The green light for hotels reopening came at the perfect time for one couple as they celebrate their 15th anniversary back at their wedding venue.
Steven and Sarah Hicks got married at DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre on 15th July 2005 – now 15 years on, the happy couple were the hotel’s first returning guests as doors reopen to the public.
To celebrate the milestone anniversary – traditionally marked with crystal – Mr and Mrs Hicks hired the same vintage car they travelled in 15 years ago for the journey to the hotel, where they were welcomed by a lone piper for a complimentary stay.
Sarah said: “We always try to stay at the hotel to mark our anniversary each year and the fact the hotel is reopening again today, just adds to the special day and makes another amazing memory at the hotel for us.”
A Cornish village with a population of less than 1,000 has triumphed over some of the nation’s most famous seaside resorts in Which?’s annual rankings of the UK’s best coastal destinations.
The survey – carried out before the coronavirus lockdown – shows British holidaymakers favour peace and quiet over crowds, crazy golf and roller coasters. It also highlights some of the lesser-known resorts savvy travellers can escape to if they want to avoid busy beaches, bars and restaurants this summer.
Which? asked thousands of holidaymakers to rate their recent visits to the UK seaside across a range of factors including food and drink, seafront, beach, value for money and peace and quiet.
St Mawes, in Cornwall, came top ahead of better-known beach destinations like Salcombe or St Ives – earning a full five stars for its scenery, seafront and peace and quiet – and a glowing overall customer score of 85 per cent.
Those who visited St Mawes recommended eating crab baguettes at Mr Scorse’s deli and spotting dolphins on the ferry to Falmouth, but admitted that avoiding peak season was the best way to dodge the crowds.
Dartmouth, arguably one of the most famous destinations in the Which? top 10, and home of Agatha Christie, scored 84 per cent. Those who visited drew attention to steam trains and delicious seafood, but advised using the park and ride service as finding a parking spot in town is “near impossible”.
With many people seeking to avoid already oversubscribed hotspots, particularly in Devon and Cornwall that may not be able to cope with the surge in people holidaying at home this year, Which? found that there are still lots of beautiful places which holidaymakers may not have considered.
Coastal Suffolk had two entries in the top five, with both Southwold (84%) and Aldeburgh (83%) scoring top marks for scenery and peace and quiet.
Holidaymakers highlighted the great food and drink on offer in Southwold – earning five stars in this category – as well as the deliberate lack of ‘kiss-me-quick’ gimmickry.
Aldeburgh was praised for its tranquillity, with one person telling Which?: “It’s not got the usual ‘seaside entertainments’”. Another described it as “far from the madding crowd of South East England.”
Bamburgh in Northumberland (83%), which topped last year’s rankings, has not fallen out of favour with visitors this year. It was rated a full five stars in almost every category.
One person summed up Bamburgh as “one of the UK’s top-secret locations,” adding that “Northumberland is outstandingly unspoilt and a UK treasure”.
St Andrews (81%), home of Scotland’s oldest university, also made it into the top 10, with a full five stars for food and drink, beautiful views and its attractions, including the world-renowned golf course.
Those who visited pointed to the West Sands beach, which extends for almost two miles and was made famous in the opening scene of the film Chariots of Fire. Visitors looking for peace and quiet were advised to check term times before travel, as the town is much livelier when the students are around.
For a more easy-going Scottish seaside destination, Oban (74%) could be a better option.
It is best known as the ‘Gateway to the Isles’, thanks to its role as a hub for tourists departing to the islands of the Inner and Outer Hebrides, but this seaside town has enough to charm to warrant being a holiday spot of its own and also gets top marks for stunning scenery.
In Wales, St Davids (81%), Llandudno (80%), Tenby (79%) and Conwy (78%) all scored highly, with many destinations in Wales getting high ratings for scenery and value for money.
Which? found that crowds can easily be avoided by missing better-known destinations by heading a little further up the coast. For example, instead of Llandudno and Conwy, fewer people will know Criccieth which achieved a respectable 74 per cent customer score. This town was also received a full five-star rating for its stunning views, and being a bit further afield will also mean that hotel rooms are a little cheaper.
Also in the Which? top 10, but may be often overlooked by holidaymakers is Tynemouth (81%), eight miles east-northeast of Newcastle upon Tyne. This coastal town was awarded five-star ratings almost across the board, including for its sandy beach which is popular with walkers and is a nationally recognised watersports hub.
Meanwhile Skegness, the famous home of the original Butlins, only managed a 44 per cent customer score. It achieved one-star ratings in each category, apart from the three stars for its beach.
While some of those who spoke to Which? were scathing in their comments, going as far as to say the Lincolnshire town was “to be avoided,” nature lovers highlighted the seal sanctuary and bird watching at the Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve.
