Almost half of older people say they’ll spend the season alone
Many older people are set to ignore the Government’s easing of coronavirus restrictions over the festive season and spend this Christmas alone, according to a new survey.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon have announced that lockdown restrictions will be eased between December 23rd and 27th to allow up to three households to mix over the Christmas period.
However, in a survey of 1,000 people by retailer Chums, 46% of Brits aged 55+ said they will ignore this lift in the coronavirus restrictions and spend Christmas with only their household.
This news comes after SAGE warned that the UK could see a massive spike in COVID-19 cases in January if Christmas festivities carried on as normal this year.
A further 24% of older Brits surveyed said they are “less likely” to spend Christmas with another household due to the coronavirus pandemic. Only one-fifth of people (21%) said that they would carry on as usual this year.
Coronavirus is known to disproportionately affect older people and for many older Brits this is precisely the reason why they are choosing not to mix this Christmas.
One third of the older people surveyed by Chums (33%) said they were worried about theirs and members of their household’s health over the festive season.
Josh Rubin, managing director at Chums, said: “After such a challenging year, we are pleased to see that restrictions will be eased for Christmas to allow many older people to celebrate with their loved ones.
“However, coronavirus won’t be taking a Christmas holiday. It is still a very real and present threat to older people in the United Kingdom.”
“Our study has found that a lot of older Brits are not prepared to take this risk, especially since social distancing guidelines are still in effect which may be difficult for many households to accommodate.”
Have yourself a virtual Christmas
Chums has also created a list of six festive activities you can do over Zoom if your family cannot be together this season:
Christmas jumper contest
Who will turn up wearing the wackiest Christmas jumper? In the weeks leading up to Christmas Day, each family member could be tasked to hunt down the loudest, funniest and downright tackiest jumper they can find. Every participant could also contribute a small amount of money to purchase a fun gift for whomever is voted the winner.
Create and exchange your own ecards
A fun, environmentally friendly way to exchange Christmas cards this year could begin with designing your own online. These can be exchanged via email to see who has the funniest or most creative Christmas card. The more technologically advanced may want to make something on Photoshop, but there are also plenty of websites where the average Joe can easily design their own Ecard free online.
Virtual Secret Santa
Secret Santa is a fun tradition for many families in the United Kingdom and there’s no reason this has to change because of coronavirus. Draw Names has created an online Secret Santa tool, for instance, where families can take part. Set a monetary value, find a great gift online and mail it to your loved one before doing a virtual unwrapping via Zoom.
The ultimate Christmas playlist
No Christmas party is complete without the perfect playlist to match, and families who are unable to spend the season together can collaborate on one from home. Spotify allows multiple users to add songs to a playlist, which can then be streamed on your video call to liven up the party.
Christmas scavenger hunt
Teams can scour their respective households for seasonal clues in a virtual Christmas scavenger hunt. Furthermore, there are many options for unique hints that can extend the game online. Who can find the funniest dressed-up pet via Google search? Or who can find the worst Santa impersonator?
6. Gingerbread house project
Whether they decide to hold a decorating competition via video or just enjoy the festive treats while watching a Christmas movie over Zoom, making gingerbread houses online is a fun way to champion togetherness and combat loneliness this yuletide.
Chums has even launched a competition where bakers who do this can share snaps of their gingerbread houses on Chums’s Facebook post and the most creative entrant will win a festive hamper worth £100.
Granton Castle Walled Garden Development Officer (one year)
N.B. REVISED CLOSING DATE 8/1/2021
Are you interested in working with local volunteers and community groups to help protect and develop a late medieval walled garden in North West Edinburgh?
The Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden are looking for a Development Officer to coordinate plans for work in the garden and in the community over the coming year, a time when we will all hope to see a different world emerging.
£15 ph for an average of 24hpw on a self-employed basis.
Under the oversight of the Trustees, duties would include:
Developing our website, communications and social media with regular updates and monthly newsletters;
Reorganising our database to update our contacts, volunteers, members/friends and associates while ensuring GDPR compliance;
Fundraising for our strategic plan including future funding for administrator, gardener, green gym, Victorian greenhouse re-build, workshops and events, utilities etc.;
Coordinating volunteers, special interest groups and working parties, especially for gardening, workshops and events;
Strengthening links with educational and community groups and increase participation of local residents;Updating policies: eg H & S, Safeguarding, Volunteer Induction;
Exploring feasibility of installation of electricity and water.
Hours of work will vary due to garden seasonality, events, workshops, meetings and when volunteers are available and will include some weekend working.
Formal qualifications are not essential, but experience of communicating and networking with Council and community groups, good MS Office and fund-raising skills and expertise in social media and database development, preferably within an historic, horticultural environment, required.
