This is a time for heroes and heroines. Not the film stars, not the footballers, but everyday coronavirus heroes doing extraordinary things to help out their communities.

Last week we highlighted six heroes going and above and beyond to help others. This included the incredible Captain Tom Moore whose 100 laps of the garden has raised £28m for NHS Charities Together.

This Thursday, we will again salute our NHS and frontline worker heroes at 8pm. And here are more heroes who’ve caught our eye with their outstanding community spirit.

Richard Francis

When his local area needed help, Richard stepped up to assist the vulnerable and isolated in Cumbria. He set up the Facebook group Carlisle Covid-19 Mutual Aid to enable people in the Carlisle area to share resources and support one another.

Richard has also launched the Leave A Light On (LALO) Coronavirus Community Support group which he proactively manages to provide vital aid where it is needed most. The project started as a 24-hour coronavirus community support helpline, which has already been invaluable for those feeling isolated. LALO has since enabled the Cumbrian community to band together. It has developed initiatives that have brought temporary accommodation, Hero Hampers, Easter eggs and other services to key workers. Residents have stepped up to offer CV and recruitment support, legal advice, shopping and cleaning services and PPE provision.

Jonny Burnett

Somerset-based Jonny took unpaid leave from his job as a chef to provide meals for the vulnerable and isolated in his community. With volunteer help, Jonny has been shipping out hundreds of meals a day to NHS workers, the elderly and families in need. The concept has been so successful Jonny has now set up the charity Romajo’s Community Meals which you can support by donating to their Just Giving page.
Have a read through the appreciative comments on his social media posts if you need a boost of positivity.

Ben Thorogood

After receiving a 3D printer for Christmas, Ben, 11, took to YouTube to help his engineer dad Michael to design a simple face protector to send to a local GP practice. The pair were able to 3D print a plastic filament, which acts as a wraparound headband. This can be clipped to a high grade acetate sheet, creating a cheap and simple face guard. The ingenious duo shared their creation on social media and have since distributed 200 shields to essential workers.
With a further 600 orders already in place, the Thorogoods are going to be very busy!

Becky Wass

Wass was feeling helpless about the health crisis so came up with an idea to promote kindness instead of fear. Her print-at-home #ViralKindness postcard templates are designed to allow communities to get in touch with those self-isolating to provide supplies, posting services or just a chat for anyone who is feeling lonely. The postcard concept took off in a big way and Becky has now launched a website sponsored by Age UK. Cornwall locals can list services and connect with each other in order to support their community through the crisis.

Annabel Collins

Annabel and her mother Abigail have been hard at work spreading joy in their community whilst donating whatever they can to those who need it most. Three-year-old Annabel has spent the extra time at home painting rocks to leave around her neighbourhood hoping to make locals smile. The family has also been putting together a box filled with essentials, like pasta, toilet roll, baby formula and fruit. They are encouraging anyone who is struggling financially, vulnerable or a worn-out NHS worker to take what they need. A lovely show of care and compassion for the community.

Ted and Ed

Ok, these two might not be human heroes, but they are without doubt doing their bit. A household in Stockport, whose residents prefer not to be named, have been setting up various scenes with their two giant teddy bears Ted and Ed. The idea came after seeing other bears put in windows, inspired by the book ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’. In fact, teddies are appearing in windows around the world, so that children can go on their own bear hunt whilst doing their daily exercise. The owners of Ted and Ed, nicknamed ‘The Moor Bears’, have taken this concept to the next level. The life-sized duo appear to perform various tasks and activities, such as cooking, cleaning and ballet. The arrangements are bringing joy to locals and all of their Instagram followers, with a young neighbour saying ‘they cheer us up every day’.

Want some more inspiration? Here’s our first six heroes.

And we’d love to hear who is inspiring you. Drop us a line at admin@merrick-solicitors.com