With new national restrictions now in force, I know how tough the next four weeks will be for many and as a council we are ready to help those in need.
Supporting our most vulnerable residents is our absolute priority and we are working with all our partners to ensure that across our communities, no one is left behind.
If you are experiencing hardship or difficulty, or need support, you can find information, advice and support on our Covid-19 webpages. Anyone in urgent need of help can contact our Covid-19 helpline on 020 8604 7787, Monday- Friday 9am-4pm.
If you have received a letter from the government because you are clinically extremely vulnerable, register now with the government’s national shielding service if you need support getting access to priority supermarket deliveries, or someone to contact you about any local support that’s available.
The shielding service will let us know about anyone that needs help locally and we will be in touch. If you are already registered for a priority supermarket delivery, you will keep this – you don’t need to register unless you need other support. If you need help from us now, or support in registering on the government website, contact our Covid-19 helpline on 020 8604 7787, or use our contact form.
This is a really difficult time, but there is help for those that need it so please don’t struggle alone. If we support each other, we can get through this.
Remembrance Sunday
Sadly, the national Covid-19 restrictions mean councils can only hold limited Remembrance Sunday commemorations, with restrictions on who can attend. So this Sunday, Croydon will hold an online church service and a special scaled-down civic ceremony.
There will be no parade, civic service of remembrance or large public wreath-laying ceremony. However, the Mayor of Croydon, myself and the leader of the opposition, along with a restricted number of representatives of military units and the Royal British Legion, will pay our respects by laying wreaths at the Croydon Cenotaph and observing two minutes’ silence in a short ceremony at 11am.
I hope as many of you as possible will join an online service of remembrance streaming via the Mayor of Croydon’s Facebook page at around 10.50am on Sunday morning.
On Wednesday 11 November at 11am, the Mayor of Croydon and Deputy Lieutenant Colonel Ray Wilkinson will also observe two minutes’ silence at the Croydon Cenotaph to mark Armistice Day.
Anniversary of the Sandilands tram derailment
On Monday, Croydon will mark the fourth anniversary of the tram derailment – a tragedy that devastated our borough and shocked the country.
On 9 November 2016, more than 60 people were injured and Dane Chinnery, Donald Collett, Robert Huxley, Philip Logan, Dorota Rynkiewicz, Philip Seary and Mark Smith lost their lives when a tram derailed close to Sandilands tram stop.
We will never forget them and our thoughts remain with everyone affected by this tragedy.
We will pay tribute with a civic ceremony at 11am on Monday outside the town hall where I will join the Mayor of Croydon, leader of the opposition and the council’s chief executive as we observe a minute’s silence. The borough flag will be lowered to half-mast.
The victims’ families have been invited to attend while observing social distancing rules. The Mayor of Croydon will also be visiting the New Addington and Sandilands memorials on Monday to lay floral tributes.
We may not be able to come together in person for these two important days of remembrance, but I know Croydon will be united in heart and mind.
I wish you all a safe and restful weekend,
Councillor Hamida Ali, leader of the council
