Iconic Banksy Game Changer artwork reward for Easter Ross local heroes who maintained contact with vulnerable adults attending Isobel Rhind Centre in Invergordon during Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown
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ROSS-SHIRE staff who taught themselves new skills in lockdown to keep up the spirits of vulnerable adults during the coronavirus pandemic have been hailed NHS heroes and recognised with an iconic piece of artwork.
Last month, charity Mikeysline launched a search for local NHS heroes after being gifted a print of the Banksy drawing, Game Changer, which for many sums up the spirit of the times.
The artwork shows a boy playing with a nurse superhero after discarding traditional Batman and Spider-Man models.
From a strong field of contenders, Billy and Jayne McMaster, day care officers at the highly respected Isobel Rhind Centre in Invergordon, were selected by a judging panel for the honour.
The husband and wife team taught themselves new technical skills to make up and post digital "postcards" via YouTube to vulnerable adults for whom the centre has been a lifeline.
This has included karaoke singalongs and messages of support from the likes of Ross County manager Stuart Kettlewell and Invergordon-based strongman Luke Stoltman, himself a Mikeysline ambassador.
Donna Smith said: "All had been nominated for very different and worthy reasons so choosing our winner was never going to be easy. In the end, Billy and Jayne came out on top because they had done something completely out of their normal day to day work in order to support their service users during the pandemic, teaching themselves new skills along the way and doing their very best to maintain what is a vital link for the people they support.”
Trustee Sarah Fielding said: "In what has undoubtedly been a difficult year, it's been a very heart-warming experience to read the entries to our NHS Banksy award. So much good work is going on in the Highlands, with a real commitment to supporting people and keeping hold of connections in very human ways.”
Fergus Weir of digital marketing firm Teclan said: "We felt that Billy and Jayne’s innovative and voluntary use of YouTube, going out with their comfort zone, was exemplary of this award’s values, reaching out to and ensuring the service users of The Isobel Rhind Centre remained connected and supported during this year’s very challenging lockdown."
It was a meeting of familiar faces when the dynamic duo picked up the treasured artwork from Luke Stoltman at Mikeysline's base in Inverness.
Billy McMaster said: "It has been a real encouragement receiving messages back from people in response to what we have been doing. . Even now most of the clients who normally attend the centre have not been able to get back and are at home with carers.
"Since early on in the lockdown we started to produce videos. We know that most of our people enjoy YouTube so that seemed like the way to go. We get a lot of views and messages back so that has been encouraging. It gives a way for them to see their friends and keep in touch. For a lot of people, the centre has been where they meet their real circle of friends.
"It was fabulous to be told we had been nominated. Mikeysline do a fantastic job. The mental health impact of lockdown and the pandemic is just as hard to deal with for our people. It would be great to get back to some sort of normality for everyone."
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