Netflix is first UK streaming service to achieve 100% coverage of trusted BBFC age ratings

  • Netflix UK now carries BBFC age ratings on all films and TV shows.
     
  • Innovative industry partnership between regulator and streaming services brings UK families trusted age ratings and guidance.
     
  • Nine in 10 parents find BBFC age ratings on Netflix useful in helping them to choose content well for their family.

Netflix is the first streaming service in the UK to carry a BBFC age rating on all TV seasons and feature films on the service, helping families choose content with confidence.

The innovative partnership between a streaming service and the regulator, an industry first, has now reached the joint goal of 100% coverage of BBFC age ratings on the platform. This milestone has been welcomed by Caroline Dinenage, Minister of State for Digital and Culture.

Netflix applies BBFC Guidelines standards to content, with the BBFC setting those standards and auditing ratings to ensure consistency. Netflix have now populated their entire catalogue of original and acquired content with BBFC age ratings, giving families in the UK trusted age rating guidance and advice.

David Austin, Chief Executive of the BBFC, said: “With people spending increasing amounts of time online, it’s more important than ever for families to have clear, consistent advice on content so they can choose well.

“This innovative partnership with one of the biggest services in the UK has allowed us to do just that – and we’re delighted that Netflix’s entire UK catalogue now carries BBFC age ratings, which people know and trust. No matter what families choose to watch, they can watch with confidence.”



Jessica Stansfield, Director of Ratings Policy and Compliance at Netflix, said: “We wanted our members to see the same trusted age ratings on our service as they recognise from cinema and DVD – to simplify the process of choosing content, however they watch. We’ve been working closely with the BBFC for nearly a decade now, and we’re excited that our partnership has moved to the next level.

“BBFC age ratings are trusted in the UK, and together we’re now providing our members with the information they need. Our continuing partnership with the BBFC allows us to ensure our members always press play on content that is right for them and their families.”

According to recent BBFC research, nearly nine in ten (88%) of parents find BBFC age ratings on Netflix useful in helping them to choose content well for their family.

Caroline Dinenage, Minister of State for Digital and Culture, said: “This government is committed to ensuring new technology is safe for everyone to enjoy and we are keen to see online platforms doing all they can to protect children.“

Putting the BBFC’s trusted ratings on all shows and films on Netflix will help parents and young people make the right choices to avoid age-inappropriate content. I welcome this partnership and urge more streaming services to take similar steps.”

Families can now choose content safe in the knowledge that everything they press play on is rated to trusted, high BBFC standards. Netflix’s parental controls are also powered by BBFC data. Netflix has also improved its parental controls based on BBFC data and member feedback.

Parents can now: 

  • pin protect individual profiles to prevent kids using them;
  • tailor their kids Netflix experience by filtering out titles that are not appropriate for their age based on BBFC ratings;  
  • remove individual series or films by title. When this filter is used, the blocked title(s) won’t show up anywhere in that profile.
  • easily review each profile’s setting using the “Profile and Parental Controls” hub within account settings;
  • see what their kids have been watching within the profile created for them; and
  • turn off auto play of episodes in kids profiles. 


David Austin added: “We hope that others will follow Netflix’s lead and provide comprehensive, trusted, well understood age ratings and ratings info, consistent with film and DVD, on their UK platforms. Our research shows a great demand for consistent age ratings, with 94% of parents saying it’s important to have consistent ratings across all video on demand platforms, rather than a variety of bespoke ratings systems. That’s why we’re committed to working in partnership with the industry to ensure that families in the UK get the age rating guidance and advice that we know they need, and want.”

John Adams, dad of two and blogger at Dad Blog UK, said: “I feel this is a great achievement from Netflix and the BBFC, because viewing habits have changed significantly over the last decade. As a family we are more likely to sit down and watch a film together at home than go to the cinema, all the more so during the Coronavirus pandemic when opportunities to get out are limited for all families. It’s very reassuring to know that every film and TV series on the platform carries a trusted BBFC age rating.”   

