A WhatsApp group chat on the first Saturday of lockdown illustrated how well positioned RSLs are to respond to a crisis. A Torfaen councillor had asked for help to deliver free school meals. Within minutes, we confirmed that six Bron Afon colleagues, each with a van, would be available on Monday to help. Since then, our teams have secured supplies, packed food parcels and supported the development of Torfaen\u2019s shielding scheme. We\u2019ve quickly partnered community groups to help and support wherever we can and this will continue throughout the crisis. We\u2019re doing this whilst also trying to achieve our day job of providing housing and support.<\/p>\n
RSLs sit part way between the public and private sectors, and I believe we access the best parts of both. (Bron Afon is a community mutual, but all RSLs have good mechanisms that foster trust between them and their communities) A combination of our business, governance and accountability models means that we can provide the infrastructure, resources and adaptability needed to respond effectively to a crisis. And when this one is over, I think we\u2019ll be playing a huge role in generating economic activity and directed support in our communities that will help recovery.<\/p>\n
But wow! Talk about being knocked sideways! The crisis and lockdown have changed so many things. And when you don\u2019t have the luxury to mull, it\u2019s amazing what you can achieve! Our team of 420+ have been wonderful in managing the logistics and adopting a mindset of change.<\/p>\n
At Bron Afon, we\u2019ve been calmly reorganising our work for a while anyway, but the lockdown has caused some rapid re-thinking of some ideas and the quicker adoption of others. This is familiar to many organisations just now. Decisions that would have taken many months and many meetings are happening overnight. Now that we\u2019ve begun to think about recovery at Bron Afon, there\u2019s a real sense of excitement that pierces through the mostly practical dialogue about how to deal with that day\u2019s challenges. We\u2019re trying to capture that excitement through the \u2018start, continue, stop\u2019 discussions that are routinely happening on the ground. We want to capitalise on our teams\u2019 ingenuity when things return to whatever passes for normal.<\/p>\n
However, we are now seeing the cumulative impact that five weeks of lockdown is having on some people. It\u2019s hugely challenging for parents to home educate and work, or if your home can\u2019t be set up as a work place, or if you or your family\u2019s health is suffering, or you\u2019re lonely and isolated. Our teams work hard and like to be busy, so we have a real concern that some people who are unable to do their normal job will be feeling frustrated and disconnected.<\/p>\n
At the same time, those who are able to are going the extra mile, working really long hours and making us proud. We must look after them, including forgiving the occasional moment of resentment about the disparity of effort just now.<\/p>\n
The impact of all this on many peoples\u2019 mental health and wellbeing is going to be significant. I hope there\u2019s to be more support for the practical psychology needed. (A ton of academic psychological study will date from this period)<\/p>\n
Our own wellbeing support is in overdrive and very successful. But we have to be realistic, we know it won\u2019t reach everyone, and the benefit some feel one day might have gone by the next.<\/p>\n
This period is testing all our powers of resilience. It\u2019s a test we\u2019ll pass, but it\u2019s definitely not, work as we know it!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"