A man from Bristol has been named as ‘the most kind’ out of tens of thousands of people living in supported housing in the south west.
Paul Channing only started living at the Springfields Extra Care scheme in Filton just over a year ago, but has already become the go-to man for helping anyone else there in need. The 76-year-old was given six months to live three years ago, so has decided to dedicate his life to helping other people, in part to distract him from his own health problems, which have seen him regularly in hospital.
Mr Channing arranges lots of social events at the supported housing scheme, runs errands, gives neighbours a lift to the hospital, arranges bingo sessions, coffee mornings, music evenings and even line-dancing evenings. He also helped set up a residents social committee, of which he is now chair, helps fundraise for everyone to do more social activities, and is basically there to help anyone who asks for anything - from taking people to get their Covid jabs or GP appointments, getting their shopping to doing tip runs for other residents.
Read more: Staff at four Bristol care homes vote on strike action
The Springfields extra care residential unit is run by LiveWest, which provides more than 38,000 homes to more than 80,000 people throughout the West Country, from Gloucestershire to the Isles of Scilly. They set up a competition to celebrate ‘kindness’, and out of all the 80,000 residents, and all the nominations, Mr Channing has been named the winner.
He didn’t even know about the competition until he was told he’d won. “I didn’t even know about the competition, but I think it’s great LiveWest has run it because hopefully, it lifts people’s spirits up so it’s very good,” he said.
“We’ve all had a rough year, so you’ve got to do something for them. It’s getting residents out of their flats and into the community rooms. I write everything in my diary because I’ve got to take people to hospital appointments as one lady has got to go regularly so I take her in my car as a taxi is expensive for them. So, I do it because I want to help out,” he said.
“That’s how I was brought up - if somebody is in the gutter, you help them out of it. It makes me feel a lot better because I have a few illnesses, so it saves me thinking about it and they all really appreciate it.
“I don’t want their money or anything just as long as they say thank you that’s the main thing.” Paul struggles with his own health issues and three years ago he was given just six months to live. So he tries to grab every opportunity and give them to others.
Paul said: “Sometimes I have to go into hospital and get sorted out, but it isn’t about me. But I like to be very independent and treat myself. I get a lot of pleasure out of seeing them smiling and laughing as well as joking around with a crowd,” he added.
The local manager from LiveWest, Dee Griffiths, nominated Mr Channing without telling him. She said she did so because of his efforts to bring a smile to others despite his own health battles.
“Paul helps other residents by taking them to GP appointments, for their COVID and flu jabs, taking rubbish to the tip for other people, getting shopping for them and he generally has a ‘can do’ attitude towards other people,” she said. “He really supports his fellow neighbours in this community, even dismissing his own problems making them second to other people’s struggles and difficulties.
“Paul is loved by pretty much everyone and really has made a huge difference by his kindness to so many people at Springfields,” she added.
Mr Channing admitted Dee and other residents tell him to slow down a bit. “Dee’s been there for me and she’s always there for me to talk to her and help sort myself out. I talk to her about what we can do, and we can go from there. She tells me I’m doing too much but you’ve got to do it, haven’t you?” he said.
“So we’ve our committee going now for residents, we meet once a month and we have a chat and then we put it to the resident, what they want, they make certain decisions,” he added. “And then we try and comply with what the wishes are. We try and fundraise so residents can do what they want. The residents tell me to slow up and rest. But they come and knock on my door and say they have a problem, so I try and help them out,” he said.
Want our best stories with fewer ads and alerts when the biggest news stories drop? Download our app on iPhone or Android
