City Council Leader, Cllr David Mellen:
This week the council has had to take unprecedented measures as it responds to coronavirus and I want to thank people across the city for the way in which they have come together in supporting each other, whether it’s a colleague or a neighbour. I also want to thank the individuals and groups who have volunteered their time and resources to provide help and support to those who need it and we will be releasing more detail about how you can help in the days ahead.
I know that as days go by, people in our city are understandably anxious but we will work together to keep essential services running. I thank everyone for your efforts and I know that with your support, we will get through the turbulent months ahead. We can all help each other by continuing to check on our neighbours, calling and picking up groceries for people who are self-isolating, but please remember to only buy the groceries you need so that shops have stocks available for others. Please stay safe and remember to follow the Government’s advice on social distancing, non-essential travel and regular handwashing.
In a show of true Nottingham spirit, I’m pleased that today the Robin Hood Fund launches to support those affected by coronavirus in Nottingham. It’s going to be so important that we help each other in the coming weeks and we want to make sure people can do this safely, making sure help gets where it is most needed. That’s why this new initiative will help coordinate financial support in one place. Donations can be made by visiting the Robin Hood Fund’s GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/3ytaf-robin-hood-fund
Whilst we are working hard to maintain our vital services, we know that people will be coming to terms with school and nursery closures. The message is clear, if children can stay safely at home, they should but we know that some people have jobs that are essential to the city’s response to Covid-19. A full list of the key worker categories are now available on the Government website, but for those children who must stay at home, and would normally receive free school meals, we have worked with several major supermarket chains to operate a voucher or gift card scheme – please click here for more details: https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/mealvouchers