Interviews will be held in January 2021 to start in March 2021.
With a wide range of coaching and courses for babies to pre-schoolers and beyond, physical activity can help a child build fitness, confidence, and resilience, develop coordination skills and teaches them how to socialise.
Release their inner ‘Sugar Plum Fairy’ with Edinburgh Leisure’s dance classes or help them develop motor skills, balance and agility with ‘Gym Nippers’.
From 18 months to 3 years, you can even join in all the fun too. To comply with the current Covid-19 restrictions, Edinburgh Leisure has measures in place to ensure the safety of everyone, including the need for a parent/guardian to accompany pre-school aged children for Gym Nippers, who can physically support them in class, with instruction from the coach.
Children can join in their football classes from 3 years, where they will l develop confidence, spatial awareness and teamwork. For children who like to be airborne, their trampolining classes deliver balance, co-ordination, cardio fitness and self-confidence, whilst their swimming lessons will improve your child’s water confidence in and out of water, with an emphasis on fun and progression.
Swimming coaching can start from as young as 3 months or even younger, giving parent and baby a great opportunity to bond. And for budding Andy Murrays or Johanna Kontas, Edinburgh Leisure’s Tots Tennis offers a fun introduction to the sport allowing parents or helpers to be on court with them.
Things may be a little different now but Edinburgh Leisure’s coaching sessions still remain as popular as ever, with the emphasis on fun, safety, with dedicated, experienced staff ensuring everyone receives a warm welcome and gets the most from their classes.
The EIS has published a new briefing paper which highlights the views of Headteachers (HTs) and Deputes (DHTs) on the pressures of working in schools during the pandemic.
The EIS recently surveyed members across Scotland on a wide range of COVID-related issues and is publishing a series of themed briefings. Today’s report is based on comments received from HTs and DHTs in response to the national survey.
Key issues identified include:
Senior leaders highlighted that they are doing their best to implement the guidance to keep their schools safe, but there are just too many pupils in classrooms and in communal areas.
Some members suggested that the transmission within their school is not being reported.
There was widespread concern over the wellbeing of school staff who feel under pressure with their workload and are anxious about teaching with so many pupils in class full time.
EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan said, “Headteachers and Deputes have been under immense pressure throughout the pandemic.
“Many Headteachers and Deputes worked through the summer holidays to prepare schools for return after the lockdown, and have continued to work extremely long hours ever since.
“Added to this, HTs and DHTs have been compelled to take on responsibility for contact tracing in their schools, with little or no additional support. With some school buildings set to remain open right up to Christmas, many HTs and DHTs will be expected to handle track and trace calls throughout the festive period.”
A sample of comments from HTs and DHTs who responded to the survey is included below:
“The amount of additional pressure and workload on head teachers is disgraceful. Now working 7 days a week as on call constantly with no time back or recognition. Schools are not safe.”
“Quite concerned about the way in which the public health team is dealing with confirmed cases in school. Parent can report that child has tested positive before 9am yet it takes until 3pm for any decision to be made about the class/staff isolating.”
“All staff are working in a very stressful environment due to working within guidance and are exhausted. Many feel vulnerable and would have appreciated being offered the flu vaccine as some protection against illness this winter. Many are also feeling undervalued as it’s fine for them to work with 30 different families but not for them to visit their own.”
“My desire would be that schools remain open and that our pupils get the service they long for. If the public health situation is severe enough for a level 4 lockdown and all non-essential shops are closed, then serious consideration must be given to risk of staff and pupils in schools. I believe that blended learning is a half-way house and pupils would get a better deal by staff being fully committed to remote learning. The remote learning offer is now far better than what it was in April to June.”
“We are finding staffing incredibly challenging. I currently have 50% of my teachers off and while we are able to cover, the lack of supply teachers available is very concerning. I am concerned about the impact on the staff who are in and the impact long term staff absence is having on our children.”
Staff are exhausted and anxious. There may be a limit to how long they can continue under such pressure.”
Today’s briefing (below) on Headteachers and Deputes is the latest publication to support the EIS campaign #NotAtAllCosts, which argues against the government plan to keep schools physically open ‘at all costs’ even in areas with high rates of COVID infection.
The EIS is continuing to share members’ comments online and urges individual teachers to do the same using the hashtag #NotAtAllCosts and tagging the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in their posts.
A joint statement on staying safe at Christmas from the UK Government, Scottish Government, and Welsh Government:
As we approach the festive period, the UK Government, Scottish Government, and Welsh Government are seeking to balance pragmatism with the overriding priority of protecting public health.
