In our most recent residents' survey, one fact stands out: nearly one in three people in Newham said they do not have a family member or friend they can rely on if they have a serious problem. Imagine that - more than 100,000 people living in one of the busiest capitals in the world who are alone during a crisis. One story brought this to light recently: an older man living alone was called up by our staff to arrange a food parcel delivery. During the call, the resident collapsed and our colleague called for an ambulance immediately, staying with the gentleman on the phone to reassure him help was on the way. Had it not been for the call, we dread to think what might have happened. Newham has been one of the most acutely affected parts of the country according to the ONS - indeed the death rate once adjusted for age is the highest in the country. The economic and social impact of COVID-19 in a borough like Newham is greater, with half of our children living in poverty, and many are lacking financial resilience: high levels of debt, very high renting population, large families, single parent households and amongst the lowest-wage workforces in the capital.
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