Message from the Mayor: Week six of lock down
Message from the Mayor:
For many of us, these past weeks have been a time of sadness, for some a time of great loss. It’s in times like this that a community shows its true mettle and works together to provide help to those who need it. Wirksworth has proved once again its communal strength through its voluntary groups. In normal times, the town has an extraordinarily vigorous collection of activities in which many, through their own choice, participate. While the nation as a whole may be proud of what groups and individuals have done, here a wave of activity has swept the town, giving friendship, service and commitment to vulnerable and elderly residents. As a town, we should be very proud of that. As Mayor, I pay tribute to those of you in the town who have gone that extra distance, either as volunteers or in jobs where you have played a significant role in allowing the rest of us to lead lives as close to normality as possible. There are many, paid and unpaid, who have helped and are continuing to help the rest of us. To all of you, I say Thank You Very Much. For many of us, you have made life far more tolerable. Thank you.
The Town Council’s role in this has been to provide emergency grant funding, financial support and volunteer support such as printing facilities, both at short notice and when requested. It has been able to help with advice and information, working as a signing agency and acting as a backstop if needed. As I have seen throughout my year as Mayor, Wirksworth’s voluntary sector uses the Council’s resources judiciously and rarely requires it to act as a backstop. Town Hall staff have been working from home throughout the emergency.
This town inclines to supporting those carrying out activities which make Wirksworth a better place in which to live. It has a positivity which has come to the fore yet again at a time of crisis. Even those of us who have been on the receiving end of support from friends, neighbours and good Samaritans, can take pride in living in a town such as this. Those of you whose commitment to others has been so outstanding over the past few weeks should be especially proud of your contribution.
This crisis is very unlikely to end soon and there will be bad days ahead for many. But, in the darkness, let’s take pleasure from the good being done by us and around us.
Andy Jordan, Mayor of Wirksworth