‘Sarah has chased our blues away’

Sarah Kemp started a bingo session on her Facebook page to keep friends and family happy during lockdown – and before she knew it, her bingo games became a regular Wednesday evening of entertainment that everyone looked forward to.

“There were lovely interactions between people and friendships were formed,” says Sarah, 37, from Aintree. “What’s been so nice was people sharing and supporting each other.”

A full-time social worker who’s worked as a comedy vocalist in clubs and other venues since she was 16, Sarah developed the bingo night into a three-hour show, adding songs and comedy to the search for a full house!

“I created characters, made costumes and built sets. I put a lot of effort into it, I think because I was struggling a bit and felt a massive responsibility to help other people through lockdown,” she says.

“If you show kindness, you get it back – and I did, tenfold.

“It helped the weeks fly by and I got heartfelt messages of thanks from people locally, and as far away as Canada, who said how much they looked forward to it. That sense of community is really important to me and I was proud I was able to do it.”

Jenny O’Connor, who nominated her, adds: “Sarah made a hard time more bearable for us. She did it without payment or expectation, and regardless of whether she had one viewer or 100, she went ahead. People began to look forward to it as a night where they could engage with others and have a really good laugh.

“So many people in this community were shut away from each other but, thanks to Sarah, loneliness and sadness were chased away. The community can’t thank her enough for her selflessness. She is truly one of a kind!”