Care home workers' pandemic sacrifices honoured in BBC's new TV show

Anchor House Care Home has been honoured for their pandemic efforts with a hand-crafted piece of furniture made by volunteers in a new BBC TV show.

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TV presenter Jay Blades hosts TV show ‘Jay’s Yorkshire Workshop’ which sees hand-crafted furniture presented to deserving members of the community and the show’s first episode is honouring residents and staff at Doncaster’s Anchor House Care Home.

Sue Riley nominated the Doncaster care home where her mother-in-law lives, after staff moved into the care home for two months during the pandemic and slept on camp beds away from their families to keep residents safe from Covid-19.

Nine staff members moved in to Anchor House in Doncaster full-time in March 2020 to reduce the risk of infecting its 21 care home residents. Staff went into lockdown on March 24 2020 and did not leave the building or allow anyone else inside it.

They collected food deliveries off the front step and many staff members made the hard decision not to see their children or partners.

Sue, whose mother-in-law lives at the care home, said staff had "undoubtedly saved lives" and praised staff for their "amazing dedication and commitment".

She said: "One young carer in particular said to us a while back she hadn't seen her son for 39 days, which just hit home really with us."

Based in a community workshop in Bradford, the six-part TV series sees six volunteer apprentices take on challenges as they are mentored by three expert furniture makers.

Expert woodworker Kieran leads his volunteer apprentices Les and Ant in making an arbour for the home.

Jay Blades said: “Imagine having confidence to achieve anything with regards to making. That’s what the show’s about, as well as celebrating the uncelebrated. We want to give back and say thank you.”

Jay’s Yorkshire Workshop is broadcast on Wednesday 18 August at 9pm on BBC2.

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