When the Coronavirus pandemic first struck in March last year, we saw an unprecedented response from both national and local government which is continuing to this day and beyond.

West Sussex County Council in particular has played a crucial role, in not only distributing the additional funds and support provided by the government to those most in need, but they have also directly provided a huge amount of support for residents who have been impacted by Covid-19 and the lockdown restrictions via its Community Hub.

Launched in March, the West Sussex Community Hub has been available and provided a range of support and practical assistance for all residents in our county as well as for almost 35,000 clinically extremely vulnerable residents.

The phone lines to the Community Hub are open seven days a week from 8am till 8pm on 033 022 27980 as well as links provided on the West Sussex County Council website with an e-form to request assistance.  Current incoming call volumes are around 100 a day and as of last week, since Boxing Day when we went into Tier 4 and then the national lockdown, 264 households in West Sussex have been assisted with food parcels.

The West Sussex Community Hub should be the first port of call for anyone suffering serious hardship during this pandemic.  Professionally run with expertise, experience, accountability, financial transparency, and transparency of the supplies distributed, it can be trusted to be providing the best possible assistance to those in genuine need.

Also at West Sussex County Council, in addition to the great work that the Community Hub has been doing, last Friday saw the publication of the official inspection by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.  This was an incredibly positive report which recognised the fantastic way that our Fire Service had adapted and responded to the pandemic.  As well as our Fire Service providing all kinds of practical assistance to help others, the way that the Service is supporting its Firefighters and staff during these difficult times was also strongly praised.  

Councillor Duncan Crow, Leader of Crawley Borough Council Conservative Group

27th January 2021