One year on from the first national lockdown, London local government Leaders have written an open letter thanking London’s key workers, council staff and volunteers for their “outstanding” work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The letter, signed by Chair of London Councils and Leader of Camden Council, Cllr Georgia Gould, and Vice Chairs Cllr Teresa O’Neill, Leader of Bexley Council; Cllr Ruth Dombey, Leader of Sutton Council and Catherine McGuinness, Policy and Resources Committee Chair at the City of London Corporation, praises Londoners across the capital who are on the frontline of battling the virus for their selfless actions and inspirational work.

London Councils’ research on London’s Covid-19 response found that:

London borough staff and volunteers have provided support to 668,860 people on the shielding list since the first national lockdown.
More than 7,300 rough sleepers have been placed in emergency accommodation, and of those 3,800 former rough sleepers have already moved into suitable next steps accommodation or support.
London boroughs have spent an additional £400 million on providing adult social care to vulnerable Londoners through the pandemic.
London’s boroughs have distributed £228,787,876 in grant funding via 5,421 individual grants to voluntary and community groups supporting Londoners across the capital.

London was hit first and hardest by the coronavirus pandemic but in the letter, local Leaders express gratitude to key workers and volunteers for enabling the city to be “resilient, innovative and flexible” during the last 12 months.

The letter also acknowledges the difficult times Covid-19 has brought people across the capital and the challenges frontline workers and volunteers have faced, and says that efforts will need to continue in the months ahead.