Covid-19 five years on

Today marks five years since Spelthorne moved to an emergency footing because of the Coronavirus pandemic. [1]

The Council saw swathes of our community come together to support their families, friends and neighbours. In 2021, the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, presented a specially commissioned embroidery, which is displayed in the Council Chamber, to recognise the contribution of volunteers during the Covid Pandemic which was accepted on behalf of all the volunteers by Voluntary Support North Surrey.

During the pandemic the Council's response to supporting the community was hailed as 'exemplar' in 2021 by the Local Government Association, featuring as a case study for best practice. The following year, during an external Corporate Peer Challenge, the team concluded that Spelthorne's "Covid response was brilliant and a focus on supporting vulnerable people in their community is evident."

During the period of March 2020 - 2021 the Council supported the community by:

·       establishing community hub Support4Spelthorne

·       making over 17,144 welfare calls, visits, and checks to vulnerable residents

·       supporting school children with nutritious meals

·       supporting our local food banks and helping them distribute over 559,309 meals to families

·       making over 28,549 phone calls to residents through our community helpline

·       placing 26 rough sleepers into settled accommodation

·       recruiting Covid champions to support and deliver key messages

·       providing £16million to businesses through grants

·       making over 2,684 Covid-19 business compliance checks

·       delivering over 39,184 meals on wheels

Cllr Joanne Sexton, Leader of Spelthorne Borough Council, said, "It is right that, as a Borough, we take the time to remember the Covid-19 pandemic, to reflect on what happened, remember those whose lives were impacted in so many ways and honour those who tragically lost their lives. I remain proud of what this authority did to support residents and businesses."

The Mayor of Spelthorne, Cllr Med Buck, said, "We shall never forget those days, for a while we lost our connection to the outside world. It was a bittersweet time of grief and a period that demonstrated the care and compassion we showed each other. It is important that we remember those who died and be thankful of those who protected our communities."

[1] At least 232,000 people in the UK died during the pandemic, with Covid-19 listed as one of the causes on their death certificates.