Jodie Fisher, mum of three and blogger at jodiefisher.co.uk, said : “As a mum of three little girls, I think it’s important to be conscious of age ratings, as it’s all too easy to just click on a film because it looks suitable for your family, or even yourself, then figure out it isn’t. I’m really pleased to see Netflix have reached this milestone, and now has BBFC age ratings on all their content – it certainly makes me feel much more confident when choosing what to watch with my family.”

£500 bonus for health and social care staff

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced a one-off payment for Scotland’s lifesavers and care-givers on the frontline throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

A pro rated payment of £500 will be made as soon as is practicable to all NHS and social care workers employed since 17 March 2020 – including staff who have had to shield, or who have since retired.

This investment of around £180 million will see over 300,000 staff gain some benefit from this bonus, including nurses, porters, doctors, primary care staff, homecare workers, care home staff, hospice staff and residential child care staff.

The First Minister said: “Back in the spring, at the height of the first wave of COVID, many of us publicly  – and often loudly – showed our appreciation for the work our NHS and social care staff were doing.

“The applause was important, but it was never enough. Our appreciation must be shown in a more tangible way.

“We’re in the early stages of negotiating a new pay deal for NHS Agenda for Change staff for 2021/22. The UK Government’s public sector pay policy will not make that task easy, but we will do our level best to give NHS staff the pay increase they deserve. However, these negotiations will take time to conclude.

“Those who have worked in our hospitals and care homes – at the sharpest end of the COVID trauma – deserve recognition now.

“So I can announce today that, on behalf of us all, the Scottish Government will give every full time NHS and social care worker £500 as a one-off thank you payment for their extraordinary service in this toughest of years. Those who work part time will get a proportionate share.

“The money will be paid in this financial year and it will be separate from any negotiations about pay for the longer term. There are no strings attached.

“Of course, a payment like this can never come close to expressing our full admiration for those who have cared for us so heroically. But to our health and care workers, it is a demonstration of what we collectively owe you – and a heartfelt thank you for the sacrifices you have made.”

The pro rata £500 bonus scheme, which will be funded from the Scottish Government’s COVID-19 support package, applies to employees employed since March 17, for:

All NHS Employees, including: 

  • staff who have been active in the NHS since 17 March 2020 but who have since left NHS employment, including retirees
  • staff who accepted and worked on temporary contracts since 17 March to aid pandemic response but who have since left NHS employment, including students who worked under temporary contracts but who have since returned to University
  • staff covered by the Two Tier Agreement
  • General Practitioners and their practice teams, including 2C practices

Staff providing NHS services under independent contractor arrangements including:

  • GP surgery staff
  • NHS Dental surgery staff
  • NHS pharmacy services staff
  • NHS optometry staff

Staff working in Adult Social Care including:

  • Care home staff
  • Homecare staff
  • Palliative care/hospice staff
  • Adult Personal Assistants
  • Social care staff in residential child care settings
  • Social Workers (including those working with children and families and in criminal justice)

Disability charity calls for public support in #ISeePurple campaign

One in two disabled people feel lonely 

One in five are not connected to the internet, missing out on a simple way to keep in touch with friends and loved ones

Everyone is asked to show solidarity by posting purple pictures

With just four simple steps, more disabled people could get online for Christmas

The UK’s leading disability charity, Leonard Cheshire, is calling on the public to take part in a new social media campaign, raising money to help disabled people get connected with their loved ones at Christmas. 

To combat the loneliness around half disabled people feel, LeonardCheshire is asking everyone to show how they see purple, the recognised colour of disability. Posting a purple themed picture, connecting with four friends to do the same, and donating £5, can help a disabled person who feels isolated get online this Christmas. 

There are four simple steps to get involved: 

  • Post a picture incorporating the colour purple
  • Use the hashtag #ISeePurple
  • Donate £5 to Leonard Cheshire
  • Tag four friends to do the same

Just £25 is enough to get a disabled person online. Launching the campaign ahead of International Day of Persons with Disability 2020 (3rdDecember), Leonard Cheshire is inviting the public to show how they see purple, whether that’s through their clothing, make-up, furniture, or just out and about in their day-to-day lives.

