Published: Friday, 15th December 2023
Christmas for me is such a special time of year, a chance to meet with friends and loved ones and an opportunity to reflect on the past 12 months.
And this year has been challenging for many. Increases in the cost of living have made things really tough for some, brought into even sharper focus at Christmas.
But I’ve been blown-away by the District’s amazing volunteers who support some of our most vulnerable residents, not just at Christmas, but all year round.
From food banks to hospital trips, youth support to helping refugees settle in the District and sports groups to health improvement – local volunteers give up hours of their time to help others, often the most vulnerable in our communities.
Over the last seven months, I’ve had the privilege of meeting volunteers from all areas of life and witnessed their wonderful work. I want to say a big ‘thank you’ to all these selfless individuals who improve the lives of many.
I’d also like to express my thanks to the many other unsung heroes in our communities who will sacrifice their own festive celebrations to support others. I want to pay tribute to our amazing emergency services, the NHS, our armed forces and my dedicated Council colleagues who will be monitoring CCTV, dealing with emergency calls and collecting waste. And we must not forget the District’s many retail and hospitality workers who’ll be working hard to make our break special.
May I wish you all a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year and I hope you are able to spend valuable time with friends and family.
Cllr Alan Layland
Chairman of Sevenoaks District Council
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