Lock Down Hero

Celebrating the strength at the heart of a community, Lock Down Hero is a photographic project created by Marksteen Adamson to celebrate the generosity of spirit and the enterprising initiatives shown by ordinary people in local communities in and around Cheltenham. From hairdressing, baking and sewing, to home-schooling, counselling and delivering… there is an army of unsung heroes. Volunteers helping us get through the difficulties presented by lockdown, with their new-found roles, responsibilities and positivity (often funding these pursuits and paying for necessary materials out of their own pockets). Introducing the ‘Lock Down Heroes’...

“The ongoing COVID pandemic and associated social restrictions have made 2020 a testing time for many of us. It has thrown up new challenges and has shown how resilience and positivity can surface when people are confronted with a crisis.”

Marksteen Adamson

Steve, Virtual Guru

“For over a year now, I’ve been running free morning meditation sessions – three times a week at The Sober Parrot bar in Cheltenham. Due to the current situation, I decided to move the sessions online and onto WhatsApp – posting a 20-minute meditation every day since lockdown began. Currently, there have been 46 consecutive days of meditation which are available on the website: meditationcheltenham.com. Many more people have now been able to access the teachings including four of my own colleagues!

The aim of the group is to introduce meditation to as many people as possible – revealing important psychological truths about the nature of reality, as well as improving mental health and reducing the amount of suffering in people’s lives. ”

Laura, Teacher

“Home-schooling Margot and Hope (who are two school years apart) is a challenge, not because we lack resources from school or the abundance available online, but because they’re always demanding my attention at the same time!

It’s not all about schoolwork. The ‘education’ in my house has included crystal cleansing, daily fashion shows, listening to birdsong, and conversations about Boris Johnson’s current state of health.

Some days are better than others. Every emotion is heightened and intense - the rage, the hunger, the love, the silliness, the interest in everything, the need to understand what’s happening now and will happen in the future.

One thing I know for sure is that how I felt yesterday is different from how I’ll feel today and tomorrow - I’ll have to wait and see!”

Alice, Event Manager

“My sister Emily was talking to me about her prom and she was really upset about it because she wasn’t going to have one. Then the idea clicked to do this surprise Prom in our back garden. I said, “Let’s do a photoshoot for Prom!” and she was like, “What?” I said “Pick a dress online” then gave her a few options and we looked together. Then I was like, “Let’s make it a proper prom”, so I got her a crown and a prom sash and then I started looking on eBay for different decorations, like balloons.

Originally, she wanted to do a low-key prom in her bedroom and I just said “OK” and went along with it, but we ended up having a big party in our back garden with the five of us and it was incredible! There were a few emotional breakdowns, mostly because some of the party bits and outfit accessories I’d ordered online hadn’t arrived, but…that’s life!

Emily really loved it and I’m happy we made it happen for her.”

Martin, Street Entertainer

This is Martin Bick AKA ‘Runasaurus’. He’s been running around Cheltenham dressed as a dinosaur every day since the lockdown began. When asked why he’s doing it, he says: “I’m a runner. I like to get out and I just want to make people happy and see them smile. The response has been so positive.”

What a legend. We love people who look on the sunny side of life even when times are hard. You can follow Martin on his Facebook group page ‘Runasaurus’ to see where he’s been running each day.

Victoria, PPE Tailor

“I’m a conceptual designer for SLG Brands by day and a costume designer in my spare time. I create all sorts of things, which I sell on Etsy and love inspiring people by running workshops to teach craft skills to all ages.

When the pandemic broke out, I knew I wanted to help in some way; I started by researching ‘how to sew scrubs for the NHS’ and found a group on Facebook called ‘For The Love Of Scrubs’ which now has over 50,000 fellow crafters, who are also eager to help. I found some advice, downloaded the patterns, and got to work. I raised my own donations to fund me being able to sew as many scrubs as possible, and now have a waiting list for my personalised scrubs, hats, and bags.”

