Hertfordshire residents sign up as Covid Information Champions to help provide vaccine advice

More than 100 residents have signed up so far to provide clear information on Covid-19, including vaccine advice, to all people across Hertfordshire.

The Covid Information Champions project was launched last month to help residents get the right information in a clear way as well as public health updates, with its main aims being to improve understanding of rules around Covid and to make sure that as many people as possible are having the vaccine.

In establishing the project, Hertfordshire County Council has partnered with Community Help Hertfordshire, which is made up of eight voluntary organisations.

The project works to identify and train information champions to share key messages with their families, friends and anyone in their local communities – a key element is making sure that those messages are available to people who, in many cases, cannot be reached via traditional or social media, while information is also provided in the language required.

The project also ensures that residents in communities that the council cannot reach, can access help if they need it.

Residents are advised by their local Information Champion that, if they need support paying for food or fuel, they can contact HertsHelp on 0300 123 4044, email [email protected] or visit www.hertshelp.net.

Kate Belinis, Chief Executive of Community Development Action Herts, which works closely with the Covid Information Champions initiative, said: “I am delighted to be involved with this project to recruit and support locally based ‘champions’.

"The aim is to dispel misinformation, which is in abundance on numerous media platforms and is very unhelpful to our residents.

“We are particularly interested in assisting people who do not know who is providing honest and trustworthy information to help them with the decision to take up the vaccination.”

Tim Hutchings, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Prevention, said: “The work that the Covid Information Champions are doing is vital for us to get out of lockdown.

"The correct information that they are giving to residents, who we often cannot reach, is really important for getting more people vaccinated and to stop the spread of coronavirus.”

If you feel you can make a difference as a Covid Information Champion, and for more information on the project, click here.