Commons Sense

As we enter the second week of lockdown, I wanted to draw attention to some of the local work going on amongst our communities to help support our homeless population at this difficult time.

Just as they did earlier this year during the first wave of infection, RBWM and Bracknell Forest Council have been working hard to ensure that everyone who is homeless in Windsor, and the entire borough, has somewhere to stay.

This is doubly important as we enter the colder winter months.

So, I was so pleased by the announcement that MG Hotels will once again be opening their doors to homeless people across the area to protect them during this second wave.

This is a brilliant and inspiring use of resources which otherwise would have been left idle due to the steep decline in tourism this year.

Furthermore, it is my hope that this indicates that despite what some would have you believe, this is evidence that the community spirit and can-do attitude, which was abundantly present during the first wave earlier this year, is alive and well across the borough.

Of course, they will be assisted by the annual efforts of shelters such as the Pilgrim Hearts and the Windsor Homeless Project who continue to serve the community by offering help and shelter to the homeless during the difficult winter months.

In these dark times it is heartening to see the community continue to come together to help one another.

The recent news on rapid mass testing and vaccines has indeed underlined that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

But until then it we must continue to do everything we can to help ourselves.