CAROLINE ANSELL MP: We need to hold tight now in midst of pandemic

My new working life is now characterised by conference calls.  

This week I’ve spoken with MPs across the country, the police, hospital leaders and council officers.

It’s not the same, I love being with people, but responsibilities and decisions can be discharged in this way and we can continue to move forward.

Eastbourne’s very own ‘COBRA’ conference call to co-ordinate the town’s response to coronavirus took place again this week and it was great to see a host of people and organisations on the call all present and coming together to help get our town through this emergency.

I brief everyone across the full range of my work, from supporting individuals, to promoting the interests and needs of Eastbourne and Willingdon and on my work within my government department of DEFRA which sits at the heart of the national challenge to feed the nation.

Every week my small team deals with more than 1,000 emails, signposts people in need to our local hub, gives advice and we are still actively supporting Eastbourne residents stuck overseas in Australia, South Africa, Guyana, Philippines, Thailand, Pakistan and New Zealand.

One particularly good way I’ve been able to keep connected with Eastbourne residents in this lockdown season has been through my weekly e newsletter which connects people to new services and to each other and you can subscribe on my website.