Fingal County Council highlights innovative response to Covid-19 during #YourCouncilDay

The innovative work carried out by the staff of Fingal County Council helping young and old during the Covid-19 crisis will be highlighted on #YourCouncilDay, which takes place on Wednesday July 1.

Fingal’s response to the crisis included ensuring its youngest and oldest citizens had something creative to keep their minds busy while schools and community centres were closed.

In conjunction with Fingal’s Housing Department, Fingal Libraries staff prepared gift packs for children in the Traveller community.

Each pack contained colourful storybooks, colouring sheets, puzzle sheets, colouring pencils, pens, pencils and notebooks.

Targeted at the under 10s, the aim of the packs was to encourage reading and a love of books and to ensure they had access to learning activities while libraries and schools were closed.

The packs got a great response, with around 400 delivered around the county.

The COVID-19 Fingal Community Response Project also came up with a book for older people who were cocooning during the pandemic.

‘Cocooning – a collection of activities for those self-isolating’ was developed through a collaboration between Fingal County Council, Age Friendly Fingal, Castleknock Community Centre Laurel Lodge, Blakestown Community Centre, Corduff Resource Centre and Huntstown Community Centre.

The book was a collection of interesting facts, short stories, poetry, recipes, songs, gardening tips, puzzles, activities and information on support services for those cocooning.

#YourCouncilDay will showcase what is happening on the day throughout Fingal County Council and also highlight the innovation shown by local authorities across Ireland in supporting their communities through the lockdown.

Social media users across Ireland are also asked to post their experiences of council initiatives using the hashtag #YourCouncilDay.

Mayor of Fingal Cllr David Healy said: “The Covid-19 situation has seen Fingal come together in maintaining, providing and adapting services so that our communities have stayed safe and united. “#YourCouncilDay is an opportunity to showcase the ways in which local authorities help our communities thrive, and Fingal is a great example of that.”

Chief Executive of Fingal County Council AnnMarie Farrelly said: “The current crisis has highlighted the true nature of public service in communities across the country,”  

"The unique circumstances of Covid-19 prompted councils to innovate in how they provided both day-to-day services and additional supports to the public."

“Faced with the challenge of social distancing, and with many of their own staff working from home, local authorities brought novel solutions to the complex problems posed by the new realities of lockdown.

“#YourCouncilDay provides a window into this work, and highlights the value of what we do as a local authority.”

Photo shows: 

Paul Smith from Huntstown browses through ‘Cocooning – a collection of activities for those self-isolating’. The innovative work carried out by the staff of Fingal County Council helping young and old during the Covid-19 crisis will be highlighted on #YourCouncilDay, which takes place on Wednesday July 1.