and our wonderful villagers.

Everybody wants to give something back and many are loving having a new sense of purpose, it is good for the body and mind, especially during lockdown which can be so isolating and lonely for many and some have very personal reasons behind their motivation to offer support, but all are smiling, thankful and just keep going. Everybody wants to feel like they have done something, anything, and this is a wonderful way to make a difference and support the amazing front line workers who are working so hard to care, protect and save lives. People have felt helpless and hopeless as the grave situation has unfolded nationally, but the way the people of this village have come together is simply wonderful. The whole village is behind this movement, and we are all so proud to be part of it. Hurworth Heroes, hold your heads up high, long may it last.

Be Safe, be kind and please look out for your neighbours.

Tracie Jacobs