Acting council leader, Deborah Taylor, is wishing everyone in Leicestershire a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
The festive period offers valuable time to catch up with loved ones.
And people are at the heart of our what we do at Leicestershire County Council. This year, we’ve rolled out 37 family hubs, providing key parenting, family health, relationships, education and employment support. The hubs are already a hive of activity and making a real difference to family’s lives.
Like other councils, demand for children’s social care keeps rising. And through an innovative partnership with Barnardo’s, we’re providing expert support to keep our children in care safe and supported. Teaming up with a not-for-profit organisation also means that we can bring down costs, helping to manage extremely challenging budget pressures.
Thanks to our ‘warm homes’ scheme, over 1,000 households are toastier this winter. We’ve also joined forces with Age UK so that more pensioners get pension credit. Navigating the application process is complex and I’m pleased we’ve helped more older people to get more cash in the bank.
This year has seen its fair share of emergencies. During the aftermath of Storm Henk, and a gas outage in Kirby Muxloe and Ratby, residents and volunteers stepped up to make sure vulnerable people were safe. Our communities are strong and go the extra mile to look out for people. And this extends to global events with Leicestershire families continuing to help Ukrainian guests almost three years on.
A new year brings new challenges and opportunities, and we’ll be working together to get the best outcomes for Leicestershire’s families, businesses and communities.
I’d like to wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Person:Acting council leader, Deborah Taylor