Since December, I’ve been supporting the vaccination rollout and it’s been a fantastic experience. It s a happy environment to be in, and the patients are so appreciative. In addition to the clinical team, I work with a team of 80 volunteers. It s a two-way thing, you are helping deliver vaccinations to thousands of people which is incredible, but for volunteers, it also gives an enormous boost of wellbeing. I’d recommend it wholeheartedly!
Colette Burgess, a retired nurse, is one of the many retired NHS workers who have returned to work to help with coronavirus vaccinations.
The 60-year-old now works with the research and development team at West Suffolk Hospital on a Covid-19 study and also works with the vaccination team.
Inspirational women of lockdown in Norfolk and Suffolk eveningnews24.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from eveningnews24.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Community hero Funmi Akinriboya supports communities across Ipswich
- Credit: Sarah Lucy Brown
An Ipswich woman has told of her efforts to help support and integrate underrepresented communities in the town.
Funmi Akinriboya is originally from Nigeria but has been living in Ipswich for the past four and a half years from where she runs the BME Suffolk Support Group.
The group has been going from strength to strength in recent years. It s been a privilege to see these groups blossom in the last two years, said Miss Akinriboya.
“We are doing amazingly well and making sure these groups are well supported.
Volunteers at the African Food Pantry including founder Funmi Akinriboya, left
- Credit: Funmi Akinriboya
An Ipswich foodbank is going the extra mile to ensure families from places such as Africa, the Caribbean and Portugal are able to cook traditional foods for dinner.
Funmi Akinriboya founded the African Food Pantry alongside the BME Suffolk Support Group, as well as working a part-time job to support her family of three children.
The mum had found that while foodbanks were offering supplies families needed, she wanted to provide the black and ethnic minority communities with traditional foods from their own cultures.
The foodbank is run entirely by volunteers