As the ongoing crisis affects all of our lives, my approach has been to reassure where I can and provide timely and clear information for all residents of the Caerphilly constituency. Throughout this, we need to remember that we are one team and we will get through it together.

Volunteering

I want to pay tribute to everybody who has been helping to support the most vulnerable during the lockdown. We are all taking the difficult, but necessary precautions by observing the social distancing rules, even if this means not visiting somebody very close to us.

In order to support those who may be isolated, I have enrolled in the council volunteering scheme and have been helping a number of residents with daily tasks, such as shopping and picking up prescriptions. So far more than 1,200 vulnerable residents are receiving help from volunteers. If you would like to register as a volunteer then please email TeamCaerphilly@caerphilly.gov.uk or call 01443 811490.

Supermarkets

I’ve been working to establish contacts with supermarkets over the last few weeks. It’s been quite hard work to get the contacts details of the major stores.

As of last week, I’ve had confirmation that those ‘extremely vulnerable’ in receipt of shielding letters, who have not received confirmation of their eligibility for priority delivery services, can be added to the Tesco database (in Wales) by calling 0800 917 7359.

There still seems to be an issue for people who are in receipt of a shielding letter from their GP, rather than the Health Board getting priority ordering.

I have also made contact with Asda and Sainsbury’s on specific cases and am awaiting a response. If you or a relative have a shielding letter and are having problems contacting supermarkets, let me know. I have written to the First Minister to highlight these issues.

Business Support

I have been working closely with many businesses who have been in touch with me since the lockdown took effect on March 23. The Welsh Government has provided many businesses with funding to see them through these very challenging times.

I have to pay credit to the way in which Caerphilly County Borough Council have engaged with me when I have referred businesses to them for support. Caerphilly have processed more claims than any other local authority in Gwent, with members of staff volunteering to work over the Easter holidays to turn around the applications.

We have a very high number of small businesses in the Caerphilly constituency. It’s vital those businesses apply for the support they’re entitled to. If any business from the Caerphilly constituency would like to get in touch with me then please do so and I will do all I can to help.

I keep my Facebook page regularly updated with the latest reports from my meetings with the Aneurin Bevan Health Board, Public Health Wales and other bodies. You can see my weekly updates here: www.facebook.com/hefindavidam

Please stay safe and keep in touch.