Kindness is what counts through crisis
This week it is National Carers Week and I want to offer my sincere and heartfelt praise for all carers, whether you are paid or unpaid.
Life is challenging right now and carers have been at the heart of providing much needed support for our communities.
I would like to say a huge thank you to each and every one of you for your dedication and support.
I would also like to thank our foster carers supporting our most vulnerable children and young people and the volunteers across Renfrewshire who are providing food and medicine to those who need it most.
Your efforts have been incredible. Our volunteers are also delivering cards of kindness and we hope that these cards can help spread the word that #KindnessCounts on social media.
Now we are in June, staff are starting to return to our schools and nurseries to ensure classrooms and learning spaces are ready for August.
Children starting primary or secondary school will also get the chance to visit their new school and say their goodbyes to their nursery or primary school.
It will be an emotional time for children and their parents and carers, and I am glad they will get this important time to support their transition.
I know many of you will be worried about your child’s education, their safety and well-being as well as how you will balance work with children also learning at home part time.
I want you to know that the safety and well-being of children and young people, parents and carers, and our staff is our top priority and we will adhere to Scottish Government’s guidance.
Each school has its own unique layout and will require different solutions to ensure learning can take place in a safe way.
Your child’s school will be in touch to confirm the specific arrangements for your child.
Childcare is also incredibly important, and we will do everything we can to support key workers and working parents within the resources we have available.
If you can use alternative forms of childcare, I would ask you to use these to ensure we can support those who don’t have the same options.
Our Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRCs) have reopened.
Please check our website – www. renfrewshire.gov.uk/coronavirus-bins - for details on when HWRCs are open and what you can bring.
Right now, they are open for households to bring a few extra bags of household waste where they can’t store them until their next grey bin collection, but from Monday you will be able to bring in garden waste (twigs, branches etc) and scrap metal.
We have also resumed our grass cutting service now that our staff have returned from supporting our essential services.
Grass cutting will be prioritised for places people use for exercise, to ensure road safety and to get our schools and nurseries ready.
It will take a few cuts to get back to normal and we appreciate your patience while we get these services back to normal.