How the Virtual Ticket Bank is reducing isolation plus face-masks for the NHS with Blatchford

In today’s show: a social enterprise which has totally overhauled its service, to improve people’s mental wellbeing by allowing them access to online events and resources.

Plus an interview with Sheffield prosthetics manufacturer, Blatchford, which has converted its facilities to make face masks to help protect frontline NHS staff.

Serial social entrepreneur Steve Rimmer has been a regular guest on the programme, talking about the Abbeydale Picture House and initiatives such as Ticket Bank and Tickets for Good.

A social enterprise and certified B-Corporation, Tickets for Good has been working with hundreds of charities and an extensive range of music and theatre venue partners through its ticket bank service to ‘transform empty seats into life-changing experiences.’

Now Steve and his colleagues at Tickets for Good have created a new ‘Virtual Ticket Bank’ service. Now more than ever, marginalised people in society are at real risk of isolation and depression. The Virtual Ticket Bank will help improve people’s mental wellbeing by allowing them access to online events and resources.

Plus an interview with Blatchford, a Sheffield manufacturer of orthotic and prosthetic devices. The firm has converted its facilities to make face masks to help protect frontline NHS staff. The company are using their highly skilled technicians, supply chain and facilities to assist the Covid-19 response. Sheffield Live! reporter Baillor Jalloh spoke with Blatchford operations manager, Nigel Birkett.

Here’s the podcast. Click the large arrow to play, or hover over the media player and click on the icon on the bottom right corner to download it.

You can also access it in Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, numerous other podcast apps or Spotify.

 

Timings:

  • 0 – 1:50 introduction.
  • 1:50 Steve Rimmer, Tickets for Good.
  • 19:19 Details of new grants through the Coronavirus Mental Health Response Fund (CMHRF).
  • 22:22 Nigel Birkett of Blatchford, interviewed by Baillor Jalloh.
  • 28:51 Holly Jenkins of Jiraffe in a replay of her interview last week.
  • 56:35 Wrapping up.

What Next: