'It's about giving back to our local community': Scout leaders help out at Northampton coronavirus vaccination clinic

Scout leaders have been helping with the coronavirus vaccination roll-out by volunteering as marshals at a mass clinic in Northampton.

Adults from the 1st Hardingstone Scout Group have been braving the weather at Grange Park Surgery for the inoculation hubs three times a week since January 4.

Helen Coulson, who is both a receptionist at the surgery and a leader with the Scout group, organised the volunteers and said it has worked well so far.

"It's about giving back to our local community which is something as Scouts we like doing," she said.

The Parks Medical Practice, which comprises Blisworth, Roade, Hanslope and Grange Park GP surgeries, is working with Wootton Medical Centre and Denton Village Surgery for the vaccine hub.

Volunteers are needed to tell patients where to go and ensure everything runs smoothly so when Chief Scout Bear Grylls appealed for Scouts to support the effort, Helen turned to her own group.

"Not many people wanted to volunteer to stand outside in the rain but us mad Scouts, we don't mind that, we're hardy and used to it," she said.

Group leader Kevin Dillow spent his 50th birthday at the surgery as a marshal while many others have put up with the cold, wet weather to ensure the vaccinations can go ahead.

No children have been involved in the volunteering so far but Helen said they hope to be able to help out at some point when it is safe to do so.

Around 2,300 people had received their first doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab at the Grange Park clinic at the end of last week, including all the surgeries' patients aged over 80.