June 2020
New ward priorities for Rotherham East
As the Coronavirus causes disruption to everyday life, Rotherham East Councillors have added a new priority aimed at helping them specifically support projects and activities designed to help tackle or alleviate the effects of Covid-19.
The councillors’ priorities for the 2020-21 municipal year are:
- To support initiatives addressing the impact of Covid-19 on Rotherham East and also those which address mental health issues
- Continue to work with partners delivering the Eastwood Deal, and are particularly keen to support initiatives involving local people
- To ensure a co-ordinated response to crime and anti-social behaviour, particularly to support residents at The Walk and Springwell Gardens
- Continue to work on the potential development of a brand new community hub in Badsley Moor Primary School
- To work with Schools, Children’s Centres and the Council’s Early Help Team, particularly to support work improving children’s health and wellbeing
- To support initiatives which bring communities together, celebrating the diversity in our ward.
Upcoming projects
Although the coronavirus and associated lockdown have caused some disruption, Rotherham East Councillors have nonetheless agreed funding for projects. These are:
- a jointly funded project with Rotherham West councillors to enable YMCA White Rose to buy, make up and distribute to local families in need activity and wellbeing packs to alleviate mental stress during the lockdown.
- a grant to the Unity Centre on St Leonard’s Road for toiletry items. These are being included in emergency parcels for those unable to shop due to the lockdown restrictions.
Rotherham Community Hub and Rotherham Heroes
The Rotherham Community Hub was put together to deal with requests for assistance during the Covid-19 crisis. It has offered various help for residents (who are unable to go out due to health conditions that require them to shield or self-isolate) including shopping, prescription collection, emergency food parcels and pet care. It has responded to 3,000 requests so far and of these around 200 were from Rotherham East residents.
We have used local partners (whose response to the crisis has been as speedy as it is magnificent) to help with many of these requests, but also Council staff who are unable to do their day jobs due to social distancing restrictions, and volunteers from the Rotherham Heroes list.
PCSO Steph McIntyre
Many residents will have met PCSO Steph McIntyre. Steph worked tirelessly and bravely on behalf of ward residents and met each fresh challenge with determination. She was as at ease dealing with aggressive drivers as she was attending and mucking in with school community events. In recognition of her work, Steph earned the accolade PCSO of the Year in 2018.
Sadly, Steph passed away last week aged just 41. Her passing at such a young age is tragic and her loss will be felt much wider than in Rotherham East ward. Our sincerest thoughts are with her closest ones.
Anyone wishing to help others can make a donation to Macmillan in Steph’s memory.
Pictured: Steph with Cllr Tajamal Khan's daughter, Samah, at the Eastwood summer fair on Eldon Road fields.
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