To do this, we have joined together to issue clear guidance and recommendations, as follows:
We know the extraordinary lengths that people have gone to this year to protect their loved ones and the NHS. We know that people want to see life return to normal. And with vaccines now being deployed, next year we are confident it will do. But to get there safely, this cannot be a normal Christmas. We must continue to work together to prevent the spread of the virus, and to protect our friends, our families and our front-line workers.
In some areas, the number of people with COVID-19 is rising rapidly, as it is in much of Europe. It is vital that we all act responsibly over Christmas to limit the risk of further transmission and keep each other as safe as possible. One in three people who have COVID-19 don’t show symptoms but can still pass on the virus.
To protect you and your loved ones, we recommend that you think very carefully about the risks of forming a bubble. Discuss alternatives to meeting up in person, or ways of meeting up outdoors instead. Only form a bubble if you feel you absolutely need to.
If you do decide you need to form a Christmas bubble, take precautions to minimise risk by stopping unnecessary social contact outside your immediate household as soon as possible, and for at least five days before you meet other households in your bubble, and by working from home if you can. On no account should you visit another household if you, or anyone in your household, is feeling unwell or is self-isolating.
Scientific advice is clear: the longer you meet others for, the higher the risk of you catching and spreading the virus. If you do intend to form a bubble, you should keep the bubble small and your visits short.
The five day period is a window of opportunity and should be seen as a legal maximum, not a target. If you do form a bubble, we recommend that you meet with it for the shortest possible time. You should not stay overnight unless absolutely unavoidable.
It is particularly important to think about the greater risks to more vulnerable people. If you are over 70 or clinically extremely vulnerable, think carefully about the risks. The safest approach may be not to form a Christmas bubble.
If you do form a Christmas bubble, then be especially careful to observe the guidance: meet outdoors where possible, wash your hands regularly, keep a distance from those you do not live with. If you meet indoors, ensure good ventilation by letting in fresh air. The clinically extremely vulnerable and the elderly will be prioritised for vaccination in the early part of next year.
If you are in an existing household or support bubble with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable, think carefully. To help reduce the risks to their health, the safest approach would be to celebrate with your household or support bubble and not with others.
If you are forming a Christmas bubble you should consider carefully the risks of travelling at all. If you live in an area with the highest level of protection, for example, tier 3 in England and level 4 in Scotland, you should avoid travelling to lower prevalence areas where possible.
Each administration will issue specific travel advice based on its own circumstances. If you have to travel, book ahead to enable you and others to travel safely and plan your outward and return journeys carefully. Once you arrive you should stay local and not travel within the area.
If you form a Christmas bubble, practise safe behaviours: washing your hands, making space between members of different households wherever you can, and letting in fresh air. Following these behaviours, even within the home, will greatly reduce the risk of transmission.
We will all need to carry on practising safe behaviours after Christmas. This means shopping only if you can do so safely: shop online where you can; avoid crowds; and, if you are in crowded areas, wear a face covering and only go where it is well ventilated.
It is also really important to cut down on social contact after seeing your Christmas bubble, to reduce the risk of chains of transmission. This includes not meeting up with friends or family outside your household for New Year’s Eve. The tier or level rules will be in place on New Year’s Eve / Hogmanay and it is essential, as the minimum, that these are followed by everyone.
By taking these steps together, we can all enjoy a safer Christmas.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has joined with the leaders of the UK Government and the Welsh Government in issuing guidance on how the public should approach Christmas celebrations this year.
The First Minister has stressed that the strong recommendation of the Scottish Government to people across Scotland is to celebrate Christmas this year within your own household and in your own home – and as far as possible to keep any interaction with other households to a minimum. This is by far the safest way to spend this Christmas and keep your loved ones safe.
However, certain flexibilities were agreed in recognition of the impact of loneliness over Christmas on wellbeing and the fact that some people will not be willing to leave loved ones alone.
These provide a window of opportunity and should be seen as legal maximum to work well within. The guidance being issued seeks to reduce risks as far as possible for anyone choosing to use these flexibilities.
The First Minister stressed that the following key points should be taken into consideration by anyone choosing to spend time with other households indoors: keep the duration of any interaction as short as possible: keep any bubble as small as possible; avoid travel and overnight stays unless unavoidable; and comply with all distancing and hygiene advice.
She said: “Our strong advice this Christmas is to stay at home with your own household. Any interaction with other households should, as far as possible, be outdoors. That is the best way of keeping yourself and your loved ones safe this Christmas.
However, we recognize that in some cases, the isolation caused by being alone over Christmas will in itself cause harm to people’s welfare and that is why we have created a window of flexibility with accompanying guidance, to ensure that any household mixing is done as safely as possible,
“If you choose to form a bubble over the Christmas period, then you should take into consideration these key points:
“First, minimise the number of people in the bubble – while three households is the legal maximum, our recommendation is that two households would be better, and you should keep as far within the maximum of eight people over the age of 12 as you can. In short, the smaller the bubble is, the better and safer it will be.
