This Saturday will mark another milestone in the planned recovery of our economy with more businesses able to reopen their doors.
Whether you are a hairdresser or a local pub, or maybe a town centre business who now feels more ready to start trading once more, in the traditional sense, we wish you all the very best.
The Heart of Haverhill, a task group of ONE Haverhill Partnership set up to promote our town centre, has been hugely impressed by the conscientious effort put in by business owners to ensure their premises fit national guidelines around social distance and personal safety.
Their efforts have been aided by an impressive voluntary effort among town councillors and Haverhill Town Council staff who spent eight hours on a recent Saturday ensuring safety markers and other advice was prominent for shoppers and residents alike.
I have heard very little in the way of problems or fears thus far. We are all taking small steps but getting our town centre up and running again is crucial. As is supporting our local businesses – so please continue to support Haverhill.
Likewise, it is great to see our wonderful market returning and huge credit must go the hard work of Sharon Fairweather, Market Development Officer at West Suffolk Council.
Click here to view the Haverhill market video taken by West Suffolk Markets
I mentioned the volunteer effort of Haverhill Mayor John Burns, fellow councillor Aaron Luccarini and so many more, as this has been a real leading theme during such troublesome times.
Time and time again, local residents, groups and organisations have stepped up to help.
Haverhill’s voluntary sector has risen to the challenge and I am delighted that it will now be supported further by a new Volunteer Coordinator, a position advocated by ONE Haverhill Partnership and Haverhill Town Council for quite some time.
This coordinator appointment will be able to offer expert help and guidance to groups, organisations with existing volunteers and also people looking for volunteering opportunities in and around the town.
During this Covid crisis, supporting the most vulnerable in the community has been vital so to ensure this support continues in the weeks and months to come, a ‘Good Neighbourhood Scheme’ is being planned in Haverhill which will offer simple support to those most at need.
It might be someone offering to pick up shopping or a prescription to vulnerable and elderly neighbours. Or it might be simply picking up the phone to make sure someone is OK.
Whether it is helping your local business or your elderly neighbour, never has there been a more crucial time to think of others.
John Mayhew, Chairman, ONE Haverhill Partnership
Photo credit: Haverhill Market Facebook page