The coronavirus pandemic means many of us are feeling more isolated.  But for one in two disabled people loneliness can be an everyday reality. One in five people with a disability have no access to the internet. Around half don’t have a computer or smartphone. With lockdown restrictions in place, many disabled people face a lonely Christmas[1].

Hugh Fenn, managing director of UK services at Leonard Cheshire said: “It’s been a tough, and lonely, time for us all. No one has felt the impact of this pandemic more than disabled people.

“Technology can help the people we support keep connected and feel less lonely in these challenging times, which is why our #ISeePurple campaign is raising funds ahead of International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3rd.”

Donations can be made via: 

https://www.leonardcheshire.org/get-involved/donate/make-a-donation

Over sixties invited for vaccine

Second phase of flu vaccine begins today

People aged 60 – 64 will be invited to receive the seasonal flu vaccine from 1 December as part of the largest flu immunisation program ever delivered in Scotland.

The most effective way to protect against flu this winter is continuing to prioritise those who are most at risk, especially in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

With vaccination for the first phase of the flu programme well under way, eligibility is being extended next to those aged 60-64.

Those entitled to the flu vaccine will receive an invitation letter by post from their health board letting them know where they can receive the vaccine and how to book an appointment.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Nicola Steedman said: “Flu is serious in itself, but with COVID-19 also circulating in the community, getting a flu jab is more important than ever.

“For those who may be concerned about going to get the flu vaccine, we can assure you that there will be strict infection and prevention control measures in place at delivery sites to protect you.

“The vaccine is safe, and the best protection we have against flu. This year more than ever it is important that those invited for vaccination take up the offer to protect themselves, their family and, where possible, the NHS. I’ve had my vaccine already, and would urge all of those who are eligible, including the new group of 60-64 year olds, to get one too.

“We will continue to adapt our approach to any changes that occur throughout flu season, always prioritising those most at risk from flu, as well as seeking to protect the NHS.”

NHS Inform is the best source of information for finding out more about how you will be invited to book a flu vaccine appointment 

National Theatre of Scotland wins UK award for making its work accessible to those with sight loss

The National Theatre of Scotland has won a UK-wide award from sight loss charity RNIB for ‘using its time, resources and skills to support the blind and partially sighted community during the coronavirus crisis’.

Scotland’s national theatre company was shortlisted under the ‘Best Corporate Response’ category of the charity’s See Differently ‘Coronavirus Heroes’ Awards.

The awards aim to shine a spotlight on the people and organisations who have stepped up to help, support and find solutions to the challenges faced by people with sight loss and their communities during the pandemic.

RNIB Head of Integrated Marketing Lorna Forbes said: “Although 2020 has been an incredibly challenging year, there have been some amazing acts of kindness and support that have played a significant role in helping others through a tough time.

“Our awards recognise these amazing achievements and say thank you to these outstanding individuals and organisations.”

National Theatre of Scotland’s Artistic Director Jackie Wylie said: “We are delighted to have won one of the RNIB’s Coronavirus Heroes for our work to support audiences during the ongoing pandemic.

“At the National Theatre of Scotland, we are committed to ensuring all of our projects are accessible to everyone, including blind and partially sighted audiences. The importance of providing access to culture for isolated people across the country, especially during such a uniquely challenging time, cannot be overstated, so to be recognised for the work on our COVID-responsive digital season is an honour.”

In response to the lockdown, the National Theatre of Scotland developed ‘Scenes for Survival’ – a programme of digital performances exploring personal journeys of lockdown life, created with accessibility as a priority.

The free shows were made available to audiences throughout the summer  garnering more than 16 million views across all platforms to date and remain available to watch for free through the National Theatre of Scotland website.

Audio-described versions of shows were available on the Theatre’s  YouTube channel and website. All were are also subtitled, while the series is being regularly updated on its website with individual British Sight Language (BSL) introductions to performances.

