Reflections on the Suffolk Community Response to Covid-19 July 2020 1 Introduction The Collaborative Communities Covid-19 Board (responsible for supporting local communities in Suffolk during the Coronavirus pandemic) is now planning for the ‘recovery’ or ‘restoration’ phase of Covid-19. As part of this planning, we wanted to capture, from everyone involved in the response so far, what worked well and what could have worked better, in other words the key strengths and weaknesses, of the Covid-19 community response in Suffolk. We also wanted to ensure that we considered the key opportunities, in terms of building on what has worked well, and threats (the things that might impact on the recovery from the impacts of Covid-19 in Suffolk). By doing this in partnership we can design an effective recovery plan and, should there be any further outbreaks, ensure a seamless community response. Community groups and organisations who had played an active part in the Covid-19 response in Suffolk were invited to consider a number of questions in relation to both the response in their local community and at a Collaborative Communities Board level (i.e. at a District/Borough and County level including the Home But Not Alone service). The survey has now closed, and the responses have been analysed. Responses have been summarised below to allow for comparison and to help identify any trends and commonalities across them, as well as individually to highlight ideas and suggestions for the future. 2 Survey Analysis 114 groups and organisations responded to the online survey and took part in focus groups. All of the responses from both have been amalgamated to allow for analysis to take place. To give an idea of where groups covered, they were asked which district they represented. Which district do you or your group represent? 50 45 45 40 35 33 30 25 20 16 15 13 10 6 Numberof Respondents 5 3 0 All districts Ipswich Babergh Mid Suffolk West Suffolk East Suffolk As can be seen, six organisations said that they covered every district in Suffolk. A further two groups said that they covered part of two districts (one group covered parts of Babergh and Ipswich, and another covered part of Ipswich and East Suffolk), so their responses have been included in each of the districts they worked in. To give a flavour of the types of groups and organisations, respondents were asked in what capacity they were are completing the survey and could select all options that applied. 3 In what capacity respondents were are completing the survey (selecting all applicable options) Other (please specify) 14 Professional (non-Local Government) 5 Faith Group 14 Representing my District or County Council (as a 4 councillor or officer) Representing my Parish or Town Council (as a 34 councillor or Clerk) Charity 13 Good Neighbour Scheme 15 Foodbank 7 Community Group that existed prior to Covid-19 23 Mutual Aid/C19 Community Response Group (don't 4 plan to continue post C19) Mutual Aid/C19 Community Response Group (may 18 continue post C19) Mutual Aid/C19 Community Response Group (plan 15 to continue post C19) Business offering a response to the local community 3 re Covid-19 As a Social Media group helping to respond to 6 Covid-19 (online presence only) As a resident in my local community 57 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 In the Other option, the following responses were made: Other (please specify) L&P Communities Team at SCC. Various volunteer led services and programmes for vulnerable communities. Completely new group initially set up by myself to deal with Covid 19 issues. Medical Practitioner 4 Set up Phone Tree for village Stowupland Emergency Planning Group local vicar who has been in the parish for over 30 years We are an ad hoc group with representatives from various village organisations and groups I do happen to be a Parish Councillor but responding as an individual and not a councillor. Parenting Support - Community Interest Company in Newmarket https://www.sharingparenting.com/ District and Town Councillor I am a former Police Gold Commander Concerned citizen! I was until very recently also chair of Wickham market integrated care and health project. 5 In what capacity respondents were are completing the survey (selecting all applicable options), by district Other (please specify) Professional (non-Local Government) Faith Group Representing my District or County Council (as a councillor or officer) Representing my Parish or Town Council (as a councillor or Clerk) Charity Good Neighbour Scheme Foodbank Community Group that existed prior to Covid-19 Mutual Aid/C19 Community Response Group (don't plan to continue post C19) Mutual Aid/C19 Community Response Group (may continue post C19) Mutual Aid/C19 Community Response Group (plan to continue post C19) Business offering a response to the local community re Covid-19 As a Social Media group helping to respond to Covid-19 (online presence only) As a resident in my local community 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 All districts Babergh East Suffolk Ipswich Mid Suffolk West Suffolk 6 1. STRENGTHS - What has worked/is working well in terms of the Covid-19 response in your local community? The first question of the survey asked what respondents’ thought were the strengths that could be taken from the response at a Local Community Level. A tree map to show the broad subject areas of what has gone well at a local level is below. 