“Covid didn’t bring out the best in Warwickshire, it shone a light on what was already there” - says council chief exec

March marked the one-year anniversary of the start of the first national lockdown and many events and experiences - large and small - shaped the year for many
The chief executive of Warwickshire County Council has praised the community for its actions during the last yearThe chief executive of Warwickshire County Council has praised the community for its actions during the last year
The chief executive of Warwickshire County Council has praised the community for its actions during the last year

The chief executive of Warwickshire County Council has praised the community for its actions during the last year.

March marked the one-year anniversary of the start of the first national lockdown and many events and experiences - large and small - shaped the year for many.

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From the small acts of kindness, such as sending supportive texts to friends and colleagues; to the heroic efforts of hundreds of people who gave their time voluntarily to support others, the people of Warwickshire have more than stepped up to the mark.

Warwickshire County Council (WCC) too says it has worked tirelessly to forge new partnerships, help fight the pandemic and keep residents safe.

In conjunction with partners, the council delivered 10.7 million pieces of PPE to key workers and helped to ensure more than 30,000 clinically extremely vulnerable residents stayed safer.

It also worked ​side by side with more than 800 volunteers carrying out a wide range of tasks - from supporting test centres, to delivering food parcels and prescriptions to those shielding, and carrying out befriending calls for clinically extremely vulnerable individuals.

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The council says it has also ensured that 359 patients have been taken safely from hospital to home, more than 3,000 prescriptions have been delivered to vulnerable residents, and more than 12,000 parcels of food and household essentials have been distributed to isolated residents.

It has also supported communities by providing more than 4,500 laptops to help vulnerable children learn, processing and issuing 60,000 food and fuel vouchers and making around 105,000 contacts with vulnerable people over the phone, online and face to face, where needed.

Monica Fogarty, Warwickshire County Council’s chief executive, said: “We have been committed to supporting Warwickshire communities throughout the pandemic, but as a council we could not do that alone.

"Since the start of the pandemic the public response has been ​absolutely overwhelming.

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"We have seen communities coming together to support the most vulnerable, check in on neighbours and support those in need.

“If this year has shown us anything, it’s that we are stronger together.

"Covid didn’t bring out the best in our community, it shone a light on what was already there. Every act of kindness has made a real difference.

"Our greatest achievement this year is how far we have come together and as we learn to live with Covid, our hope for Warwickshire is that the community spirit will remain strong.

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“However, our work doesn’t stop here, we will continue to support the most vulnerable, families in need and Warwickshire businesses as we move forward on the roadmap out of lockdown.

"Thank you to everyone in Warwickshire for every act of kindness along the way. Together we have made a huge difference.”

To find out more about volunteering in the community go to: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/information-coronavirus/coronavirus-volunteeringFor more information and support for vulnerable residents or for those self-isolating, go to: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/coronavirusvulnerable