‘The Scenes for Survival’ programme was created in association with BBC Scotland, Screen Scotland, BBC Arts’ Culture in Quarantine project and Scotland’s leading theatre venues and companies, with support from Hopscotch Films.

Bridging the Gap: Winter support fund for children and families

£100 million package will help communities at risk

Funding to help people pay for food, heating, warm clothing and shelter during the winter is part of a new £100m support package.

The fund will help those on low incomes, children and people at risk of homelessness or social isolation cope with winter weather and the economic impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) and Brexit.

The Winter Plan for Social Protection, announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, will also address domestic abuse and digital exclusion.

COVID-19 has had a significant negative effect on Scotland’s economy hitting jobs and living standards hard – and Brexit will exacerbate the situation.

With winter approaching, some of Scotland’s most at-risk communities are facing rising costs for food, fuel and other essentials.

Key elements of the plan include:

  • £22m for low income families including £16m to give the low income families of an estimated 156,000 children in receipt of free school meals a one-off £100 payment by Christmas
  • £23.5m to help vulnerable children through additional support for residential and care homes, social work, and the Children’s Hearing system
  • £15m for the Communities and Third Sector Recovery Programme to support the work of local organisations
  • £5.9m to promote digital inclusion for older people, support social isolation and loneliness and to promote equality
  • £7m to help people who are struggling to pay fuel bills
  • £5m to help those at risk of homelessness find a settled home

The Winter Plan for Social Protection also includes £15m of flexible funding for local authorities entering COVID-19 protection level 4 – announced by the First Minister earlier this month – which can be used to pay for food and essentials.

The First Minister said: “We will shortly become the only part of the UK to give low income families an extra £10 per week for every child – initially for children up to age 6 and then for every child up to age 16.

“This has been described as a game changer in the fight to end child poverty. The first payments will be made in February, but I know that for families struggling now, February is still a long way off.

“So I am announcing today a £100 million package to bridge that gap, and help others struggling most with the impact of COVID over the winter months.

“It will include money to help people pay their fuel bills and make sure children don’t go hungry. It will offer additional help for the homeless, and fund an initiative to get older people online and connected. And it will provide a cash grant of £100 for every family with children in receipt of free school meals.

“The money will be paid before Christmas and families can use it for whatever will help them through the winter.

“That could be food, new shoes or a winter coat for the kids. Families will know best what they need – that’s not for government to decide.

“Initiatives like this are not just about providing practical help to those who need it most – they are an expression of our values and of the kind of country we are seeking to build.”

The £100m Winter Plan for Social Protection has been developed to mitigate social harms posed by the concurrent risks of COVID-19, winter cost of living increases and EU exit, as well as to promote equality and human rights.

The full breakdown of the £100m fund is:

Support for families on low incomes (£22m)

Supporting services for children and young people (£23.5m)

Enhancing capacity within the third sector and communities (£15m)

Funds for local authorities moving into level 4 (£15m)

Further help with fuel costs (£7m)

Further investment in strategic national food activity (£2m)

Further investment to support people affected by homelessness (£5.14m)

Increased digital inclusion through Connecting Scotland for older people, support for social isolation and loneliness and strategic investment to promote equality (£5.91m)

A campaign on benefit uptake and income maximisation (£0.25m)

Reserve fund to meet potential pressures (£4.2m)

End Child Poverty members in Scotland welcomed the First Minister’s announcement today committing to provide low-income families entitled to free school meals in Scotland with a £100 per child payment.

Amidst rising child poverty and the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, this package of financial support for families whose children are eligible for free school meals will bring some welcome relief.

Speaking on behalf of End Child Poverty members in Scotland, Peter Kelly, Director of Poverty Alliance in Scotland, said: “It has been clear that children and families struggling to stay afloat through the pandemic cannot wait for the Scottish Child Payment for the lifeline support they need.

“So, it is very welcome that the Scottish Government has listened to people living on low incomes and organisations across Scotland, by committing to cash grants to support families through winter.