7 A chart to show the broad subject areas of what has gone well at a local level: STRENGTHS: What Went Well Across Suffolk at a Local Level 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Adaptability Communications Community Projects Community Spirit District Councillor Employment flexibility Essential supplies Faith Funding Good Neighbour Scheme Group area divided into local sectors Health Services Local knowledge Luck! Fewer cases, fewer deaths, fewer cases of… Nothing done Numbers of volunteers Observation of lockdown guidelines Parish Council / Town Council efforts Partnership working Planning Referrals Specific Community Group Speed of response Suggestion Traffic reduction Treats Volunteering Young People 8 10 15 20 25 0 5 All districts Adaptability Communications Community Spirit Planning Referrals Volunteering Communications Specific Community Group Community Spirit Employment flexibility Babergh Essential Supplies Group area divided into local sectors Health Services Community Spirit Parish Council / Town Council efforts Numbers of volunteers Partnership working Volunteering Health Services Communications Essential supplies Specific Community Group district by level local a at well worked What STRENGTHS: Community Projects Community spirit Essential supplies Faith Funding Good Neighbour Scheme Group area divided into local sectors Health Services East Suffolk Community Spirit Local knowledge Parish Council / Town Council efforts Luck! Fewer cases, fewer deaths, fewer cases of… Numbers of volunteers Observation of lockdown guidelines Partnership working 9 Planning Referrals Speed of response Group area divided into local sectors Suggestion Traffic reduction Treats Volunteering Young People Faith Ipswich Health Services Faith Adaptability Volunteering Community Spirit Essential supplies Good Neighbour Scheme Mid Suffolk Group area divided into local sectors Community Spirit District Councillor Parish Council / Town Council efforts Numbers of volunteers Planning Referrals Volunteering Adaptability Communications Specific Community Group Community Spirit Essential supplies West Suffolk West Funding Health Services Parish Council / Town Council efforts Nothing done Numbers of volunteers Observation of lockdown guidelines Partnership working Planning Speed of response Treats Volunteering 2. STRENGTHS - What has worked well/is working well in terms of the Covid-19 response at a Collaborative Communities Board (District/Borough and Suffolk) level? Question 2 of the survey asked the same question, but this time asking respondents to think in terms of the strengths that could be drawn from the Covid-19 response at a District, Borough and County level. As this question was asking for strengths, comments that were negative or simple don’t knows, were discounted from the broad analysis, but are included in the appendices in full. 10 STRENGTHS: What Went Well Across Suffolk at a District, Borough and County Level 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Able to respond to requests for mutual aid Breaking down boundaries and getting things done Business support CAS and SCF coordination and response Charity support Collaborative Communities Board became model Suffolk System Communcation and information sharing Cooperation and teamwork District / County Councillor(s) support Foodbank / box deliveries and collections Funding Good refuse collection and public cleaning Home But Not Alone Service single point of access Hygiene bank donations from DC Keeping the bus service going Knowledgeable staff calling in referrals and providing advice and support if required Links provided to much wider community Parish Council / Town Council support Speed of response Taken seriously when alerted to difficulties regarding medication and delivery Trusted to get on and ask if needed help Volunteering teams 11 10 12 14 0 2 4 6 8 Breaking down boundaries and getting things done CAS and SCF coordination and response Collaborative Communities Board became model Suffolk System All districts All Communcation and information sharing Cooperation and teamwork Funding Home But Not Alone Service single point of access Knowledgeable staff calling in referrals and providing advice