I WANT to take this opportunity to congratulate the students across the city on their A-level and GCSE results that have come out in recent weeks.

Pupils in Brighton and Hove have worked hard in really difficult circumstances. Having schooling disrupted at such a crucial point in the academic calendar with a global pandemic and the stress of lockdown is unprecedented – and I think our students should be incredibly proud of their efforts.

On behalf of the Labour Group of councillors I want to say well done to each and every one of you, and we wish you the very best for the next exciting chapter of your lives.

I also want to say a big thank you to the diligent school and college teachers and essential support staff who have gone the extra mile to support our young people through these turbulent few months. The work you do is vital, and you have our appreciation.

I’m really pleased to see the Government has recognised its mistakes in the initial moderation process for A-level results and has changed course to ensure students receive the grades predicted by teachers, schools and colleges.

I know how stressful it must have been for all the students across the city who saw their results initially harshly downgraded. Around the country, nearly 40 per cent of A-level grades were marked down by the national moderation process. Those initial figures also seemed to indicate that inequality was baked into the system, as students from disadvantaged backgrounds had been disproportionately affected by downgrades – while students from independent and private schools saw top grades disproportionally rise.

I understand and shared in the frustration that pupils, parents and teachers across the city must have felt. Something had clearly gone very wrong with the moderation process. That’s why we as the Labour Party lobbied the Government to reverse its decision and trust teachers, schools and colleges to accurately grade their own students. I hope that students are happier with their results now and can go on to achieve their ambitions.

While I’m pleased with the end result, the whole series of events speaks to a wider and worrying trend – that those from disadvantaged backgrounds are those being hit hardest by Covid-19 and the social and economic turmoil this public health crisis has brought.

The eviction ban is about to be lifted and the furlough scheme is coming to an end. We could be looking at a sharp increase in unemployment and people losing their homes as their incomes have been impacted by Covid-19 and they find themselves unable to pay their rent. Those from disadvantaged backgrounds will of course be at higher risk of these unwelcome possibilities.

Clearly, government intervention is required to extend a safety net to vulnerable people and help people stay in their homes and their jobs.

During this ongoing uncertainty many groups and individuals are supporting those in need in our communities. And more help is always welcome. We are lucky in Brighton and Hove to have a thriving charitable and third sector, jam-packed full of volunteering opportunities for us to all pitch in and do our bit to keep the city fed and help our vulnerable neighbours.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve helped pack shopping at a local food bank, joined Brighton Cooking Club and cooked extra portions of food for a family and done some weeding for a sheltered housing scheme as a member of GoodGym Brighton. The GoodGym Brighton is a great club to get involved in if you like the idea of volunteering and helping out in the community but doing something active, healthy and fun at the same time. It involves making your way over to wherever the project is that day, be that by running, cycling or walking and then doing some volunteering that involves manual labour. That could be anything from cleaning the community kitchen to working on a communal garden or painting off graffiti. It’s a great way to combine your exercise time with doing something rewarding, make new friends and help fellow residents.

If that doesn’t sound like your thing, the Brighton Cooking Club is something you can do from the comfort of your own kitchen. It involves cooking an extra portion of whatever you’re having for dinner and dropping round a fresh, hot meal to a local resident or family in need. I love cooking when I find the time and the Cooking Club means you can try new ingredients, new recipes and do your bit to help keep the city fed, just by cooking a little extra.We can all still play a role in looking after each other.