Lockdown lifelines celebrated in local Covid awards

Share your love for the special places in your area and celebrate the local businesses that have been your lockdown lifelines by nominating them for a Staffordshire Moorlands Lockdown Award.

The District Council’s tourism team is spearheading the social media campaign to celebrate the businesses that have kept local communities going over the last year and the places people can’t wait to return to when restrictions allow.

Councillor Mike Bowen, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “The lockdowns and other restrictions imposed to help control Covid have been hard for everyone but particularly for businesses.

“The resilience and adaptability they have shown has been nothing short of remarkable with many finding ways to continue to trade safely and offering services that we know are highly valued and appreciated by our local communities.

“We want to celebrate their achievements by shining a light on the things we’re all looking forward to being able to visit and enjoy again once the restrictions allow in the coming months.

“Whilst we can’t hand out prizes or hold awards ceremonies at present, our lockdown tourism awards are a light-hearted way of sharing what we love about where we live and showing our appreciation for the special places we are privileged to have here in the Moorlands via social media.

“So please get involved and let us know which businesses have been your lockdown lifeline and where you can’t wait to go when things are open again. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!”

There are six initial categories to choose from – but the tourism team are happy to hear your favourites whether they fall into one of these categories or not:

• Most scenic walk

• Tastiest lockdown takeaway

• Most missed pub / bar / café

• Most missed attraction

• Best local shop

• A special award for the business that has diversified the most to adapt to the pandemic

You can share your favourites at www.facebook.com/StaffordshireMoorlandsTourism- where you might also just pick up some future favourites as nominated by others to put on your ‘to visit’ list when restrictions allow.