Councillor Liz Leffman, who leads Oxfordshire County Council, reflects on the past year - from how people in the county opened up their own homes to Ukrainian refugees, to the challenges of the cost of living crisis. 

Read her message to our readers below:

Twelve months ago over Christmas and New Year 2022 we were approaching yet another peak in covid as the Omicron variant took hold.

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As 2023 comes in to view we can be thankful that, while covid is still very much around, the worst of the pandemic seems to be behind us.

Covid brought out the best in many people and in our communities as a whole.

People looked out for vulnerable neighbours and elderly relatives and rallied behind our NHS and social care workers and all those who worked so hard on the frontline.

The Christmas of 2021 was an even more difficult one with people not being able to visit relatives due to the restrictions in place.

It does this year feel like our most 'normal' Christmas for some time and I’m sure it will be all the more of a pleasure for that.

We have, of course, had other momentous global issues to contend with during 2022, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the heartache and suffering it has caused.

Oxford Mail: A stock picture of Russia invading Ukraine A stock picture of Russia invading Ukraine (Image: PA)

People across Oxfordshire have been incredibly generous in opening up their homes to families taking refuge from the war, and I would like to wish our Ukrainian guests all the very best as they spend Christmas with us.

We are also facing a cost of living crisis, which is affecting households across our county as energy and food bills soar.

I know how our communities are rallying around to support those in need and I would urge anyone who needs help to make use of the advice and support available through the county council and our local authority and voluntary and community sector partners.

Here at the county council we employ firefighters, highways engineers, social carers for adults and children, librarians, registrars, teachers and many other dedicated professionals, who deliver crucial services day in day out.

I wish them a merry and peaceful Christmas and happy new year and, on behalf of the council as a whole, I wish the same to every resident of this great county.

Let’s all enjoy the festive period in Oxfordshire in a way we’ve not fully been able to do since 2019.