July 2020

66
Wanstead Village Directory
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In the fourth of a series of articles documenting the thoughts of antibullying
ambassador Elsa Arnold, the founder of the Spreading Kindness
Through E11 initiative talks about community spirit during lockdown
We’ve all faced our fair share of
struggles over the last few months,
from immense highs to rock
bottom lows – it’s been really difficult. Our
lives were flipped upside down within a
matter of moments and we all suddenly
found ourselves being forced to adapt to a
new way of living.
Everyone is going to have a different story to
tell coming out of this, our personal lockdown
stories, because no one has felt the same
about the situation and this has affected us
all in completely different ways. In my own
life, I’ve seen one thing that has kept people
together and kept communities thriving:
the power of kindness. The acts of kindness
which have permeated throughout the
streets of communities have been incredibly
heartwarming to see and be a part of.
To highlight a few activities in Wanstead:
there have been huge teams of people
pulling together to support NHS staff through
food donations and shopping assistance as
well as great initiatives in helping combat
homelessness and ensuring more isolated
people are cared for during this time. All over
the country, people have given so much time
towards helping their neighbours, supporting
more vulnerable households and boosting
spirits and morale when it’s needed the most.
The positive impact that communities have
had on the lives of others has been incredible
and really has kept people’s hearts alive.
I had an overwhelming response to a project
I launched for Mental Health Awareness Week
in May, and I produced a community video
to show people, particularly at this time,
that they are not alone. I think that’s the key,
knowing we are never alone, no matter how
bleak the road ahead may seem.
A still from Elsa’s community video
for Mental Health Awareness Week
Seeing what the communities around me
have achieved and put together without a
moment’s thought is inspiring because we’re
all in this together. Yes, none of us will have
the same story to tell, but we can always be
there for each other. No action is a small one,
and we can all play a positive role in each
other’s stories to make sure that in times like
these, no one feels alone.
I am extremely grateful to be a part of
incredible, uplifting communities doing so
much for other people and I would urge
anyone reading this to think about how
they can make a difference to someone’s
day beyond this pandemic. You never know
what someone is going through, so keep
being mindful, keep caring and keep helping
to make sure everyone feels surrounded by
love and hope, because we go through life
together, never alone. Your actions really do
make a difference. Let that be a positive one.
Thank you to everyone who has offered a
helping hand to others. You will have made a
bigger difference than you know.
To watch Elsa’s community video, visit
wnstd.com/notalone. To read Elsa’s blog,
visit lostinthought-blog.com
To advertise, call 020 8819 6645 or visit wnstd.com