Support Small Business Saturday and help our area to thrive

Lockdown is lifted and many of our shops are reopening.

But the new Tier 2 restrictions are now in place for our area, and many of us will be reluctant to rush out to see people or shop in our town and village centres.

There’s a careful balance to be struck - we need to be cautious to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe, and ensure Covid-19 levels stay under control so we don’t face further lockdowns.

The other side of the seesaw is the need to reach out and have human contact, and participate in our community for the good of our mental health and wellbeing. We shouldn’t stay glued to our sofas all on our own, and wherever possible, we should avoid giving all our Christmas spending money to the online giants at the expense of our small independent traders.

Giving our support to local businesses is vital to the success of our local economy, and we want to be sure that those businesses which have had such a tough time in 2020 are still there for 2021 and beyond.

This weekend sees Small Business Saturday, and this year it’s more important than ever to go that extra mile to #supportlocal.

So why not put on your mask and venture out to explore the festive markets and try the socially-distanced shopping experience being offered in our high streets.

Or, if you need to take extra care and you are staying inside, check out the virtual shopping portal. A map shows the locations of Horsham District Businesses that offer a Click and Collect or home delivery service, and can be found at www.visithorsham.co.uk/virtual/locations

You might discover an amazing store just down the road that has the perfect Christmas gifts, and when the pandemic is a thing of the past, maybe you’ll be able to pay them a visit in person.