November 10th, 2020.


Lewes District Council has mobilised a community hub team to help the most vulnerable and isolated residents during the latest period of lockdown.

During the first national lockdown the council put in place a wide range of measures to support people who were shielding and didn’t have family and friends to help them.

The local authority also developed an online portal to ensure businesses quickly received the emergency grants they qualified for. While council officers are waiting for the government guidance needed to launch the latest discretionary grants scheme, the technical updates and changes to the payment portal are well underway.

Councillor James MacCleary, Leader of Lewes District Council, explained: “We continue to do all we can to support and reassure our residents during these worrying and uncertain times.

“Our community hub operation is widely regarded as one of the best examples of its type and we are lockdown ready to help the people who are in most need.”

NHS volunteers can also assist residents and can be contacted direct by those who might need their help from www.nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk The NHS volunteers help by collecting shopping and medicines, making contact with people by making regular friendly phone calls and giving lifts to medical appointments.

Councillor Zoe Nicholson, Deputy Leader of Lewes District Council, said: “Our frontline services remain fully operational and accessible to all our residents, with many accessing information on the website at www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk and engaging with staff using email and webchats.

“Council teams can also put people in touch with other voluntary groups in local communities.”

Those who are clinically and extremely vulnerable will receive a letter from the NHS encouraging them to stay at home, only going out for exercise and medical appointments. The letter will also provide more detail about accessing any support they might need.

Councillor Chris Collier, Cabinet Member for Performance and People, said: “The news this week about the vaccine trials is very encouraging and any positive news right now is very welcome. All I would say is that we remain a long way off getting life back to normal and must all continue to follow the guidance to reduce the spread of the virus.”