The initiative – a partnership between the Council, the NHS and local communities – consists of two parts: working with residents borough-wide and working with specific communities and residents who are at high risk of COVID-19. Both parts aim to share key information about the virus with friends, family and local community networks so everyone is fully informed, reducing the amount of misinformation and signposting the support available.

One of seven London boroughs to receive this funding following a successful bid to the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, over a six-month period we will use these funds to:

• tackle the double disadvantage of catching and sharing the virus and being digitally excluded by developing solutions to receive, understand and share key COVID-19 messages. This will include ways to improve access to and affordability of smart devices and high-speed internet connection.
• enable residents in high-risk communities to have a direct say in how local money is spent to help reduce the impact of COVID-19.
• increase the number of Community Champions from 264 and Neighbourhood Champions from 80 to 1,000-plus.
• expand our deep engagement work in communities to increase the number of neighbourhoods involved (from three to six) and identify additional communities to work with.

Cllr Adel Khaireh, Cabinet Member for Culture and Communities said: “It’s key that all communities have their say in how we can work together to protect those most at risk by building trust, communicating accurate health information and ultimately helping to save lives. This funding for our Community Champions initiative will go some way to achieving this, in addition to our ongoing work with partners, businesses and residents across Royal Greenwich.”

The funding is part of £23.75 million from the UK Government for councils and voluntary groups to better engage and communicate with at-risk groups.

Find out more about our Community Champions initiative at royalgreenwich.gov.uk/communitychampions