A new infographic has highlighted the key role Dudley Council has played in supporting residents and businesses during the three months of lockdown during the coronavirus crisis.

'Dudley in Numbers' highlights the local authority’s response from the start of lockdown on March 23rd through to June 23rd. It reveals the council has handed out nearly £52 million in grants to more than 4,500 borough businesses.

Nearly 10,000 support phone calls have been made to shielding and vulnerable residents through the authority’s ‘Pleased to Meet You’ service. Just over 300 people have avoided homelessness thanks to council support, with a further 700 tenants assisted with new Universal Credit claims.

Housing staff have attended 1,151 out of hours emergency calls from tenants. And the council has sourced nearly 750,000 items of PPE and supplied them to frontline services including council staff, schools and care providers. Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of the council, said:

"The infographic only represents a fraction of the work we have undertaken, but it nevertheless highlights the outstanding work done by many of our teams during very difficult circumstances.

"We have helped businesses stay afloat, helped people stay in their homes, and offered support to the most isolated in our communities.

"I would like to thank all council staff for their diligent and unstinting service, especially those on the frontline who put their lives at risk to care for the most vulnerable in our borough."