While the past few weeks have seen some of the most difficult and unprecedented times for people in our area and across the country, they have also shown the very best of our community spirit and commitment to helping one another – not to mention the dedication of all our healthcare workers and other key workers fighting on the frontline against coronavirus.
As we all continue to adjust to the current safety measures, I want to assure constituents that my team and I are continuing to support you with any issues or concerns you may have, whether they’re related to coronavirus or not, and although my constituency office is closed to visitors you can still contact me as usual by phone on 01685 383739, or via email at gerald.jones.mp@parliament.uk.
During the past few days and weeks I have been working to support people in our area affected by the pandemic, writing to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and other UK and Welsh Government ministers urging them to take action on a number of important issues, such as guaranteeing free TV licences for the over-75s and access to online supermarket deliveries for the most vulnerable, providing financial support for our voluntary sector and the self-employed, ensuring the safety of all those still going into work and unable to work from home is guaranteed, and enabling prosecutions for the most serious crimes in Gwent to be progressed through courts during the pandemic. I will continue to do all I can to support residents with any issues they may have in the coming weeks.
During difficult times such as these it’s important to focus on the positives, and I wanted to share a few of the fantastic acts of kindness and community spirit I’ve seen in our area during this crisis.
Schools across the Upper Rhymney Valley have worked hard writing letters and designing posters to send to NHS and social care staff in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board to thank them for all they are doing to keep us safe. I have also seen residents across the Upper Rhymney Valley leaving thoughtful thank you notes on bins, letterboxes and windows for our other key workers, who are doing vital work to keep our frontline services running through this pandemic.
Despite all the challenges from the current situation, Rhymney Valley Foodbank is still working hard to ensure emergency food supplies get to those most in need – with the help of dedicated volunteers from Communities for Work, Caerphilly Council and other organisations.
It has also been amazing to see how many people have participated in clapping for our key workers over the past two weeks; both in our area and right across the country.
Our incredible community spirit is what will get us through this challenging period, and ensure that we come out of it stronger and more united than before.