Matt, Transport Provider

Having been blown away by the courage of front-line workers during lockdown, co-founder of the Gloucestershire Bike Project, Matt came up with the idea to donate all their refurbished bikes to any local NHS staff or key-workers who were struggling to get to work, or for whom a bike would provide much-needed leisure time. To date, the project has donated over 100 bikes and accessories, and is in the process of setting up a pool bike scheme for nurses living at a nursing home in Gloucester.

Steve, Virtual Guru

“For over a year now, I’ve been running free morning meditation sessions – three times a week at The Sober Parrot bar in Cheltenham. Due to the current situation, I decided to move the sessions online and onto WhatsApp – posting a 20-minute meditation every day since lockdown began. Currently, there have been 46 consecutive days of meditation which are available on the website: meditationcheltenham.com. Many more people have now been able to access the teachings including four of my own colleagues.

The aim of the group is to introduce meditation to as many people as possible – revealing important psychological truths about the nature of reality, as well as improving mental health and reducing the amount of suffering in people’s lives. ”

Laura, Teacher

“Home-schooling Margot and Hope is a challenge, not because we lack resources from school or the abundance available online, but because they’re always demanding my attention at the same time!

It’s not all about schoolwork. The ‘education’ in my house has included crystal cleansing, daily fashion shows, listening to birdsong, and conversations about Boris Johnson’s current state of health.

Some days are better than others. Every emotion is heightened and intense - the rage, the hunger, the love, the silliness, the interest in everything, the need to understand what’s happening now and will happen in the future.

One thing I know for sure is that how I felt yesterday is different from how I’ll feel today and tomorrow - I’ll have to wait and see!”

Alice, Event Manager

“My sister Emily was talking to me about her prom and she was really upset about it because she wasn’t going to have one. Then the idea clicked to do this surprise Prom in our back garden. I said, “Let’s do a photoshoot for Prom!” and she was like, “What?” I said “Pick a dress online” then gave her a few options and we looked together. Then I was like, “Let’s make it a proper prom”, so I got her a crown and a prom sash and then I started looking on eBay for different decorations, like balloons.

Originally, she wanted to do a low-key prom in her bedroom and I just said “OK” and went along with it, but we ended up having a big party in our back garden with the five of us and it was incredible!

Emily really loved it and I’m happy we made it happen for her.”

Martin, Street Entertainer

This is Martin Bick AKA ‘Runasaurus’. He’s been running around Cheltenham dressed as a dinosaur every day since the lockdown began. When asked why he’s doing it, he says: “I’m a runner. I like to get out and I just want to make people happy and see them smile. The response has been so positive.”

What a legend. We love people who look on the sunny side of life even when times are hard. You can follow Martin on his Facebook group page ‘Runasaurus’ to see where he’s been running each day.

Victoria, PPE Tailor

“I’m a conceptual designer for SLG Brands by day and a costume designer in my spare time. I create all sorts of things, which I sell on Etsy and love inspiring people by running workshops to teach craft skills to all ages.

When the pandemic broke out, I knew I wanted to help in some way; I started by researching ‘how to sew scrubs for the NHS’ and found a group on Facebook called ‘For The Love Of Scrubs’ which now has over 50,000 fellow crafters, who are also eager to help. I found some advice, downloaded the patterns, and got to work. I raised my own donations to fund me being able to sew as many scrubs as possible, and now have a waiting list for my personalised scrubs, hats, and bags.”

Matt, Transport Provider

Having been blown away by the courage of front-line workers during lockdown, co-founder of the Gloucestershire Bike Project, Matt came up with the idea to donate all their refurbished bikes to any local NHS staff or key-workers who were struggling to get to work, or for whom a bike would provide much-needed leisure time. To date, the project has donated over 100 bikes and accessories, and is in the process of setting up a pool bike scheme for nurses living at a nursing home in Gloucester.

Nominations were invited for people who had gone out of their way to help others by learning a new skill or providing a much needed service. Marksteen took portraits of the successful nominees. These were made into posters with a short summary of their new-found skill and posted, with permission, on social media. The project shows a community full of positive action, a diverse range of people with a generous, can-do, approach to life.

