Weekly video update
In my weekly video, I talk about the national day of reflection, progress on the vaccination rollout and support for residents and businesses.
Tuesday 23 March - National Day of Reflection
At midday on Tuesday 23 March we fell silent. That night we shone lights.
The events of the last twelve months formed the most difficult of years.
As I reflected, I thought of all those who died as a result of the pandemic, including the 256 people whose lives were claimed in our borough, as well as the many more whose lives were impacted in other ways.
I thought of all those who have worked so hard and continue to work hard to help us all get through this; all the staff, key workers, volunteers and communities.
I also looked ahead to what is to come. It is by no means over but if we all continue to play our part we will not stray from the road map to freedom.
Grants of up to £5k to bring green ideas to life
 Do you know or work with or a small business, community group or school in your area that needs funding for a project to reduce carbon emissions and support a green recovery in Telford and Wrekin?
Grants of up to £5,000 are available to local organisations with a green idea to help reduce their carbon footprint.
The Telford and Wrekin Climate Change Fund is a sustainable initiative being offered as part of our commitment as a council to be carbon neutral by 2030, with the aspiration for the borough to be carbon neutral by then too.
Ideas could include:
- Renewable energy generation – solar PV panels, hydro turbines, ground or air source heat pumps
- Energy efficiency measures – LED lighting, loft insulation, water conservation, upgrading heating systems, lighting or heating controls, double/triple glazing
- Sustainable travel – cycle stands, electric bikes, EV charging points
- Reducing waste – re-use initiatives, community composting, reduce single use plastic
Deadline for applications is noon on 19 April 2021.
Our call on government to review school’s Pupil Premium funding allocation
 Cllr Shirley Reynolds (cabinet member for education) and myself, together with Primary and Secondary Heads in Telford and Wrekin, have written to Gavin Williamson, the Secretary of State for Education, to raise concerns about the government’s recent decision to change the date at which Pupil Premium funding is determined.
With the government now using school census data from October 2020 instead of January 2021, as has been the norm in previous years, schools within the borough are set to lose £420,000 of Pupil Premium funding.
This is additional funding allocated to schools to help disadvantaged pupils close the attainment gap between them and their peers. Children who are eligible for support are often those who access free school meals.
In our letter to the Education Secretary, we express our disappointment.
 Infection rates in Telford and Wrekin begin to level out
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Telford and Wrekin has begun to level out.
This comes after successive weeks of sharp falls in infection rates, and the borough infection rate remains lower than the regional and national average.
This week has shown that our numbers will go up as well as down as restrictions are lifted but we expect weekly numbers to fluctuate now that numbers are lower.
As lockdown restrictions ease, we need to play our part to help protect each other and reduce the spread of the virus in the borough.
Keeping our rates low will avoid stricter restrictions being re-introduced.
Check your Covid-19 status - Get tested twice a week
 We are encouraging all borough adults with no coronavirus symptoms to test themselves twice every week - particularly those from households with school-aged children and those who need to go to work.
There are now more borough locations to collect home test kits from.
Other news
Thank you for everything you have done. Thank you for what you are about to do.
 Last week the borough's Mayor and I wrote to all Street Champions and Snow Wardens thanking them for all their volunteering work. Theirs are valuable contributions.
I was heartened by the many replies and responses and social media tags to this letter which was a small but important gesture from us to show our appreciation.
I was delighted to see some pictures of our volunteers with the certificates that accompanied the letter on the Street Champions facebook page.
Help us support those most at risk from Covid-19
- Our teams share with Champions the latest information about COVID-19 and the support available
- Champions share this information in their community however they want (email, telephone, social media or other tools) - it could be with your friends, colleagues or in a community group.
- Champions let us know what is and isn’t working and how we can help communities more. They also help dispel myths or concerns.
COVID vaccinations for homeless people supported by Telford & Wrekin Council
 On Thursday 25 Mar 2021 we joined Court Street Medical Practice at homeless charity Maninplace where a number of homeless people supported by Telford & Wrekin Council and our partners received their COVID vaccinations.
Test & Trace support payments for more borough families
Are you the parent or guardian of a child who has been told to self-isolate - on or after 8 March?
You could be eligible for a £500 Test & Trace support payment if you meet certain criteria.
Have you booked your Covid-19 vaccination?
You can book your COVID-19 vaccination appointment online or by calling 119 if you:
• are aged 50 or over;
• are clinically extremely vulnerable;
• have a learning disability;
• are a main carer for someone at high risk from coronavirus.
Thank you to everyone who's had their vaccine so far!
Voting in the Elections this May
On Thursday 6 May there will elections for West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner and some local by-elections in the borough.
There are three ways to have your say - you can vote by post (deadline to apply 20 April), in a polling station or by appointing someone you trust to vote on your behalf, which is known as a proxy vote. To vote, residents must be on the electoral register. The deadline to register to vote is 11:59pm on Monday 19 April. It takes just five minutes to register online.
It's not too late to complete the #Census2021
 Census Day has now passed however there is still time to be counted.
By taking part you will be helping to make sure Telford and Wrekin gets the services needed now and in the future. The money the council gets is directly linked to the people counted on the census so this is why it is so important.
If you, or someone you know, needs support filling out the survey or has any questions, there are two local Census Support Centres in Telford. Due to the ongoing situation you can contact them by telephone.
- Park Lane Centre 01952 683 700
- Hub on the Hill on 01952 898 052
Field officers will also be calling at households who have not completed their census to offer their support and answer any queries.
They will follow social distancing and COVID-safe guidelines and will never need to enter anyone’s home. They will all carry official ID cards with their photo and name. They will never ask for money or bank details.
Residents who are concerned that the person on your doorstep is not a census officer, ask them for their critical workers letter and call the number on the letter.
Thank you for helping us create a better borough
I hope you find this roundup helpful in these difficult times.
Stay Safe and Be Kind.
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