News

As our Prime Minister announces further measures to relax the lock down we have all found ourselves in over the past months, at WDH we are continuing to look at ways that we can continue to reintroduce services safely and gradually. I asked last week for your feedback on what you think we should prioritise first. Which services do you think need to be made available to you sooner rather than later? There is still the opportunity to give us your feedback by completing this short, five question survey. I hope you will share your views with us so that we can make sure that we get it right. Complete the survey now.

As we continue to find ourselves in these unrecognisable circumstances, I want to let you know that we are listening and your safety and security is at the forefront of everything that we are doing here at WDH. As we are now looking to the future and beginning to bring some of our services back into action, I’m keen to gather your views.

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.