THE last six weeks have undoubtedly been a challenging time for us all – from the residents who are shielding and can’t leave their home, to the people who have elderly relatives they are concerned for and those who are home-schooling their children while working.

This pandemic has impacted on all of our lives and I commend everyone in our communities who are continuing to follow the government’s guidance on staying at home, and slowing the spread of this virus.

Of course there are a great many people in our communities who cannot stay at home – our frontline workers who are out day after day delivering in a variety of different roles all with the aim of keeping us safe.

These are the heroes of this time, and many are council employees, whose work has arguably never been more important. From our refuse collectors to our care staff and teachers.

In care homes throughout West Dunbartonshire, staff are working tirelessly to provide the vital services that will help protect our elderly population, and likewise, our care at home team are a lifeline more than ever for our most vulnerable, visiting more than 1,200 residents each week to ensure they can continue to live independently.

The work being undertaken in our learning hubs by our teaching and support staff, as well as all the facilities staff who are providing a nutritious lunch and keeping the areas clean, also deserves recognition.

These employees are providing not only a place of safety but somewhere for learning and fun so our key workers can continue in their important roles and life can be kept as normal as possible for our young people.

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The council’s housing, Working4U and communities teams are offering additional assistance to vulnerable residents, with over 1,000 people receiving support with a range of practical tasks including advice on finances and help to access essential supplies including food and medicines.

The team is also being a friendly voice on the end of the phone to provide some much-needed reassurance to many in our community including those who may be isolated. If you need their support, please text the word ‘help’ to 07800 002 582 and the team will get in contact with you.

Local businesses have been supported too, in the form of more than £7.5million in grants.

I also want to highlight those employees in the back office supporting the critical services on the frontline and also those who have volunteered to move from jobs which are not essential to the Covid-19 response into essential support roles on a temporary basis, having to learn new skills and adjust to different work patterns in an already uncertain time.

In our communities too, so many are going above and beyond to help others, backed by an army of volunteers, groups and organisations such as food banks who have risen to this challenge and are ensuring residents who need help are supported through this emergency.

One thing has been clear throughout: everyone is working towards a common goal of getting our communities safely through this pandemic, and the community spirit, resilience and commitment which is being shown now will be our bedrock as we look to the future. Stay safe.