Campaign urges people to shop local in run-up to Christmas

By Ella Hopkins

Shoppers have been asked to support local businesses and protect jobs in a new campaign.

The ‘Shop Safe, Shop Local’ campaign launched by town hall leaders calls on residents to do their Christmas shopping in nearby high street stores.

Many businesses have re-opened for the first time in a month following the nationwide lockdown.

The campaign was launched by Lewisham council on Small Business Saturday, on 5 December.

Small businesses and their employees across South London are suffering as a result of the nationwide lockdown in December.

The number of residents claiming unemployment related benefits in the borough has increased by 137 per cent since March.

Lewisham council has provided nearly 4,000 businesses with emergency grants worth more than £43 million since April.

Joe Dromey, the councillor with responsibility for employment and skills, said:
“Lewisham is a borough of independent small businesses. They are so important to the health of our local high streets, and in creating good quality jobs.

“Despite massive cuts to our funding, Lewisham council has done all we can to support local businesses through this crisis. But we can all do our bit to support local businesses and protect local jobs.

“Rather than travelling across London to large and crowded shopping centres, and rather than spending money on tax-dodging online retailers, we’re encouraging residents to safely support some of the fantastic local businesses on our doorstep.”