The Pakistan Welfare Association team brought smiles and laughter to the community at the Eid Fair on 8th May in Chalvey. The event saw over 500 people attending during the day, 25 stalls selling amongst other things, clothes and delicious cakes and the main draw for families — a Dali clown performance with free balloons for the kids!

Cllr Shaida Akbar said, “It was a wonderfully organised, great family event. The community really appreciated the team’s efforts.”

“We were delighted that the #OneSlough Community Wellbeing Champions (CWC) could join us at the event to raise awareness of the importance of having the COVID-19 vaccines.”

The CWC team engaged with residents, here are a couple of positive stories from their work there:

One woman, Sajida, mentioned that she had received her second COVID-19 dose about a year ago, but was scared to have her booster as someone from abroad had influenced her not to take it. One of the CWC team listened to her concerns, answered her questions and gave her more information. She came away satisfied and said she would now be happy to get the booster.

Another woman, Amina, approached one of the CWC team asking what they were doing there. After explaining, they found out that her 16-year-old daughter was not vaccinated at all and she was reluctant due to all the negative rumours, like infertility. It was pointed out that many of the Community Wellbeing Champions are young and well-educated females studying to become doctors who are fully vaccinated and now want to help people to hear about the benefits. She didn’t have any other questions or worries and was happy to take her daughter to Salt Hill Park for her very first COVID-19 vaccination.