THE council has issued a community-wide “thank you” to Stirling residents and staff today as the country marks one year since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Stirling Council has released two videos on the National Day of Reflection on Tuesday, March 23.

The videos about a “year like no other” seek to praise the incredible efforts displayed by community responders and council teams over the past 12 months.

The first highlights the lengths council teams and community groups have gone to in an effort to protect Stirling’s most vulnerable people, with figures highlighting the work of community resiliency and voluntary groups that worked with the local authority’s care and community teams over the past year.

The second charts the story of how the council's essential services adapted after radical changes were implemented by governments almost overnight.

Carol Beattie, chief executive at Stirling Council, said: “I don’t think anyone will forget the first few days of lockdown last year, and the uncertainty that spread across the nation as life drastically changed for us all in the blink of an eye.

“The country moved into emergency response mode overnight, and suddenly, the every-day essential services councils deliver like in-school education, libraries or care at home, had to find new ways to operate under strict lockdown rules and guidelines.

“It was the council’s responsibility to respond to this crisis so I’m immensely proud of our reaction and the way our staff have managed to keep key services going in some form or other over the past year.

“The community response to Covid-19 and the sense of community spirit that’s been evident throughout is also something that should fill us all with great pride and respect, and should be seen as a badge of honour for everyone who lives in the Stirling Council area.

“The last year has also brought untold pain, stress and tragedy into our lives, with the loss of colleagues and loved ones something we’ll never truly get over and we’re lighting up the Wallace Monument yellow to join in with the National Day of Reflection to remember all those we’ve lost.

“Today we’ve issued these videos to showcase our thanks to the community and acknowledge the selfless acts of kindness that have been on display every day over the past year, and I would like to personally thank everyone who has helped the response to Covid-19 in whichever way they could.”