Council leader and mayor release open letter to people of Chesterfield

An open letter to all living, working and volunteering in Chesterfield borough

We want to say thank you

Thank you for your efforts to keep Chesterfield borough safe and well. By following Government advice to self-isolate, socially distance ourselves and practice good hygiene we are all helping to save lives and protect the NHS.

To the key workers

You are remarkable. Amazing things have been achieved in a few short weeks to keep essential services running and to support our communities, as we do all we can to stop the spread of coronavirus. A special thank you to our NHS staff who are working around the clock and in such testing circumstances in both hospital and community settings to treat and care for people struck down by the virus while also attending to those who require other treatment and care. Our thanks to the hundreds of frontline health and social care staff who are working in our communities, helping our most vulnerable people to cope with the impact of the virus and lockdown. Your selflessness and dedication give hope and reassurance to all of us in these challenging times. Our thanks also to our emergency workers in Derbyshire Police, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue and the ambulance service. To colleagues at Derbyshire County Council and our own staff at Chesterfield Borough Council who are giving their all to this collective effort. To our pharmacy, food and distribution, transport, postal and utilities workers. The list goes on and on. Thank you to everyone who is playing a part in Chesterfield borough’s response to the Covid-19 crisis – our key workers are amazing.

To the volunteers and helpers

Thank you to the hundreds if not thousands of unsung heroes in Chesterfield borough and beyond. We are especially grateful to the community, voluntary and charity sector organisations and their volunteers who are working tirelessly to ensure vital supplies of food and medicine and much more get to those who need it most. Whether you are a volunteer with an established charity or group, volunteering via the NHS volunteers scheme or as part of the Derbyshire Community Response Unit or simply offering a helping hand to a neighbour, friends or family, you provide a critical lifeline to the elderly and vulnerable and those who are in self-isolation. Thank you.

To the future

We do not know how long the fight against Covid-19 will take and we understand the anxiety and worry this uncertainty brings particularly as many of us are separated from family and friends. But we can take great comfort in knowing that Chesterfield borough’s key workers and volunteers are giving their all to help us through these tough times.

All of us have an important role to play over the weeks and months ahead. Through your sacrifices, your work and volunteering you will save countless lives and protect and support the people of our great borough. You have our commitment that we will work tirelessly with you and for you, through this crisis and into recovery.

Thank you once again.