The UoB students working on the frontline throughout the Coronavirus pandemic

- By James Doyle

While many of us have spent the majority of the last year stuck inside, some students at the University of Bedfordshire have been helping the local community by working hard on the frontline during the pandemic in key worker roles.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has truly highlighted how much we all depend on essential workers as the backbone of our society. Despite the increased risk of working at the moment, none of these essential workers have been deterred from performing their jobs. These students persevered against dangers to their health in order to provide some sense of normality for those in their care.

One of these students, Joyce Mrehwa, has been balancing her support worker role with her studies. She is currently working at a residential care home while also being in the second year of a Social Sciences degree. Explaining the duties that come with her role, she said:

“On the 28th of March 2020, I was assigned to a residential home which houses 34 residents and is ten minutes away from my home.

“My duties are to lead the shift as a team leader; this involved giving medicine and attending to any issues that rise up, emotionally and physically.

“My responsibilities also included monitoring any rise or change in residents’ conditions/illnesses, reporting repairs that need to be carried out and dealing with any queries over the phone from families or nurses.

“On top of all the above, I had to attend to the complaints and compliments from staff and relatives in our dealings with the residents.”

When asked about the difficulties she had faced over the last year, Joyce went into detail about the problems she encountered.

She explained: “Prior to this role, I was doing almost the same job in a home that had less than ten residents at maximum capability.

“It was overwhelming coming from giving less than ten people their medicine to 34 residents, as well as all of the above responsibilities.

“The first time I did my medicine round, I took 4 hours, and the next round of the same day was in the next hour.

“There was some traumatic and rushed days; the pandemic was definitely not helpful for my colleagues or me.

“It brought so much fear and anxiety, and it did affect me negatively for a while, but once I made up my mind to ignore the outside world, I concentrated with my spiritual life - I turned to my faith in God to help me remove any and all fear/anxiety from the picture.”

Overall, Joyce thinks that the role has been a positive force for change in her life.

She explained her final thoughts as she said: “Although I am down financially slightly, the joy and peace in my heart I have obtained overrides it all.

“I couldn’t have asked for a more rewarding role than the one I am in.

“I am enjoying working, and its flexibility also gives me the chance to also do my university course.

“As much as the pandemic has brought up negative reports/news, I found it very useful in growing my faith because now I understand that being spiritually-minded can provide me with peace and joy.”

Due to the multiple national lockdowns over the last year, many residents in care homes have essentially been cut off from the outside world and their families.

The amazing efforts of dedicated support staff have meant that this difficult time has been a little less lonely for them all.

Another student performing critical tasks for those vulnerable in care is Varaidzo Hahn.

She is a second-year student studying Health and Social Care while also working in an elderly care home.

Her main motivation behind this decision was her burning desire to help others.

She said: “I took up this role to help those who could not help themselves.

“I came to realise that even family members did not even know how to help their elderly relatives.

“People were engrossed in such fear, confusion and trauma.

“Some of the elderly people I care for were not understanding in the need for face masks, and some even thought we were wearing face masks because they were starting to smell.

“Some family members would also visit without PPE [Personal Protective Equipment], thereby putting their lives and those of their loved ones in danger.

“However, I am thankful for the Government and the NHS for raising awareness and promoting the use of PPE.”

Varaidzo also spoke about some of the hardships she was confronted with while working during such a difficult time for the whole country.

She explained: “Working during such an unprecedented time was like sentencing myself to death.

“Some relatives, friends and colleagues were discouraging me from going to work.

“They feared for my life, which I think anyone would do.

“I found everything challenging, especially during the 1st wave; the statistics of casualties constantly rising was worrying, and I even lost a couple of people I personally knew.

“It was also disheartening to see family members leaving flowers and cards at the door to celebrate birthdays for their elderly relatives.

“It definitely brought some uncertainty, I was too scared to physically interact with people I love, fearing that I might end up infecting them with COVID-19 - having to be tested every week was almost traumatising.”

Reflecting on her experiences working throughout the entire pandemic, Varaidzo also offered her take on the future.

She said: “The pandemic as a whole changed life in general - things will never be the same.

“When we returned to campus in September 2020, I saw a fellow student and with excitement and joy I rushed to hug him, and all he could do was to stretch out a fist towards me.

“I was embarrassed at first, but I realised that was the new norm.

“We no longer express ourselves the way we want to, especially to people we love and care for.

“It is time we try to get past it all and attempt to move on so we can live our lives again.”

One more student who has been aiding those in need during this unprecedented time is Hasnain Qadri, who is in the final year of his Applied Social Sciences degree.

While not directly working in a care home himself, Hasnain provided a more personal approach to assisting others.

He detailed the work he has undertaken over the course of the last year: “During the pandemic, when I have time to spare, I am a key worker in Hertfordshire and support adults with disabilities.

“I’ve been working there for quite some time now.

“As a support worker, it’s my duty to support and care for an individual in their daily life.

“I have to give them medication, assist with housework, take calls for them, book check-ups/appointments, and more.

“I am also training in an advisory role at the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), which I found on the University’s career website - I went through the interview stage and was offered the opportunity to work there, which I am ever so grateful for.

“I applied to the role during my final year at university because I wanted to be able to help people in a different way, learn new skills and also to help me with better career aspects later on once I graduate.”

Hasnain admits that working during such a difficult time has undoubtedly come as a shock, but he rose to the challenge.

He explains: “At first, working during a pandemic in this unprecedented time, I didn’t take it too seriously - we were still learning about the virus, so it was all so new to me.

“Personally, I adapted quite well, and not much had changed for me work-wise.

“But then during the Christmas break, I contracted COVID-19 from my workplace, and it took me time to fully recover and had set me back with CAB and assignments for university.

“Also, being dyslexic made it really difficult, I’m still playing catch-up today because of my downtime with COVID-19.

“The main problem I have now is that I have put a lot of stress on myself, with the pressures of university, being a support worker and training at CAB – it’s a lot to take on in your final year.

“I am finding it difficult with managing my time with the workload.”

However, Hasnain was also pleased with all that he has achieved and viewed the whole experience as a chance for positive self-growth.

He said: “Honestly, I am looking at the pandemic as a reset, time to reflect on things.

“Yes, it has been difficult at times, really difficult, but that’s the real world - you get ups and downs.

“I see it as character building.”

It is only because of the critical work carried out by keyworkers like Joyce, Hasnain and Varaidzo that countless vulnerable people were still able to receive life-saving assistance during such a demanding time, where they would have perhaps otherwise been forgotten about.

Students like this are an inspiration to us all for their selflessness and tireless sacrifice to help others during this time and they are undoubtedly a credit to the University of Bedfordshire.

The full version of this story can be read in the March 2021 edition of the magazine and online.