Deaf
Awareness Week sees free sign language classes launched for
thousands of families across England
FREE online British
Sign Language classes are being offered to families across
England to celebrate:- 'Deaf Awareness Week.' The
videos will be released every Friday, for 12 weeks. Topics will
include everything from colours and days of the week to
communicating as a family. The National Deaf Children's Society
is hoping to tackle loneliness and isolation during this:-
"very challenging time for many deaf children and their
families." Families across England will get the chance
to learn British Sign Language in the comfort of their own homes
with free online classes launched, on Friday, 8 May 2020. The
series of classes will be run by the National Deaf Children's
Society every Friday for 12 weeks as part of its Family Sign
Language programme. The date was picked to mark Deaf Awareness
Week, that ran from 4 May to 8 May 2020. Each class will cover a
different topic, including:- vocabulary and conversation related
to family life so parents and children can learn together.
Classes are running in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern
Ireland, with a different tutor for each, meaning families in
England can learn specific English signs. The 1st video will
introduce the finger spelling alphabet, while later videos will
cover topics like items around the home, colours and days of the
week. All the content has been produced remotely as part of the
charity's effort to provide resources and support for the
families of deaf children. Families can tune in to the
pre-recorded classes via the charity's YouTube
Channel. Carla Rose
Hardman, Family Programmes Manager at the National Deaf
Children's Society, said:- "These are very challenging
times for families with deaf children and they can feel isolated
and lonely if they're struggling to communicate. These free
classes aim to break through that, helping families to learn
British Sign Language together in their homes and have some fun
along the way. Many deaf children benefit from using sign
language and when families learn together, it helps them to
communicate and express and understand the complex feelings that
are part of growing up. Family conversations, jokes and
activities will also become much more inclusive, which boosts a
deaf child's confidence and wellbeing. We hope that everyone who
takes part enjoys increasing their knowledge and expanding their
British Sign Language vocabulary."
₤16 million
for food charities to provide meals for those in need
THE Government, on 8
May 2020, announced up to ₤16 million to provide food for those
who are struggling as a result of Coronavirus. The programme
will provide millions of meals over the next 12 weeks and be
delivered through charities including FareShare and WRAP (Waste
and Resources Action Programme). At least 5,000 frontline
charities and community groups in England will benefit,
including:- refuges, homeless shelters and rehabilitation
services. It will cover rural areas as well as Cities, targeting
those who are struggling to get food. Both WRAP and FareShare
have well established networks for funding local charities and
delivering food, ensuring support can get to where it is needed
as quickly as possible. Part of the fund will also be available
for smaller food distribution charities. These supplies will be
in addition to those already donated by:- supermarkets,
hospitality businesses, wholesalers, smaller retailers,
suppliers and manufacturers who have been working collectively,
co-ordinated by the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD). The
funding is part of the ₤750
million pot announced by the Chancellor for frontline charities
across the UK during the Coronavirus outbreak. This is a further
step in work to allocate that funding package, with Department
for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport leading on the allocation
of funding. It builds on
existing Government support
for those struggling as a result of COVID-19.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said:- "During this
difficult time our frontline food charities are doing brilliant
work amid a significant increase in demand; working in refuges,
drop in services, homeless centres and other places. It is
absolutely vital they have the resources they need and this
funding will help the most vulnerable in our society get the
food they need at this enormously challenging time."
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: "We're doing all we
can to support vulnerable people through this crisis and this
vital initiative will help provide meals for those who need
them. It is part of the unprecedented ₤750 million of Government
funding to provide support for our brilliant charities and
volunteers that are so vital to the national effort."
Lindsay Boswell, CEO of Fareshare said:- "We welcome this
support from Defra to obtain vital food supplies, on top of the
generosity already shown by the UK food industry. This will
enable us to continue to supply much needed food and drink to
the many thousands of frontline charities and community groups
across England that are doing the humbling work of getting meals
to very vulnerable people during this crisis. We want to make
clear that this funding will only be used for the procurement of
food and drink and that our own running costs are funded through
other gratefully received charitable donations. We have seen the
generosity of the food industry who have stepped up to donate
food and logistical support to help us do this, and Government
has now come in to play its part alongside . If businesses or
local authorities wish to join our efforts in the fight against
hunger and food waste, be they in food, logistics or have
fleets, we urge them to get in touch with us today."
Marcus Gover, Chief Executive of WRAP, said:- "We've
worked with Defra to create a grant scheme of support for the
many organisations across England who are feeding the most
vulnerable among us. In only 2 weeks we've received a huge
response and are finalising the first batch of applications.
This additional funding will be used to expand that essential
work with support for the very smallest, to the largest
charities and enable them to support many more people at this
difficult time."
The Government continues to urge people to support family,
friends and neighbours by helping with shopping for food and
other supplies. Information on how to help safely can be found
on:-
RoyalVoluntaryService.Org.UK.
Those who meet the criteria for support from the NHS Volunteer
Responders
programme can refer
themselves or a family member by calling:- 08081963646. Local
Councils may also be able to offer support and give advice to
those who do not have friends and family nearby to help. You can
find your local authority by visiting:-
Gov.UK. Those who are well
and able to get to the shops are also encouraged to do so,
leaving online delivery slots for those who need them most.
Total UK cases
COVID-19 cases - update for Liverpool City Region and
surroundings
ON the 75 Anniversary
of VE Day, we are in a new battle with COVID-19. Sadly, the
death toll has again increased, by 626, to 31,241 recorded
deaths of those who have had a positive test, confirmed by a
Public Health or NHS laboratory. The Department of Health said
that number of COVID-19 infections has risen by 4,649 to
211,364. In England, there are a total of 133,626 confirmed
cases. North West - total of 21,863 confirmed cases. Current
Hospital Laboratory confirmed cases within the following Local
Authorities, in and around the Liverpool City Region are as
follows:-
► Liverpool, 1,503 confirmed cases.
► Sefton, 853 confirmed cases.
► Wirral, 1,093 confirmed cases.
► St. Helens, 687 confirmed cases.
► Halton, 341 confirmed cases.
► Lancashire, 3,093 confirmed cases.
► Cheshire West and Chester, 897 confirmed cases.
► Cheshire East, 980 confirmed cases.
► Manchester, 1,279 confirmed cases.
► Stockport, 938 confirmed cases.
► Trafford, 669 confirmed cases.
► Wigan, 923 confirmed cases.
► Bolton, 875 confirmed cases.
► Rochdale, 640 confirmed cases.
► Bury, 632 confirmed cases.
► Tameside, 528 confirmed cases.
► Oldham, 903 confirmed cases.
► Blackburn with Darwen, 349 confirmed cases.
These stats are according to Public Health England as of
08/05/2020. Last updated 5.20pm GMT. UK total includes cases
detected through:- "Pillar 2" testing (tests carried out by
commercial partners) and therefore does not equate to the sum of
the 4 countries' counts, which only include:- "Pillar 1" (tests
carried out by NHS / PHE / Devolved Administration Labs)..
UK total includes cases detected through:- "Pillar 2" testing
(tests carried out by commercial partners) and therefore does
not equate to the sum of the 4 countries' counts, which only
include:- "Pillar 1" (tests carried out by NHS / PHE / Devolved
Administration Labs).
UK Government Coronavirus Press
Conference on 8 May 2020 Video