It may come as welcome news for many of you that our Prime Minister has announced that we can spend a little more time outside and that we can travel a little further afield. However, I know for many it makes things a little more confusing. What I can assure you of, is that we are continuing to follow the guidance that is coming from Government in everything we do. That means we are adhering to social distancing and using the correct personal protective equipment (PPE), where needed, but we are also pushing ahead to resume as many services as we can as soon as it is safe to do so.

Today we are celebrating the 75th Anniversary of VE Day. We had a fantastic response to our call out for people’s VE Day memories! Lots of people were keen to share their celebrations from 1945, war time memories, recipes and more with us!

I am over the moon to announce that we are now able to start cutting grass and maintaining shared areas with the support of our partner Sodexo Horticultural Services.

Ready, steady, cook and share your families favourite recipes for a chance to win £10 of shopping vouchers! These could be VE Day inspired or a tribute to your favourite restaurant or takeaway dish!

Since lock down started in March, I have been moved by the way the district and particularly WDH and you our customers have come together to support each other at this challenging time. Many of our employees have been continuing to work supporting you, our tenants, whilst spending their free time sewing scrubs, face masks and kit bags, to support our NHS and care home workers, making sure the most vulnerable in our community are able to be cared for. Our employees have also gone above and beyond to support local foodbanks and other charity services to offer provisions in addition to food such as milk and boxes for distributing food parcels. I have seen much community spirit over the past weeks and it makes me exceptionally proud

The Community Employment Team is continuing to help tenants back into work by offering a telephone support service during lockdown.

On Friday 8 May it is the 75th Anniversary of VE Day, WDH employees planned to celebrate this in our Independent Living Schemes with residents and on our estates with community groups and residents, however due to the coronavirus outbreak this is no longer possible. We are still celebrating but will do it digitally instead!

Whilst the world is very much focused on coronavirus, as we all are, I’d like to take the opportunity to highlight the importance of safety. The safety and wellbeing of our tenants is our top priority.

We have recently seen a few incidents across the district involving garden fires. Due to the coronavirus outbreak Wakefield Council have taken the decision to suspend the collection of garden waste in order to maintain normal household and recycling waste collections.

The bank holiday and extended weekend will soon be upon us and, with the good weather we’ve been having, it is tempting for all of us to stretch the guidance a little bit to visit family, join friends in the garden or visit some of our local parks. However, I must urge you continue to support our NHS and follow the advice that has been given.