We’re focused on helping you
We’ve now been in lockdown for more than a month and we’ve all had to adapt to what has rapidly become the new normal.
The current situation is taking its toll on everyone and the daily death toll brings it with a reminder of the extent of the tragedy.
Against that it can hard to find positives but with the number of new cases now falling, there is solid evidence to believe the restrictions are doing their job and slowing the spread of infection.
The Scottish Government last week published their blueprint for how the country could move out of lockdown over the months ahead. It’s available to view at www.gov.scot and worth a read.
And while there is a long way to go before the current crisis is behind us, it’s good to know there is a roadmap towards getting at least some aspects of life back to normal.
In the meantime, all at Renfrewshire Council are focused on how we can best support residents, with a focus on the most vulnerable.
Across the council we have had to be flexible in our response to the crisis – with some staff on the front line, others making the most of technology to keep services running from home, and others redeployed to put their skills to use in new roles where needed.
On behalf of the council, I want to thank every one of you. There are far too many examples to fit in here but I can give a very brief flavour of the range of work.
Staff are delivering more than 1,200 support packs a day to residents who are most at risk and who have been asked not to leave home, a process called ‘shielding’.
The packs – which include freshlyprepared meals and toiletries – are being distributed seven days a week from sites at Castlehead and Park Mains High Schools.
One other team working around the clock to mitigate the impact of the crisis is our business support staff – who have now administered and issued well over 1,000 business grants totalling more than £15m from Renfrewshire’s share of the Scottish Government’s Coronavirus Business Grant Scheme.
Small and medium businesses are the backbone of the local economy and while we appreciate the devastating impact of the current situation we will do all we can to support local traders to get up and running again once safe to do so.
Last week also saw children go back to school after the Easter fortnight – although the ‘classroom’ wasn’t what it should be. Our thanks again go to all teachers and parents ensuring Renfrewshire pupils continue to receive an education during lockdown.
While there is still no date for schools to return, our Children’s Services staff are already working on plans for how that could work once they do.
A full guide to the range of support being offered across the council can be found at www.renfrewshire.gov.uk
I hope all Paisley Daily Express readers are staying safe and looking after yourselves and each other.