Committed CarelineUK employee walks to work

Despite the worst snow in Hampshire for 30 years, all of the committed team at CarelineUK, a leading nationwide emergency response service based in New Milton, made it into work in the icy Arctic conditions.

Mike Hobson, aged 36, a shift supervisor at CarelineUK for seven years, went further than most to ensure he was there. While he usually has a 10 minute car journey from his home in Ashley, Hants, with sheet ice covering the roads - and unable to even get into his car, there were no other options but to walk to work.

So on Wednesday 6th January he set out on an hour long walk in temperatures of minus six degrees. "I was well wrapped up," says Mike, "but even in three layers of clothing it was very, very cold. I felt like an intrepid explorer as I set off on the journey which took me about an hour." With the weather no better on Thursday 7th January, Mike strapped on his walking boots again. "On Thursday I got up before 04:00 and left at 05:00, so was in plenty of time for the start of my shift at 06:00. Luckily, while it was very dark, the roads were well lit so I was always visible. "CarelineUK is an essential service for thousands of elderly people, so there was absolutely no question that I wasn't going to get into work. If I hadn't made it in, the night shift staff would have stayed on to answer the calls - but after working for so many hours I think they deserved a break! And all of my team managed to make it in which is really something." Mike has worked at CarelineUK for seven years.

Mike concludes: "I love my job and get a lot of satisfaction out of helping people. Come rain or snow hundreds of people need our help - even more so in the bad weather when people are more likely to fall over or have problems in their homes. At the end of the day, however minor the problem may seem we are there to help and offer reassurance. The forecast does look like we might be in for more snow. If that happens then I'll just dig out my walking boots and walk in again!" Gill Bennett, Head of Operations at CarelineUK, added: "We are a vital service to the customers we support and have well documented and practiced procedures to deal with events such as adverse weather, such as reinforcing the shift quotas. It's a testament to Mike and all CarelineUK staff who are dedicated to providing a quality service to our customers, that every member of staff turned made it in to work".