Mayor in tribute to Doncaster's NHS and social care workers

Mayor Jones also paid tribute to the essential workers including the hordes of council staff out trying to help communities during the coronavirus crisis.

She said: “At this time of national crisis they are more important than ever, our reliance on the NHS over the next few weeks and months will only increase, our lives are in your hands.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of those essential workers including council staff who have gone above and beyond in the line of duty. I thank you for what you have all done and for what is yet to come, I fear the worst is yet to come.

“I want to reassure the people of Doncaster that I and my cabinet are leading Doncaster Council to support people across the borough. Our focus has been on those most vulnerable, we must shield those who are most at risk.

“This is no time for party politics or division within our communities, we are all in this together.

“We have seen both locally and nationally the numbers of people who have offered to volunteer for the NHS and to support the work of our voluntary and community sector in supporting the most vulnerable in our society, this is humbling to see and shows real British grit and determination.”

The mayor recently announced a £5 million 10-point plan plan to help people, communities and businesses to get through the Covid-19 emergency.

These include a three month council tax holiday, three month rent holiday for council house tenants and encourage private landlords to support tenants who are in financial hardship.

The council will continue to offer free school meals in the community and provide a service to the children of key workers and looked after children in schools and make quicker payments to small businesses and providers to help keep their businesses afloat and boost their cash flow.

Isolation packs to support people are being put together and local artists will be offered the opportunity through an art and culture fund to keep working.