“Second, you should minimise the time spent with your bubble, especially indoors. The five days is a window of opportunity, not a recommended time that it is safe for you to spend together – indeed, the Scottish Government recommends that you do not meet up with people in your bubble on any more than one day over the period and do not stay overnight unless it is unavoidable. And you should minimise the distance you intend to travel.
“You should also avoid all travel between high prevalence areas and low prevalence areas – in particular, that means avoiding travel to or from Scotland and Tier 3 areas in England, and to or from any Level 4 areas in Scotland (of which there are currently none).
The First Minister concluded: “Being asked not to see loved ones at Christmas unless absolutely essential is one of the toughest things imaginable. But, this year, it is essential to help keep people safe.
“With a vaccination programme now underway, a return to more normal life is on the horizon – and I hope that the prospect of brighter days ahead will help all of us get through this difficult Christmas as safely as possible.”
PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON’S CORONVIRUS UPDATE STATEMENT
‘So have yourselves a merry little Christmas – and I’m afraid this year I do mean little’
It is just a week since the United Kingdom began the biggest vaccination programme in our history.
And the public is coming forward at an extraordinary pace to get a jab, to protect themselves, beginning with the elderly and the most vulnerable.
With 138,000 recipients of the first dose – and more joining them every minute – there is no doubt we are winning and we will win our long struggle against this virus which makes it all the more important that we hold our nerve this winter.
Because we are now in a race to protect us all while doing everything we can to keep the virus under control.
And thanks to the colossal collective effort in November we did bring the R below 1; we did get the infection rate down.
But I must be frank with you – we are already seeing worrying rises in some parts of the country: Kent is still seeing rising infections; the number of cases in London is at 270 per 100,000 people. And that’s why we acted quickly by moving London into Tier 3 from today.
And tomorrow (Thursday) the Health Secretary will announce the outcome of the latest tiering review.
And so like every other European country facing similar challenges we have come to this moment, a great global festival – a turning point, a time of year that is of immense emotional and spiritual importance.
But also a moment for us to exercise extreme caution when we must remember that one of the most striking features of this virus is that it spreads invisibly from people who don’t even have symptoms which is in fact around 1 in 3 of everyone infected.
And that’s why from the beginning this virus has been so hard to fight and that’s why it’s so important to follow the rules – and why this Christmas it’s vital that everyone exercises the greatest possible personal responsibility.
And having looked at the latest data – with our colleagues in the Devolved Administrations, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, we have decided that the overall situation is, alas, worse and more challenging than we had hoped when we first set the rules.
So while it would not be right to criminalise people who have made plans and simply want to spend time with their loved ones, we are all collectively across the UK, governments at every level, asking you to think hard and in detail about the days ahead and whether you can do more to protect yourself and others.
We are keeping the laws the same – but we all want to send the same message: a smaller Christmas is going to be a safer Christmas, and a shorter Christmas is a safer Christmas.
When we say three households can meet on five days, I want to stress these are maximums, not targets to aim for.
And of course it is always going to be safest to minimise the number of people you meet.
And that means that if you are visiting others over Christmas, we are asking you – in the five days beforehand, as early as this Friday – to reduce the number of people you are in contact with to the lowest possible, because this virus spreads from human contact.
If possible don’t travel from a high prevalence to a low prevalence area and avoid staying away from home overnight if you can.
Remember, the vaccine is on the way and our aim is to inoculate everyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable or elderly in the early months of next year.
So if you’re elderly, the best way to minimise your personal risk is to wait to be vaccinated before spending time indoors with others.
And if you have an elderly relative, you might want to delay seeing them until they’ve been vaccinated.
And whatever your plans for Christmas, please think carefully about avoiding crowds in the Boxing Day Sales
And no one should be gathering in large groups to see in the New Year – remember the rules in your local area will apply.
In most places across the UK, I’m afraid that means you cannot mix with other households indoors.
All the information about how best to protect yourself and your loved ones is being made available on gov.uk.
So have yourselves a merry little Christmas – And I’m afraid this year I do mean little
But with the vaccine, and all the other measures that we are taking, we do know things will be better in this country by Easter. And I’m sure that next year Christmas will be as normal for every family in the country.
As a difficult year draws to a close, 20 community groups in Edinburgh are ending 2020 with some good news: a £328,583 cash boost from The National Lottery Community Fund!
Among the local organisations receiving early Christmas cheer are Ama-Zing Harmonies, Muirhouse Millennium Centre and North Edinburgh Arts.
