Community Recovery
- Operate effective outbreak control arrangements and communicate key behaviours
- Address inequality of impact of Covid-19 on vulnerable groups
- Establish sustainable community response and recovery arrangements
Impacts – 428 infections, 84 deaths, 5,921 people required to shield at the height of the pandemic, 47% increase in referrals to children’s services (since start of March 2020 to end of July 2020), 53% increase in adult social care referrals (Overall Excess referrals in combined May, June, July 2020), 350,000 school days lost, 800% in single and 400% in family homelessness in accommodation (increase on 2019 figure), universal credit uptake increased from 7.46% (Mar 20) to 13.91% (May 20)
Response – Covid-19 helpline 9476 calls, Shielding support for 5000 people, 568 food boxes delivered (service ended on 7.8.20), care home support, carer support, 34 community and voluntary sector support hubs, social distancing measures in the main High Streets, Mental health action plan responses/campaigns, online support for school pupils, targeted support for vulnerable school children and families
Recovery actions – Test and trace system to control risk of infection (ongoing), sustainable arrangements for community hubs (Sep 20), securing successful return to full-time education (Sep-Oct 20), Reconfigured homelessness provision (Dec 20), Health and Social Care service recovery and winter pressure preparation (Sep 20 – ongoing), Education settings supporting the physical and emotional health of children through the PEACH programme (Jul 20 ongoing), Community mental health and resilience (ongoing), Expand ESF NEET project to include 19-24 yr olds
Partners – Public Health England, IOW NHS Trust and CCG, Housing Associations, Voluntary and Community sector
Economic Recovery
- Create a skills system responsive to changing employer demand
- Support our residents into appropriate employment pathways
- Enable our residents to unlock their potential through upskilling, reskilling, training provision and apprenticeships
- Support our existing and new businesses to survive in the short term and to adapt and thrive in the new post-Covid economy
Impacts – 34% take up rate for furloughed staff (Jun 20), people claiming out of work benefits has increased from 3.2% (2,580 people, Mar 20) to 6.6% (5,260 people, Jun 20), youth unemployment (18 to 24 yr olds) claimant count increased from 5.4% (505 people, Mar 2020) to 11.2% (1055 people, Jun 20), 9.8% business closure/failure rates (ONS – 2018)
Response – £47,455,000 Small Business Grant and Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Grant (as at 17 Aug 20), £2,959,250 Local authority Discretionary grants (paid out in full), 4,523 number of businesses received support protecting circa 22,000 jobs, Covid safe advice and guidance sessions to over 600 businesses in High Streets and Tourism economy, Rural economy response forum
Recovery actions – “Island Card” gift card scheme to enable Island spend (Oct 20), New “Island business advisers” (Sep 20), Short course training for unemployed people in Care, Hospitality and Construction (Oct 20), Olderpreneurs project to help over 50’s start business (ongoing), Pop-up Business school to assist unemployed start businesses (Oct 20), Let’s Buy Local campaign (ongoing), Island Opportunities – support for youth business start ups (ongoing), Youth employment support hub (Oct 20), Wight Innovation hub – new co working space for digital companies (Mar 21), Branstone Farm rural business hub (Dec 21)
Partners – Chamber of Commerce, FSB, Solent LEP, Isle of Wight College, DWP Jobcentre Plus, Care Providers, WightFibre, Natural Enterprise, NFU
Place recovery
- Increase the supply and accessibility of homes of all tenures across the Island, and the supply of workspace that responds to changing needs
- Improve physical and digital connectivity in and between all of our settlements and the rest of the world
- Achieve sustainable, welcoming places with inclusive public realm improvements in our towns that are accessible for all
Impacts – Increase in home-working, reduced visitor and business traffic to Island and on Island, uptake in cycling, increased sense of value of Island wellbeing and local identity
Response – changes to services to deliver Covid safe, more take up of online service access, increased Island profile linked to Test and Trace App pilot
Recovery actions – Revised “Covid proofed” Island Plan (Jun 21), 300 affordable housing units (April 22), Island Transport Plan (Dec 21), Branstone Farm – rural homes/jobs hub (Dec 20 – Dec 22), Camp Hill garden village (Apr 21 to 2025), Newport Harbour regeneration (2021 -2031), Major events programme – Diamond Races, Le Blanc, Tour of Britain, Island place marketing programme (Feb 21 – ongoing), Island infrastructure and development enabling funding submission (Nov 20), Heritage High Street programmes – Ryde and Newport (Sep 20 – Apr24), Ryde Interchange investment (Apr 21 to Apr 23), WightFibre Full Fibre roll out (Sep 20 – 2023), Medina Valley Marine growth programme (Mar 21- 2025), Cycling and Walking Infrastructure investment programme
Partners – Public, private and third sector partners
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