“For many fighting to keep their heads above water amid a rising tide of poverty, the cold winter months are bringing deeper hardship. This payment will act as an anchor to help them weather the storm until the rollout of the Scottish Child Payment.”

For many months End Child Poverty members in Scotland have been calling on both the Scottish and UK Governments to act urgently to get money into the pockets of struggling families, to mitigate the financial impact of the pandemic and consequently the concerning rise in child poverty. We are pleased that the Scottish Government has listened to our calls and committed to supporting families most in need.

Getting cash directly into the pockets of families ensures dignity, respect and choice for families, recognising that families themselves are best placed to decide how to provide for their children. Working directly with children and families every day, they tell us the difference having money in their pockets means for them.

Many families across Scotland have been facing a long and difficult winter of increasing financial uncertainty and anxiety about how to pay their bills or feed their children. The Scottish Child Payment will not be fully rolled out until 2022, so this additional payment for those families will help bridge the gap between now and then.

Today’s announcement will go some way to alleviating the financial stress and anxiety for many families over the coming weeks and months.

However, there is currently no detail about how families with only pre-school aged children will benefit from today’s commitment or families with ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’, and this must be clarified. We also continue to call on the Scottish Government to commit further to increasing household incomes for struggling families who will continue to face much more uncertainty and financial insecurity during the pandemic and beyond.

We also continue to call on the UK Government to commit to making the temporary uplift to Universal Credit of £20 per week a permanent lifeline for families, beyond April next year. This permanent uplift should also be applied to legacy benefits and Tax Credits.

We believe today’s announcement is a good first step towards getting the desperately needed and vital financial support into families’ pockets. As we look towards next year and beyond there is much more needed if Scotland is to meet its child poverty targets. We look forward to working with the Scottish Government to help them achieve this.

Old Curiosity Distillery brings the festive spirit with colour-changing Christmas Gin

Scottish craft distillery, Old Curiosity, has launched a new limited-edition Christmas Gin ahead of the festive period, perfectly capturing the essence of the season by blending classic aromatic spices, and naturally coloured with botanicals to create a fitting rosy red colour. 

The Secret Garden Christmas Gin (50cl, 39% ABV) is distilled with botanicals grown in the distillery’s Secret Herb Garden on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom are distilled to create a distinctly festive flavour, while hollyhock petals give the liquid a natural festive red colouring.  

The Secret Garden Christmas Gin comes in three sizes to suit a range of gift ideas. Starting from a perfect stocking filler size of 5cl (£5.95), 20cl (14.95) to 50cl (£35.95), ideal for a gin lover’s present. The range also includes a festive gift set of a 20cl bottle of Christmas Gin paired with the distillery’s renowned Wild Gin (20cl, 40% ABV), priced at £29.95.  

To create the perfect festive serve 

  • Fill a Tall glass with ice 
  • Add 50ml Christmas Gin 
  • Top up with low sugar tonic 
  • Garnish with Orange  

Once the tonic is poured into the glass, the bright red Christmas Gin turns to a striking fluorescent pink.  

Hamish Martin, Director at the Old Curiosity Distillery, commented: “We really wanted to explore a new range of festive flavours using traditional seasonal ingredients to make our Christmas Gin. We drew influence from medieval Christmas feasts by distilling the gin with cinnamon and aromatic cardamom, while the ginger gives the spirit an extra kick for warmth!  

“We’ve proud to say that our Christmas Gin contains no preservatives, sugars, colourings or flavourings, only truly natural ingredients from our very own Secret Herb Garden in Midlothian. We hope gin lovers enjoy our festive tipple this Christmas.” 

The botanicals used in the Christmas Gin carefully grown at The Secret Herb Garden on the outskirts of Edinburgh. The Secret Garden is an award-winning herb nursery with over 600 naturally grown and tended varieties of herbs and flowers which are picked, dried and distilled by hand to deliver the pure essence of nature. 

It is most renowned for the highly acclaimed and multi award-winning collection of premium, 100% natural, Secret Garden Gins which are stocked by some of the UK’s most prestigious retailers and now exported to 11 countries around the globe. The distillery also produces ranges of teas, soaps and hand sanitisers. 

