Long periods of isolation have damaged the self-confidence of some of Trafford’s most medically-vulnerable residents during lockdown. But the Council has come up with a unique plan to get them out and about and enjoying the outdoors again: Alpacas.
Members of Supported Living Service – a scheme designed to help local people retain their independence – have been taking Trafford’s residents on walks with these friendly, furry animals as the country around them reopens.
The idea of the alpaca strolls is to help people build up their self-confidence now that restrictions have lifted, with participants able to chat amongst one another and find new friends.
Residents got to go on their first walk with the alpacas in the Calderdale countryside last month.
📢 Alpaca news klaxon!
Alpacas become pal-pacas with Trafford residents
Trafford Council’s Supported Living Services have enlisted a group of alpacas to help vulnerable people build up their self-confidence
“Many of the people we help through Supported Living have been particularly vulnerable during the COVID pandemic and so haven’t really been able to go out due to the shielding restrictions,” said Leesa Banks, organiser and Team Leader at Trafford Council.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I thought this would be a great way for them to get used to being outdoors and socialising with people again.”
While Leesa admits that recruiting alpacas is a somewhat strange and unconventional technique, she said it “brought a smile to people’s faces”.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It will be a great talking point for them,” she added.
The alpacas come from a family-run business near Hollingworth Lake that specialises in “alpaca walking” just to the north of the borough of Rochdale, but the native South American animals aren’t just limited to the local countryside.
The alpacas have been recruited to help build self-confidence now that restrictions have lifted / Credit: Trafford Council
“For people with mobility problems, they can even bring the Alpacas to care homes and can be led into residents’ rooms,” Leesa continues.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It’s sure to be beneficial for wellbeing since the isolation of lockdown.”
Cllr Jo Harding – Executive Member for Adult Services at Trafford Council – added: “During the pandemic, our priority has been to protect vulnerable people.
“Even with vaccinations and restrictions easing, we still have to be careful but we also have to focus on people’s mental health needs as well [and] this is a brilliant way of doing that, while enjoying the great countryside.”
Featured Image – Trafford Council
Trending
Home Bargains has announced a special two-day closure of all UK stores
Emily Sergeant
Home Bargains has, once again, announced it’ll be closing all its UK stores on both Boxing Day and New Year’s Day this year.
And it’s to make sure staff get a ‘well deserved break’.
After what has been yet another busy year for the retail industry, many workers have been left feeling like they could do with a little extra time off, which is why Home Bargains is following on with what has become a now-annual tradition by shutting up shop on two bank holidays.
All of our stores will be closing for Boxing Day & New Years Day.
Announcing the move in a post on social media, the discount retailer confirmed: “All of our stores will be closing for Boxing Day and New Years Day. We would like to thank all our colleagues for how hard you have worked this past year, and want you to relax and enjoy the Christmas break with your loved ones.”
Of course, this isn’t the first time the retailer has kept its doors shut on bank holidays.
Many shoppers will recall it has made the same decision to give hardworking staff a break every year since 2019.
Explaining a little more about the decision taken to close all its stores, Home Bargains said: “As a family-run business, we know the importance of being together at Christmas with those we care about most, now more than ever.
“This is our way of saying thank you to our colleagues for their continued hard work and dedication.”
Featured Image – Geograph
Trending
Two Greggs in Manchester will be serving their breakfast menu in the evening next week
Emily Sergeant
Who says breakfast has to end at 11am?
In news that’s set to be music to the ears of breakfast lovers in Manchester, Greggs is giving them exactly what they want.
We all know that brunch is a ‘thing’ by now, so now it’s time for brinner to make a name for itself instead, as Greggs has teamed up with Heinz to bring its much-loved breakfast menu back for tea time, kicking off from 4pm onwards.
The move comes as a new survey has found that the majority of Mancs (69%) admit to enjoying eating breakfast food in the evening, saying it’s ‘convenient and comforting’ – even ranking breakfast as a ‘more important’ meal than tea, as well (38% vs 36%).
Two Greggs in Manchester will be serving their breakfast menu in the evening next week / Credit: Greggs (Supplied)
Greggs says it has ‘lost count’ of the amount of customers that have tried to order breakfast items after the usual cut-off time, especially in Greater Manchester.
But luckily for those breakfast-loving Mancs, they can finally get their favourite breakfast and sauce pairing long after the morning rush is over next… but only at two Greggs branches, and only for a very limited time.
On Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 October, the Heinz x Greggs Brinner collab will be available at Greggs St Mary’s Gate and Greggs Oxford Road, from 4-7pm only.
“We’ve lost count of the number of customers who have tried their luck ordering breakfast after 11am, so when Heinz came to us with the idea of making Brinner a reality, it felt like the perfect excuse to give the people what they want,” explained Zoe Harris, who is the Customer Director at Greggs.
“And let’s be honest, a Greggs Bacon Roll just wouldn’t be the same without a squeeze of Heinz Tomato Ketchup.”
Emily Sergeant -
27th July 2021 