Featured in SoGlos and GraphisBlog

‘Lock Down Hero’ Marksteen interview on BBC Radio Gloucestershire

Richard, Mentor

Back in January, 31-year-old Richard Opio arrived in the UK from Uganda to fulfil missionary work as a Youth Worker at a local Baptist Church, while staying with a local family. Then came Covid-19 and the lockdown…He says he counts himself extremely lucky to be isolated with such a wonderful household because, from the day he arrived, they treated him like a member of the family and introduced him to many different aspects of British culture.

As lockdown has prevented Richard from being able to function in his usual role as Youth Worker, his skills and character have shone through in his newly adopted role as 'Mentor' to the two teenage brothers of the family. Many studies have shown positive changes in teens who have non-parental adult mentors as they provide an additional source of wisdom and perspective to that of their families.

Margaret, Production Co-ordinator

“Following the lockdown, Julia Davies of ‘Create Gloucestershire’ contacted me about an initiative to make Scrubs for the NHS. As a Senior Lecturer on the BA Fashion course at the University of Gloucestershire, I knew we had sewing-machine capacity. With a call-out to a host of former BA Fashion graduates who were willing to help, I was able to put a great team together.

We have collaborated with the shirt-maker Emma Willis, ‘Scrubhub.org’ and ‘Helping Dress Medics’, all of which provided the fabric, which we have made up into several batches of scrubs and delivered to Gloucester Royal Hospital.

It’s been amazing to work alongside former students and furloughed local fashion business colleagues, with the skills to contribute to providing our NHS with much-needed scrubs in these very challenging times.”

Emily, Marathon Runner

“In January, I had the privilege of spending a month in India with a charity called ‘Love the One’. The lockdown in India has had devastating impacts for the millions of people in poverty who live hand-to-mouth; with parents not receiving their daily wages, they’re unable to feed their families.

In response to the crisis, ‘Love the One’ is distributing rice and dahl to thousands of people and although I was no longer there to help, I wanted to contribute in some way. So, I put on my running shoes and joined several others around the country to run a marathon over five days, to raise money for the ‘Love the One' emergency food supply program.

I'm now training for a half-marathon this September to raise further funds for ‘Love the One’…But, in my eyes, the real heroes are the team in India working relentlessly to provide food for those who are so desperately in need”

Katarina, PPE Designer

“One Thursday evening, when I joined the weekly NHS clap with the rest of the street, I was standing at my door experiencing this amazing feeling of community and solidarity; it was so heart-warming.

I knew I wanted to help in some way, so I started looking for local groups who needed people with sewing skills. I managed to find a group that was looking for helpers to make washbags and headbands for NHS staff. Since then, I’ve been contacted by other groups from emergency dental teams to home carers and have now managed to donate over 100 items, including surgical scrub caps and face masks to local hospitals.

This is the least I can do to help in this difficult time; it makes me really happy to be able to use my skills to contribute to the community.”

Tom, Entertainer

Spurred by the feeling he needed to do more than just clapping for the NHS, Tom decided to turn himself into a human jukebox. Now he will virtually serenade anyone willing to make a donation to help ‘NHS Charities Together’.

Each day whilst remotely working a full-time day job, home-schooling his 9-year-old and caring for his 7-month-old, Tom has dedicated his tea-breaks to taking requests from family, friends, and friends of friends. The deal is, as long as you make a donation, he will play anything you like - and we mean anything; then he posts it to Facebook for you to share.

Some highlights have included, ‘Wannabe’ by the Spice Girls and ‘I Just Can’t Hate Enough’ by Sheer Terror, which went viral in the hardcore punk world and was shared so much the band saw it and sent him a message to thank him for his rendition!

Isla-Rose and lily-Mae, Fundraisers

Two-year-old twin sisters Isla-Rose and Lily-Mae, found a fun way to raise money for charity during lockdown; by toddling a mile a day in fancy dress outfits near their Cheltenham home.