The Secret Garden Christmas Gin is available now online at theoldcuriosity.co.uk. 

To find out more about the Old Curiosity distillery and The Secret Garden Gins please visit www.theoldcuriosity.co.uk. 

Shared Access and The Scottish Football Partnership Trust map out the future of Scotland’s connectivity path

Shared Access, the wireless infrastructure operator that works with major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), and the Scottish Football Partnership Trust (SFPT) have announced the next step of the investment plan that will benefit Scottish football clubs and aid the future connectivity of Scotland.

Since launching the investment scheme in September 2020, more than 250 new clubs have registered to host infrastructure on club property – adding to a database now in excess of 500 clubs. The geographical spread of clubs across Scotland maps out the potential network available to connect vast areas of Scotland.

The scheme builds upon the investment already made in Scotland by Shared Access over the last eight years.

To date, the infrastructure has been developed through the creation of new sites and the strategic acquisition of infrastructure locations, such as the deal with NATS to secure key sites.

Now, with more than 250 new clubs and subsequent sites registered to the scheme, the infrastructure opportunity in Scotland is now increased even further with the number of clubs spread across the country. Many locations are situated in rural areas, run in partnership with the local authorities, so the potential for infrastructure investment in these areas has been greatly increased by the scheme.

The Scottish Football Partnership Trust aims to bring more investment to Scottish football clubs through grant funding, allowing clubs to invest in programmes that could develop club facilities or improve on existing stadia infrastructure.

Clubs have the power to decide where to invest any funding received at the same time as playing a pivotal role in the communications infrastructure development in Scotland. The scheme aims to invest £5m over the next five years and comes at a time when club finances have been severely impacted by Covid-19. 

Sam Jackman, Chief Development Officer at Shared Access, said: “Our strategy has always been focused on investing in grassroots sports. This year has highlighted this fact more than any year previously with the world of sport devasted by the continued impact of Covid-19 measures and restrictions.

“Whilst the scheme primarily aims to invest in Scottish sports clubs, it also broadens the infrastructure options available to MNOs as the development of wireless connectivity gathers pace in Scotland.”

Stuart McCaffrey, Chief Operating Officer at the Scottish Football Partnership Trust, added: “We’ve been hugely encouraged by the interest and response to the scheme so far from clubs spread across the length and breadth of Scotland since we launched the registration process two months ago.

“Our partnership with Shared Access provides a viable funding option for clubs at a time when football across every level faces difficult financial challenges in terms of sustaining, enhancing and improving facilities.

“It is critical for the long-term health of football and the nation more generally that we find innovative ways to bring investment into grassroots sport. Shared Access has a tried and tested model for helping clubs and we are excited to be part of something that is going to bring real benefits to clubs and communities in Scotland”.

Clubs or organisations keen to learn more about the funding scheme should visit https://thescottishfootballpartnership.com/shared-access/ to register their interest and site location.

Mull’s An Tobar launch film studio to record music for broadcast

AS a result of the current pandemic, a film studio for recording music performances has been set up in An Tobar, with the cameras being remotely controlled, recorded, and edited by operators in Perth and Linlithgow, without having to step foot in the venue.

Over the winter, Music For Winter Solitude, a series of music performances are being created with the first release by Whyte going out live on An Tobar’s Facebook page, Vimeo, and YouTube channels, on Thursday 3 December at 8pm.

A media preview of the first gig by Whyte can be found here:
https://vimeo.com/481413814/b0e0a78483.

For nearly 25 years, An Tobar has welcomed many great musicians to its tiny venue in Tobermory on the Isle of Mull.

With music from all genres, it has enjoyed concerts by Laura Marling with the singer saying that ‘An Tobar was her favourite venue’, John Renbourn, Amy MacDonald, Frightened Rabbit, The Scottish Ensemble, Tommy Smith, Dougie MacLean, Idlewild, Phil Cunningham & Aly Bain, Karen Matheson, British Sea Power and many more.

