MID Devon District Council (MDDC) is continuing to support Mid Devon residents and businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The council’s leisure centres have closed and some of the non-urgent repairs for MDDC tenants has had to be postponed.

Despite this, other areas of the council’s work has became a frenzy of increased activity.

Calls to the council’s Covid support line have increased.

A new raft of business grants have became available at short notice and many MDDC staff have been redeployed to help the most vulnerable.

Last week the council’s Revenues and Benefits team began receiving applications for both the Local Restrictions Grant Scheme and the Additional Restrictions Grants - new schemes launched for this latest round of restrictions.

In the first 48 hours the team received more than 100 applications for assistance, and that figure has already doubled.

The council’s Covid support team, supported by the council’s leisure and customer service staff, received 26 applications to its hardship fund, the busiest week since the first lockdown began in March.

To-date the team have processed 262 applications and distributed almost £18,000 in the form of grants, food vouchers or food parcels.

While shielding has not come into effect in the same way as it did back in March, the community team has been working to support those in the district who are classed as Clinically Extremely Vulnerable.

The team is on-hand to support people to ensure that they can meet their basic needs such as receive prescriptions and have access to food deliveries and emotional support.

The council’s housing team, again assisted by leisure staff, began welfare checks on tenants and have made many calls to those aged over 70 and others who may be considered vulnerable.  Before the end of this latest period of restrictions, it is hoped that the team will have completed calls to more than 1,000 tenants and also many more to other clients of the council who receive a Lifeline alarm service.

Leader of the Council, Bob Deed, said: “This period of restrictions has had a huge impact on our local businesses and communities.

"It is a particularly hard time for many, especially in the winter months and in the lead up to Christmas and we want our communities to know we are working hard to support them and will continue to do so.

"Please remember if you need help, or are not sure where to turn to for advice, get in touch with us, even if it’s not something we can help with directly you can bet we can point you in the right direction.”

To find out more about the grants available for our local businesses visit: https://www.middevon.gov.uk/lockdowngrants .