Accompanied by their mum Emma, the costumes have included tigers, dinosaurs, cats - even Wonder Woman, and their charitable escapades have garnered national coverage. In an interview earlier this month, Emma told the BBC, “The idea was to dress up in safari costumes but as the time’s gone on, I’ve found more exciting, interesting, cute costumes that we've had lying around, or that friends have passed onto us. The main thing is they make everyone we pass, particularly the elderly, smile."

On Sunday 28th June, after three months and 125 miles, they crossed their makeshift finish line, cheered on by neighbours and friends. To date they have raised over £1,200 for the NHS and Barnardo's.

Richard, Mentor

Back in January, 31-year-old Richard Opio arrived in the UK from Uganda to fulfil missionary work as a Youth Worker at a local Baptist Church, while staying with a local family. Then came Covid-19 and the lockdown… He says he counts himself extremely lucky to be isolated with such a wonderful household because, from the day he arrived, they treated him like a member of the family.

As lockdown has prevented Richard from being able to function in his usual role as Youth Worker, his skills and character have shone through in his newly adopted role as 'Mentor' to the two teenage brothers of the family. Many studies have shown positive changes in teens who have non-parental adult mentors as they provide an additional source of wisdom and perspective to that of their families.

Margaret, production Co-ordinator

“Following the lockdown, Julia Davies of ‘Create Gloucestershire’ contacted me about an initiative to make Scrubs for the NHS. As a Senior Lecturer on the BA Fashion course at the University of Gloucestershire, I knew we had sewing-machine capacity. With a call-out to a host of former BA Fashion graduates who were willing to help, I was able to put a great team together.

We have collaborated with the shirt-maker Emma Willis, ‘Scrubhub.org’ and ‘Helping Dress Medics’, all of which provided the fabric, which we have made up into several batches of scrubs and delivered to Gloucester Royal Hospital.

Emily, Marathon Runner

“In January, I had the privilege of spending a month in India with a charity called ‘Love the One’. The lockdown in India has had devastating impacts for the millions of people in poverty who live hand-to-mouth; with parents not receiving their daily wages, they’re unable to feed their families.

In response to the crisis, ‘Love the One’ is distributing rice and dahl to thousands of people and although I was no longer there to help, I wanted to contribute in some way. So, I put on my running shoes and joined several others around the country to run a marathon over five days, to raise money for the ‘Love the One' emergency food supply program.

Katarina, PPE Designer

“One Thursday evening, when I joined the weekly NHS clap with the rest of the street, I was standing at my door experiencing this amazing feeling of community and solidarity; it was so heart-warming.

I knew I wanted to help in some way, so I started looking for local groups who needed people with sewing skills. I managed to find a group that was looking for helpers to make washbags and headbands for NHS staff. Since then, I’ve been contacted by other groups from emergency dental teams to home carers and have now managed to donate over 100 items, including surgical scrub caps and face masks to local hospitals.

This is the least I can do to help in this difficult time; it makes me really happy to be able to use my skills to contribute to the community.”

Tom, Entertainer

Spurred by the feeling he needed to do more than just clapping for the NHS, Tom decided to turn himself into a human jukebox. Now he will virtually serenade anyone willing to make a donation to help ‘NHS Charities Together’.

Each day whilst remotely working a full-time day job, home-schooling his 9-year-old and caring for his 7-month-old, Tom has dedicated his tea-breaks to taking requests from family, friends, and friends of friends. The deal is, as long as you make a donation, he will play anything you like - and we mean anything; then he posts it to Facebook for you to share.

Some highlights have included, ‘Wannabe’ by the Spice Girls and ‘I Just Can’t Hate Enough’ by Sheer Terror, which went viral in the hardcore punk world and was shared so much the band saw it and sent him a message to thank him for his rendition!

Isla-Rose and Lily-Mae, Fundraisers

Two-year-old twin sisters Isla-Rose and Lily-Mae, found a fun way to raise money for charity during lockdown; by toddling a mile a day in fancy dress outfits near their Cheltenham home.

On Sunday 28th June, after three months and 125 miles, they crossed their makeshift finish line, cheered on by neighbours and friends.

To date they have raised over £1,200 for the NHS and Barnardo's.

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