This report explores lessons from the first national COVID-19 lockdown across the United Kingdom with a focus on the surge in community spirit across the country. The report includes evidence from multiple constituency profiles, ranging from coastal to city, and from shire to suburb. It draws upon a range of evidence from local constituency surveys, national trends, and case studies to provide a set of five recommendations that the Government could implement to strengthen community ties.
Selaine Saxby MP said:
‘We wrote the survey with the input of the excellent One Northern Devon and am pleased to say we had over 1200 responses. It was heartening to see how people here had positively responded within their communities and there were many local groups highlighted the public. In the report it concentrates on the Free Help Group Combe Martin founded by Clair Martin prior to the pandemic but was so instrumental in the village throughout.’
‘One Northern Devon continues to expand the horizon of what an effective, local, interdisciplinary collaboration should look like. I have already written to Danny Kruger MP about the remarkable work that they and the One Town initiatives have undertaken in response to Covid 19; the Prime Minister having tasked him to locate the best responses and examples of communities working together.
On top of the £257,000 announced last month to support local charities I want to ensure that groups like One Northern Devon are properly funded and supported by the Government going forward so they can continue to support our communities.’
