#WeMakeEvents
- R E D A L E R T -
THE events sector
urgently needs the UK Government support to survive the COVID-19
crisis... Red Alert is a campaign hosting major outdoor events
and Tuesday, 11 August 2020, in London, and across the UK, they
will be calling on the Government to:- "THROW US A LINE!" Live
events industry across the UK will come together in solidarity
to host a series of creative action to help save the live events
and entertainment sector, which is on the verge of collapsing
without financial support from the Government.
Hundreds of venues are expected to turn their lights red, along
with other creative activities being staged in over 20 cities
across the UK to symbolise the industry going into red alert,
and a final call to action titled:- 'Throw us a line' will be
taking centre stage on London's South Bank.
The capital's finale will begin on a boat at 20:30, as it makes
it way down the Thames; passing Royal Festival Hall, the
National Theatre and the Tate, and more all illuminated red. As
the boat reaches key locations, such as Westminster Bridge and
Jubilee Bridge, hundreds of volunteers will symbolise the:-
'throw us a line' theme creatively.
The call to action hopes to raise awareness for over a million
professionals at risk of losing their jobs, 600,000 of whom
deliver outdoor events, around 70% of the workforce are
freelance. The imminent closure of the self employed income
support scheme at the end of the month threatens their
livelihood.
Unlike other industries, events, festivals, and performances
have been unable to safely reopen due to social distancing
guidance and may not reopen until early 2021; and opening times
keep being pushed back. With no Government support on the
horizon for the event supply chain, redundancies have already
begun, research indicates that 25% of companies will have served
redundancy notices by end of August, this rises to 70% by the
end of December.
Over nineteen trade associations from the live events sector are
collaborating for the 1st time to save help save their industry;
the initial #WeMakeEvents campaign by PLASA issued a:- 'Red
Alert' last week, to symbolise the imminent danger the industry
is in.
The socially distanced call to action will shine a light on the
collaborative nature of the industry, showcasing a creative
experience and live displays containing messages from
established figures. Platinum selling artists Peter Gabriel, The
Cure, and Imogen Heap are a few of the many voices giving their
support to this cause, with others expected to join.
Peter Gabriel, singer, songwriter and activist, comments:-
"The live events sector employs over 600,000 highly skilled
people in the UK; event production, audio, lighting, video,
logistics, planning, transportation and technology, over 70% of
which are freelancers. All of whom have had no work for the past
four months, with little likelihood of restarting until Spring
2021 at the earliest."
Peter continues:- "A lot of high arts have now been given
some support, but people working on the festival side of things
and in live events have been forgotten about, and I hope they
are not forgotten about any longer. Around the UK they've
created something which I think is the best in the world. Many
of these people are freelancers, so don't fall under furlough
schemes. So right now, they are feeling the pinch very badly and
if we want live events and festivals to stay an important
British business then it needs to be supported."
Award winning rock band, The Cure, comments:- "The events
sector urgently needs Government support to survive the COVID-19
crisis. Without major, immediate support from Government, the
entire live events sector supply chain is at risk of collapse.
The aim is to have financial support extended for the people and
companies in this sector, until they can return to work. "
Peter Heath, MD of PLASA,
comments:- "The live events industry supply chain,
essential to every single event in the UK, is set to completely
collapse without financial support from the Government, due to
social distancing prohibiting mass events. Large Scale events
are not expected to reopen until Spring 2021 at the earliest,
and the reality is that the sector can't wait that long. We've
issued a:- 'Red Alert' after using #WeMakeEvents because the
sector is on its last legs, and now the whole industry is coming
together to ask the Government to 'throw us a line.'"
Andy Dockerty, Managing Director of Adlib, comments:- "The
events sector has been absolutely devastated by the COVID-19
crisis, and there are few signs of any significant restart in
the near future. Without immediate support the entire live
events supply chain is at risk of collapse, and some 1 million
highly skilled professionals face many more months of financial
uncertainty. We need the Government to understand the urgency of
the situation, and so we call on industry members to make their
voices heard and join us on the evening of 11 August 2020."
1 of the many groups involved is MSP Global Ltd. who are based
in Sefton. They have said that they are devastated by the
situation and have asked people to:- "use the #WeMakeEvents."
But, it not just the live event
industry under threat as well, due to a massive fall in
advertising revenues, if you are in the news industry and help
put pressure on the UK Government with the #WeMakeTheNews...
Find out more about the arts industry action at:-
LightItInRed.Co.UK.
New temporary pavement
licence to support Sefton Businesses
SEFTON
Council appreciates that the hospitality sector has been
particularly hard hit by the restrictions put in place due to
the COVID-19 pandemic. As businesses are now starting to
re-open, due to limited space and to implement the Government's
social distancing measures, many cafes, restaurants and bars may
wish to use outdoor seating areas to allow customers to safely
sit and eat and drink The Council have adopted a new temporary
pavement licence process, a streamlined consent route to allow
businesses to obtain a licence to place temporary furniture,
such as tables and chairs, outside cafes, bars and restaurants
quickly and for a fee of no more than £100.00. The temporary
measures can be extended up to the end of September 2021, with
no requirement for planning permission during this period. The
measures also provide automatic extensions to the terms of on
sales alcohol licences to allow for off sales. Government
guidance (Business and Planning Bill 2020) can be read on the .Gov.UK
website.
Cllr John Fairclough, Sefton Council's Cabinet Member for
Locality Services said:- "In response to new Government
legislation, the Council have adopted a Pavement Café Policy to
Support local businesses as they recover from this Pandemic.
These new 'pavement licences' will allow businesses selling food
and drink to obtain permission to place tables and chairs on the
public highway outside their premises, whilst still having
regards for all users of the highway, especially those with
disabilities. These measures will help ease some of the
legislative requirements concerning planning and licensing,
while social distancing guidelines remain in place. It's
important the we can support Sefton businesses as we want our
high street to bounce back from the effects Coronavirus. For
more information on the application and how to apply visit:-
Sefton.Gov.UK."
LGA responds to carers UK
report on need for more support for carers
RESPONDING to a Carers UK
report on how 2 in 3 employers say more support from care
services are needed to keep staff in work and the need for
greater investment in and reform of adult social care, Cllr Ian
Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s
Community Wellbeing Board, said:- "Every part of
the care and support sector is under intense pressure due to the
current crisis and Councils are doing all they can to support
carers and those they care for through this. Our care system
could not survive without the contribution of unpaid carers, who
provide vital support for thousands of people every day.
Councils fully recognise their crucial role and assess and
support hundreds of thousands of carers every year, but could do
even more with the right resources. We know that caring can
place a real strain on carers; emotionally, physically and
financially, especially during this pandemic, which is why
Councils are committed to doing all they can to support them.
Social care deserves parity of esteem with the NHS. This needs
to be backed up by a genuine, long term and sustainable funding
settlement for adult social care, which we have been calling for
long before the current crisis. We look forward to the beginning
of promised cross party talks on the future of adult social
care, as soon as possible."
Total UK cases COVID-19 cases
in and around Liverpool City Region
DUE to technical
difficulties with the data from Public Health England and
NHSX, we are told that:- "This data
will not be updated until . Public Health England are sorry for any
inconvenience this might course."