IT’S BEEN a year like no other for people across the world and here in Calderdale.
From that sombre message on March 23 2020, when Prime Minister Boris Johnson took to the nation’s airwaves to issue a stark stay at home warning about the threat posed by the pandemic, more than 365 days later people in our towns and our daily lives are still impacted by the grips of Covid as its longlasting impact continues to be felt today.
But from the start of the outbreak - and the eerie empty streets - we pledged on our front page that we would be #ThereWithYou and it is a promise we’ve stood by.
Our reporters have documented high and lows of lockdown, the tragedies, the tiers, dispair of closures and hopes of re-openings.
The big thank you for courageous NHS heroes and key workers, charities, volunteers - our communities and businesses ralling for one another.
For Calderdale this is a story of resilience in the face of adversity and the fighting spirit to battle on.
SCHOOLS: It’s been a tough year for teachers and students as schools were majorly affected by Covid-19 over the past 12 months. From homeschooling to social distancing in the corridors, it’s been very different for pupils for all ages. Despite the disruption, staff and students have done admirably throughout the last 12 months. Also the new Trinity Sixth Form Academy at Northgate House in Halifax opened back in September, welcoming students from across Calderdale.
HEROES: Calderdale folk have rallied to get through the pandemic. The ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown and Covid jabs programme now offers hope.
#CLAPFORCARERS: At the start of the first lockdown last year, the Clap for Carers was a staple of the week at 8pm on a Thursday. Back in April 2020 members of the Calderdale Council Safety and Resilience team, along with the
Calderdale Valleys and Halifax Neighbourhood Policing Team, showed their support for staff at Calderdale Royal Hospital. The campaign saw people across the UK applaud NHS workers, delivery drivers, shop workers and other key workers.
HELPING HAND: A Halifax businessman went above and beyond to show appreciation for staff at Calderdale Royal Hospital at the start of lockdown, by delivering hundreds of hot meals completely free of charge. Gurpit Johal, managing director of Johal Empire, donated over 100 pizzas, 200 portions of chips, 400 cans of fizzy drinks, 100 tubs of salad, feeding around 250 members of NHS staff. The food was prepared by King’s Stone Baked pizzas in Ovenden and delivered by Mr Johal.
QUIET STREETS: Our towns and villages have been very quiet over the past 12 months. With three lockdowns and months of restrictions, businesses in Calderdale have been hit hard by the pandemic. This picture shows an empty Woolshops in Halifax during the second lockdown in November. Businesses will now be looking towards April 12 and May 17, both key dates in the Government’s roadmap allowing the gradual opening of non-essential shops, hospitality and more.
EAT OUT TO HELP OUT: Back in August we were encouraged to support the hospitality industry through the Eat Out to Help Out scheme. The scheme allowed a 50 per cent discount on food or non-alcoholic drinks to eat or drink in, up to a maximum of £10 discount per diner. Calderdale diners chomped their way through more than £1 million worth of meal discount to help out small outlets in the summer scheme. Government figures showed £1,158,000 of discount was claimed with 182,000 meals being eaten in the Halifax and Calder Valley Parliamentary constituencies.
SPREADING JOY: Staff at Royal Mail in Halifax delivered some smiles as well as the post back in April 2020 when they worked in fancy dress. The idea was to bring some cheer to the communities they work in and is part of a number of fundraising activities they are doing to raise money to buy vouchers for NHS staff. The overall amount raised by the staff was around £3,200. Staff thanked the Prop Shop in Northowram for their help. This was just one of the many instances of kindness shown by people in Calderdale over the past 12 months.