As I sit down to write this, I know headteachers and staff across the community are working hard to ensure the safe return of pupils to education settings. I welcome studies that show prevalence among teachers is 15%, which is lower than the general population at 18%, confirming that schools are safe environments. I hope that this, together with the introduction of regular testing, will bring an added level of reassurance to staff, pupils and parents.
Vaccination efforts continue and I have been pleased to accept invitations to three local vaccination centres serving the constituency: Tithe Farm, Grim’s Dyke Golf Club and Bury Street Youth Centre. Residents have a good choice of local venues, which is particularly beneficial to the more vulnerable for whom travel may be difficult or unsafe. It was reassuring to see that the centres all have incredibly impressive set ups and are efficiently run with exceptional care from staff and volunteers. I am delighted to have received positive feedback from patients who have been very happy with their experiences.
It’s also been a real pleasure to meet the volunteers who have come forward to help our NHS colleagues in making sure that hundreds of residents are able to get their Covid-19 vaccinations every day. It really is thanks to the individual and collective efforts of everyone involved that this was able to happen so quickly and with such efficiency. I encourage all residents who are eligible to receive the vaccine to please come forward when called. We need to make sure that we are doing as much as possible to keep our loved ones and the wider community safe.
In the absence of face-to-face meetings, I have been pleased to speak with residents and businesses at virtual surgeries. Most recently I took part in a virtual roundtable with local businesses across the constituency, organised by Natwest. It was useful to hear from business owners about how they are facing the challenges thrown up by the pandemic, and their views on the local economy and business environment within the constituency. I was really pleased see that the Chancellor’s 2021 Budget delivers on the commitment to provide security and stability to these businesses and individuals, providing over £470 billion of support over this year and next.
Despite this continued support, I know many families are still struggling. If this is you please feel free to reach out to me and my office and I will do all we can to help. The best way to contact me is via email at [email protected].
