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Â鶹ÊÓƵ is working with the business community and voluntary sector to create a network of Covid Community Champions.

The champions work with influential groups and local faith leaders to tackle misinformation and help people access timely information to keep themselves and others as safe as possible.

Leader of Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Councillor Tracey Dixon, said: "The Covid Community Champion's role in keeping communities as safe as possible and well informed during these difficult times is vital.

"They help us to share accurate and useful information around Covid-19, ensuring that our communities remain Covid aware, and continue to follow government guidance as we ease out of lockdown and national restrictions.

"We are extremely grateful to all those who have come forward to join this network of champions to help keep our communities in the know, and ultimately helping stop the spread of infection."

One of the Covid Community Champions signed up to the initiative is South Shields Football Club, who support the country-wide vaccination programme and will play an important role in the fight against Covid-19, sharing accurate and informative Covid material with communities across South Tyneside.

Steve Camm, Foundation Manager at South Shields Football club, said: "We are extremely proud to be a Covid Champion. We are a Community Club and South Tyneside is a great community with so many examples of people supporting each other throughout the Covid pandemic.

"The vaccine is key to fighting Covid-19 and it's important as many people as possible take up the offer - the vaccine is free through our brilliant NHS.

"Each stage of the roadmap - March, April, May and June - will see more activities open up in a Covid-secure way. And as they do, it's important that we all follow the government guidelines.

"Let's keep going because the lower levels of the virus, the more we can be out doing the things we love."

Just like others across the country, South Shields Football Club are ready for the roadmap to recovery. For them, it begins on the 29 March with the return of 500 young people to the Foundation's grassroots football programme, followed closely by their schools and community football programmes. 

Steve added: "The Foundation's purpose is to support the mental health and wellbeing of our community through our activity programmes for people of all ages, whether that's physical activity, learning, social interaction, volunteering or things like this; helping people to take notice of what's going on around them."

To find out more about becoming a Covid Community Champion, visit www.southtyneside.gov.uk/covidchampions or send an email to covidchamps@southtyneside.gov.uk