Residents can now share their feelings and experiences of living through the Covid-19 Pandemic through a short survey on the council’s Engage platform.

The survey is a chance for communities to talk about what has changed for them, what their concerns were during the pandemic, and how they live their lives now.

Council leader Scott Farmer said: “We’re opening the door for a two-way conversation about how we’ve all experienced the Pandemic, and what has changed now.

“Focusing on the last six months, we want to hear about people’s experiences of everything from day to day concerns about welfare and support, to how their living habits have changed.

“We’re keen to hear from everyone so we can continue to ensure our services and supports are meeting our communities’ needs.”

Once complete, the council will analyse the feedback from the survey and meet with focus groups and residents to discuss the themes highlighted. Residents can also leave a comment on the themes that come out of the survey.

Further analyses of the survey and discussions will inform future planning to support our Thriving Communities objectives, at which point feedback will be shared with communities.

Councillor Chris Kane, depute leader, added: “There are lots of things that have happened over the past two years that we have all experienced together but it’s important to give individuals the platform express what impact this had on them personally.

“Do people feel lonely as a result of extended periods of isolation and restrictions, or are people feeling better connected through local supports and digital communication? Do you shop locally or go into the city, or do you do everything online?

“Taking part in the survey will give us a better understanding of where things stand for our communities right now, see where the gaps are and where the positives are, and we can then use that to bolster our support and give residents what they need.”