As part of our ‘Let’s Explore’ ward focus, Picton councillor Nathalie Nicholas writes for Liverpool Express about juggling her family, community and work commitments...
Balancing the role as a local councillor, research nurse and a single mum is no walk in the park but I am sure I am not alone.
Being involved in the community, nursing and a mum are priceless vocations I would not trade for anything in the world.
Sometimes it can be heavy, but each comes with highs and lows that I can reflect on daily.
Although I never nursed patients in the war like Mary Seacole or Florence Nightingale, working in the frontline during this COVID pandemic makes it feel like a war. A war against this virus that has been raging through many countries and our great city.
If there is one good thing we can take away from this COVID pandemic, it is the joined-up working we have adopted. In the first wave of COVID I joined a team supporting one of the local hospitals in the city collecting samples for the World Health Organisation (WHO) to help understand more about the virus. This then led to our team supporting the Oxford Vaccine Trial.
At a community level, together with my ward colleagues Cllrs Abdul Qadir and Calvin Smeda and community and faith groups, we have been calling on and checking in with vulnerable residents and providing food support. At a city level we have moved to working virtually with other ward colleagues, council officers, public health, primary care colleagues at Liverpool CCG and the Cabinet. It has been a united effort from everyone, especially with the lateral flow Covid testing pilot.
I recognise that I am not alone and there are many other single parents who have more than one role, managing their home and combining it with a role in the community and a demanding job. I believe all our experiences and efforts help enrich the contributions we make to society and the city.
