The Isle of Wight has recently received a Silver Award from the Institute of Excellence in Public Service for the way in which it responded to the Covid crisis.
The submission was made by the Isle of Wight Council on behalf of the community as a whole. It highlighted the way in which the Council worked with 27 local community ‘hubs’, its Voluntary and Community Sector partners and the NHS, to respond to community needs during the pandemic.
How lessons can be learned
The Council are now working with other organisations on the Island to consider how the lessons learned from this experience can be used to improve the quality of everyday services.
These plans were revealed at a recent workshop organised by the Isle of Wight Association of Local Councils (IWALC), in conjunction with Community Action IW.
IWALC’s Chair, Diana Conyers, explained,
“The purpose of the workshop is to ensure that the partnership working established during Covid continues.”
A range of partners involved
The workshop was held at Sandown Town Council’s Broadway Centre and participants included representatives from local councils and community organisations, the Chair of the National Association of Local Councils, the IW Council, the NHS Trust, Citizens Advice, Age UK and Healthwatch.
It was sponsored by CCLA Investment Management and Hovertravel.
Diana explained,
“We asked Hovertravel because of the critical role they played during the pandemic.”
Neil Chapman, Hovertravel’s Managing Director, was quick to respond.
“We are delighted to be able to support your efforts.”
Community hubs
Freshwater parish councillor, Gill Kennett, described how local parish and town councils worked with other organisations and volunteers in their communities and how these community ‘hubs’, were coordinated with the Isle of Wight Council, NHS and Island-wide voluntary organisations through regular ‘hub’ meetings that she chaired.
Refreshments were provided by Aspire Ryde, a community-based organisation that played a major role during the crisis.
Peacey-Wilcox: Can’t thank you enough for all the work you did
Lora Peacey-Wilcox, the IW Council leader, opened the workshop.
“I can’t thank you enough for all the work you did during the crisis.
“We have learned from this and are determined to listen to you and work with you in the future.”
Love: Think outside the box
Cllr Karl Love, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Housing Needs, attended throughout. He said,
“We have to be positive and think outside the box.”
Adult Social Care’s Strategic Manager of Partnerships and Support Services, Ian Lloyd, emphasised the need to work together to make the best use of limited resources.
Importance of partnerships
Participants welcomed the recent news that the IW NHS Trust has been taken out of special measures.
NHS representatives, Nicola Longson and Kirk Millis-Ward, also stressed the importance of partnership working. They emphasised that the Trust could not have got through the pandemic without everyone’s support.
Bulpitt: Turn this positive thinking into action
A steering group has been formed to follow up the workshop’s recommendations. Mike Bulpitt, Community Action’s Chief Executive, emphasised,
“The important thing now is to turn this positive thinking into action.”
Find out more about IWALC by visiting their Website.
News shared by Jill on behalf of Isle of Wight Association of Local Councils (IWALC). Ed
Image: Kraken Images under CC BY 2.0