2020 was looking to be a good year for the venue, having won the ‘Venue of the Year’ award at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards and a great programme had been lined up to celebrate this accolade. Then Covid-19 hit, and everything stopped. After a month, it became clear it was going to be some time before gigs were possible in the way they had been before.

Gordon Maclean, director of Music, had an initial plan to aim for a period of documentation with musicians still being allowed to work in isolation at An Tobar.

The venue has a long history of producing remarkable records and the studio has always worked alongside the performance season. He thought, maybe it could film musicians working in the studio and sought advice from Gary Ebdy, a lighting designer for concerts and live events and Dr Tom Spink, a senior researcher in Computing Systems Architecture at the University of Edinburgh.

Gordon Maclean, director of Music at An Tobar said: “Having worked with Gary Ebdy from Lunas Live in the past, I was looking for some advice about setting things up and our conversation took a creative path until we arrived at the current set up where we use five remote-controlled cameras to record an in-studio performance.

“I’m upstairs in the studio control room and the band is in the live room so our interaction is minimal. Gary, Tom, and I complete most of the setup before the musicians arrive.

“The musicians live in local holiday houses in isolation and contact between them and local people is virtually non-existent. We all felt it was vital that musicians should feel safe working here and that the Mull population would feel safe having them on the island.”

He added: “This production facility has been made possible through generous support from Creative Scotland who have invested in their portfolio organisations to allow them to rethink how they produce work in a world with no audience.

“With the arts in a precarious situation, we are so grateful that it has allowed us to create opportunities for self-employed artists and crews.”

The design needed to be a robust system that worked within the constraints of the available broadband connection at the venue.

This involved developing an architecture that allowed access to the cameras and recording equipment remotely, and reliably – should they encounter connection issues. The system communicates with a cloud server down in London, which then relays information back to its operating locations in Perth and Linlithgow.

From there, they can watch live camera feeds, and adjust camera positions by sending commands back to Mull (again, via London). Effectively, when a keyboard button is pressed, the signal travels down to London, back up to Mull, and into their operating equipment – all in the blink of an eye!

The communication needs to be super-low latency so that they can effectively operate the camera equipment, and observe what’s going on. They’ve had to build on several technologies – from camera hardware, through to low-latency networking protocols to bring this together.

This new digital format will result in the following performances:

Thursday 3 December, 8pm: Whyte (FREE)

Thursday 17 December, 8pm: Duncan Chisholm (PAY WHAT YOU CAN)

Thursday 7 January, 8pm: Rachel Jack with her band (PAY WHAT YOU CAN)

Thursday 21 January, 8pm: Pete Harvey and the Pumpkinseeds String Quartet performing a new piece commissioned by An Tobar (PAY WHAT YOU CAN)

Thursday 4 February, 8pm: Roddy Woomble (PAY WHAT YOU CAN)

Viewing Platforms
Facebook: @AnTobarArts
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjZYNNhZF7qbV0g6fqBL_FA
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/antobarandmulltheatre

UK now has access to a total of 357 million doses of vaccines from 7 different developers

  • UK government has now secured 7 million doses of Moderna vaccine, which will be available in Europe as early as spring 2021
  • trials show vaccine is almost 95% effective
  • deal means the UK now has access to a total of 357 million doses of vaccines from 7 different developers

The UK government has signed a deal for a further 2 million doses of Moderna’s promising vaccine candidate, bringing the total to 7 million doses for the UK.

Following yesterday’s deal, the UK now has access to enough doses of Moderna’s vaccine candidate for around 3.5 million people.

To be approved for use in the UK, the Moderna vaccine must meet the strict standards of safety and effectiveness of the independent medicines regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). If it is approved, 7 million doses could start to be delivered to the UK as early as spring 2021 – the same timetable as other countries in Europe.

