05 May WRC in the News

The Club was featured in the Worcester News this week for our sterling efforts in helping out a local retirement community, led by our Captain, Anna.

Read the Article:

Worcester Rowing Club and Abbeyfield have come together to provide a shopping service for the residents of Abbeyfield’s retirement community at Whiston Court, in Worcester.

Although residents are provided with a daily lunch, they have their own apartments and are accustomed to supporting themselves, including buying their own shopping. However, the coronavirus pandemic has meant that the management has had to protect the whole community by restricting the residents’ contact with the outside world, which includes visits to shops, chemists and other local services.

When a resident needs some shopping, they submit a list to the manager, Carole Stirling, who sends a request to the rowing club’s captain, Anna Singleton.

She circulates the request to the members of the club who have volunteered to help and the first member to respond is given the job.

The shopping is left inside the entrance to Whiston Court and the resident is notified that it is waiting for them to collect it, avoiding any direct contact between resident and rower.

Anna said: “I have been overwhelmed by the response from our membership, there have been no shortage of volunteers with everyone wanting to play their part. As a sports club set in the very heart of Worcester, we have a strong connection with the community and feel a social responsibility to help where we can.”

Carole added: “This service has been a lifeline to some of our residents, especially those who don’t have any family nearby. We can’t thank the volunteers enough.”

The idea for the scheme came about when the chairman of the trustees, Gerald Harris, received an internal letter to all members of the rowing club from Anna saying that there were many younger members of the club who were at home, having been furloughed from their employment, and willing to help in the community.

Thank you to all our Members who have helped out so far.