Park Hill resident talks about her life in lockdown

One resident has spoken out about how she is coping through lockdown and how neighbours are looking out for each other during the current pandemic.

Dana Abdulkarim has lived at Park Hill for nearly four years in an Urban Splash apartment.

She said she loves the location as she can be in the Peak District in half an hour, can walk to city areas of interest such as Kelham Island and has easy access to the shops and entertainment.

She said: “It’s also pretty quiet, as we’re high up.”

Ms Abdulkarim is a teacher and head of PE and PSHE at Dinnington High School.

She is working hard to support her students and helping them navigate their way through work for their GCSEs and A Levels.

During lockdown she has been teaching from home, as well as going in to teach children of key workers.

Working from home she is aware of how the community around her has been coping.

She said: “The lockdown has opened up lines of communication I didn’t expect.

"There is a Covid phone group that has been set up to support anyone who needs help with shopping etc, plus there is group ordering of food from local businesses.

“The Park Hill community group allowed for people isolating to be supported with food, refuse disposal and wellbeing checks.

“A leaflet was also produced that signposts residents to a number they can call or message, requesting support. As the lockdown took full hold it allowed for those vulnerable or non-keyworker residents to seek support and guidance.

“There has also been a huge increase in exercise going on in the landscaped area – all doing it safely.

“I’ve seen boxing, people doing weights, mothers out with children on their balance bikes and a couple even have a badminton net they bring down, set up outside and play. I’ve been running and cycling through lockdown.

Other residents have been spending their time having Zoom get togethers for the Park Hill bookclub, learning Spanish and learning to play instruments.

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