The latest agreement is part of the government’s strategy to develop a diverse portfolio of promising vaccine candidates. The government has now secured 357 million vaccine doses from 7 different developers, giving the UK the best possible chance of protecting the public from coronavirus as soon as possible.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma said: “It is essential that we continue to bolster our portfolio of vaccine candidates to ensure we’re in the best possible position to protect the public once we see that breakthrough.

“The UK was one of the first countries in Europe to sign a deal with Moderna, and I’m delighted we have been able to secure a further 2 million doses of their promising candidate for the British public.”

On 16 November, Moderna published initial data showing that its candidate is nearly 95% effective in protecting against COVID-19, with no safety issues identified to date. The safety data is still to be released by Moderna to show whether the vaccine is both safe and effective. Moderna is currently conducting phase 3 clinical trials of its vaccine and is using mRNA vaccine technology.

Until all the necessary stages are completed and a vaccine has been approved for use by the medicine regulator, the MHRA, the public must continue to take necessary actions to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, including following the Hands, Face, Space guidance and other public health advice in line with the area they live in.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Every week, we are getting more positive news about the range of vaccines in development, and thanks to the work of our taskforce the UK has pre-ordered hundreds of millions of doses from those companies most advanced in their work.

“This includes buying a further 2 million doses of Moderna’s vaccine, on top of the 5 million we’ve already secured.

“With a wide range of vaccine candidates in our portfolio, we stand ready to deploy a vaccine should they receive approval from our medicines regulator, starting with those who will benefit most.”

Chair of the government’s Vaccine Taskforce Kate Bingham said: “Since its inception in June, one of the most important stated aims of the Vaccines Taskforce has been to secure access to the most promising vaccines across a broad range of technologies – thereby increasing the chances of having a safe and effective prevention as soon as possible against COVID-19.

“Moderna’s vaccine was an important addition to our portfolio and securing an additional 2 million doses further adds to the protection we can provide to the public to end the pandemic.”

Sunday’s deal follows the independent regulator’s confirmation this week that it has received the necessary data of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to progress their review into whether the vaccine meets the required standards. Encouraging results from the phase III trials of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca were also published this week.

The UK’s ability to respond to future pandemics will be strengthened thanks to a new £20 million fund to expand medicines manufacturing, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced today (Monday 30 November).

The Prime Minister will launch the government’s new capital investment fund, the Medicines and Diagnostic Manufacturing Transformation Fund, while visiting North Wales later today.

This will open up investment opportunities for medicines manufacturers in England, Scotland and Wales – improving our domestic medicine supply chains and creating thousands of highly skilled jobs in the process.

This will put UK companies ahead of global competitors in advanced medicines manufacturing, while helping them respond to future healthcare needs – and increasing the overall health resilience of the UK.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: This new £20m fund will significantly increase the capacity and resilience of our medicines and diagnostics manufacturing supply chains and equip us to fight future health crises.

Throughout the pandemic we have seen a coming together of British scientific industry and innovation and this new fund will enhance the UK’s manufacturing capabilities even further.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma said: “The positive and timely response of our medicines manufacturers to the pandemic has been remarkable, but we want to ensure that the UK’s supply chains are even more resilient in the future.

There are huge opportunities for innovation in medicines and diagnostics, and this new fund will put the UK head and shoulders above others, boosting the UK’s capabilities and generating significant economic opportunities across the country.

The pandemic has shown the importance of having a strong domestic medicines and diagnostics manufacturing industry. This new fund has been established to grow and strengthen the UK’s capabilities, by encouraging companies to develop new technologies, build new factories and harness new advances, including bioprocessing, data and using greener manufacturing processes.

With two-thirds of life science manufacturing jobs already outside London and the South East, the fund will also open up economic opportunities in different parts of the UK, creating thousands of new, highly skilled manufacturing jobs while safeguarding existing jobs.

This fund will have an initial pot of £20 million, which will be available from next year, as part of the government’s 2021/2022 Spending Review announced by the Chancellor on 25 November.

Eligible manufacturing companies can bid for the fund to help with their capital costs.

More information will be made available over the coming months, ahead of the fund launching mid-next year. The fund will be run through a competitive process overseen by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.