This note provides an update on the information posted on this blog on Friday (24.4.20).
Key messages for today
- We’d like to express a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to everyone working on the frontline during this emergency.
- New guidelines mean you can now visit the remembrance garden at Pentrebychan to pay respects to a loved one.
- If your children receive free school meals and you haven’t registered yet, please register for our new direct payments scheme by Friday, May 1.
Ian Bancroft – Chief Executive
Mark Pritchard – Leader of the Council
Thank you to front-line workers
People have been finding all kinds of ways to say ‘thank you’ to frontline workers during the past few weeks.
From fund-raising, to chalking ‘thank you’ messages on the pavements outside their homes.
There’s the weekly ‘clap’ for carers, which can be heard across neighbourhoods all over Wrexham every Thursday, and the heartfelt messages of support on social media.
We do it, because we know there are people in all kinds of roles that are going the extra mile – day-in, day-out – to help keep us safe, and provide us with the things we need.
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NHS and care workers, supermarket workers, police and fire service officers, ambulance crews and many other people in critical roles.
There’s also our own refuse teams, who’ve been touched by the ‘thank you’ signs that many residents have placed on their bins and front gates, our school staff, social workers and lots of other council employees who are on the frontline and doing an amazing job.
The courage, resilience and incredible kindness we’ve seen from people working in these roles has made us feel humble, thankful…and maybe even slightly helpless, as we realise what a huge contribution they’re making to our world right now, and what a massive difference they’re making to our lives.
Maybe the best we can all do at the moment – maybe the only thing we can do – is to keep saying ‘thank you.’ Again and again.
So on behalf of Wrexham Council – and Wrexham as a whole – thank you to everyone working on the frontline.
You are amazing.
One minute silence
There will be a minute’s silence at 11am today to remember key workers who’ve lost their lives to Covid-19.
Please take part if you can.
Crematorium – garden of remembrance reopens
New guidelines issued by Welsh Government have allowed us to relax restrictions at our crematorium.
People can now visit the remembrance garden at Pentrebychan, which was previously closed.
Changes in legislation now allow for people to visit burial grounds or gardens of remembrance to pay respects to a loved one.
We know that many people have found the closure difficult in recent weeks, and will welcome this news.
Our gates will be open at the normal times.
Our cemeteries at Wrexham and Pandy continue to remain open.
Please adhere to social distancing when you visit the crematorium or cemeteries.
GET THE LATEST COVID-19 INFORMATION FROM PUBLIC HEALTH WALES
Free school meals
Reminder – have you registered for our new direct payment scheme?
Do your children receive free school meals?
We’ll be introducing a new system on Monday, May 4 as part of our ongoing response to Covid-19.
The system will see money paid directly into your bank account, which you can then use to buy your children food.
This will make things easier for parents, and reduce the need to travel to collection points to pick up the ‘grab-and-go’ packed lunches we’re currently providing.
We don’t want anyone to miss out, so if you haven’t already applied, please make sure you register via the council’s website by Friday, May 1 (you’ll need to provide your bank details).
You’ll receive a monthly payment that equates to £19.50 per week for each eligible child in your family.
Note that if your children are still attending school (because you’re a critical worker or they’re vulnerable), you’ll need to use the money to pay for their school meals, or to buy food so you can send them in with a packed lunch.
REGISTER NOW
You can still collect grab-and-go packed lunches from our distribution centres until Friday, May 1.
But from Monday, May 4 you’ll need to have registered for the new direct payments system so you don’t miss out.
If you have any queries, email us at freeschoolmeals@wrexham.gov.uk
Reminder – bin wagons
No-one wants to be the cause of their entire street not having their bins emptied, so please…if you park your car on the road, make sure there’s enough room for our bin wagons to get past.
Read the article we posted recently.
Reminder – are you eligible for business support?
We’ve already paid out more than £17.5 million to 1,473 businesses in Wrexham as part of the business rates relief support announced by Welsh Government.
Although claims are still being received each day, anyone who hasn’t applied yet is encouraged to check if their business is eligible and – if so – submit an online application.
If you do apply, please check the details you provide very carefully – especially bank account numbers and sort codes – as incorrect details can lead to delays in payment.
Reminder – reliable sources of information about Covid-19
Latest information on the virus and what people should do about it is provided by:
- Daily TV statements by the Government (including by Government ministers).
- Daily official briefings from the Department of Health and Social Care at 2pm, and Public Health Wales at 3pm.
Read the most up-to-date information about Covid-19.
LATEST INFO ON COVID-19