There were also those who spoke fondly of a “typical town that caters for all ages” and one visitor who told Which?: “Don’t be put off by the stereotypical opinions of Skegness. It’s a well maintained, vibrant area.”
Further down the table were other iconic seaside resorts complete with Victorian-era piers, amusement arcades and roller coasters, including Great Yarmouth (48%), Clacton-on-sea (48%), Bognor Regis (49%) and Blackpool (53%).
Rory Boland, Which? Travel Editor said:“With many people choosing to holiday in the UK this summer it is a good time to explore parts of the country you may not have considered before and to spread our sandcastles beyond the beaches of Devon and Cornwall. As our survey shows, it’s smaller seaside towns and villages with fewer visitors that holidaymakers love.
“Whether that’s hitting the waves in Tynemouth or camping in Criccieth, there are good options for those of us keen to keep our distance from the crowds this year but still want to combine stunning scenery with sumptuous seafood. Don’t forget, if you book your hotel or accommodation direct and over the phone, you may even get a discount or free bottle of bubbly thrown in.”
Organisers of the Drive-in Movies said: “We are delighted to be able to share with our audiences the first batch of titles to be screened as part of Drive-in Movies next month.
With a broad selection of timeless classics, family favourites and blockbusters, it truly offers something for everyone. We’re already working behind-the-scenes on the programme for the future events, but in the meantime book yourself a wild ride and we’ll see you at Edinburgh Airport for some cinema magic.”
The Drive-in Movies August line-up includes 13 films: classics such as Airplane!, cult titles like The Princess Bride, family-favourites including Up and recent hits like Get Out and MaryPoppins Returns.
Every month from August 2020 until January 2021, Drive-in Movies will welcome up to 250 cars at the Edinburgh Airport car park, offeringfilm fans of all ages a world-class cinematic experience in a safe, controlled environment.
Audiences are encouraged to book now at www.edinburghdrivein.co.uk for 27-30 August, the first weekend of Drive-in Movies.
More titles for the future events, including the second Drive-in Movies weekend (24 – 27 September), are to be announced in due course.
Line-up confirmed so far includes:
Thursday, 27 August
6pm – Sunshine on Leith (2013)
10pm – Get Out (2017)
Friday, 28 August
2pm – Grease (1978)
6pm – Airplane! (1980)
10pm – Con Air (1997)
Saturday, 29 August
10am – Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
2.15pm – Clueless (1995)
6pm – William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet (1996)
10pm – Alien (1979)
Sunday, 30 August
10.30am – Up (2009)
2pm – The Princess Bride (1987)
5.45pm – La La Land (2017)
10pm – Dirty Dancing (1987)
The films will be shown on a state of the art 100sqm LED screen, one of the largest mobile screens in the world with the audio broadcast straight to cars, for audiences to control the soundtrack.
Audiences will be able to arrive up to 1 hour prior to the film’s starting to take part in a car disco with a playlist relating to the screening, along with an interactive on-screen quizwith spot prizes. Food and snacks will be available to purchase from a selection of local food suppliers who will have stalls on site.
With cars suitably distanced apart Drive-In Movies will be a safe environment for families and friends to enjoy an event, in line with government guidelines for outdoor events. Standard tickets priced at £35.00 per vehicle for up to 5 people, with a number of tickets being made available to EIFF’s community partners.
Drive-in Movies offer accessible toilets and food units. Please check listings for captioned screenings.
Pioneering face mask supplier Screen & Shield has landed a groundbreaking deal after one of Scotland’s leading bar, restaurant and hotel groups signed up to provide coverings for all its staff.
Montpeliers – which operates seven venues in Edinburgh including the iconic Tigerlily on George Street – has decided to take advantage of Screen and Shield’s novel business solution ‘Team Vouchers’ to provide hundreds of their staff with face coverings, as they prepare to re-open to customers.
As part of the many unique features offered by Edinburgh-based Screen & Shield, ‘Team Vouchers’ lets employers pre-purchase masks in volume and lets their employees individually choose their preferred mask designs. And 10% of all online sales go to charities that support NHS frontline workers.
Paula Greenan, Montpeliers Operations Manager, said: “Safety of our staff and customers is paramount to us, so we were drawn to the safety features of Screen and Shield’s masks.
“We really love the designs – they give us the opportunity to allow our staff to choose their own mask and have some individuality in wearing it.”
“Supporting a local Edinburgh business is also very important to us, as is the charitable donation to NHS charities that Screen and Shield make.”
Hass Peymani set up Screen & Shield from scratch after becoming alarmed at the poor quality and unavailability of face masks for his family as he faced lockdown with a pregnant wife and his dad in a high-risk category.
Hass, who had previously set up a hugely successful global video business that saw him work with likes of football icon Neymar and pop superstar Katie Perry, spent 10 weeks exhaustively researching the market and supply chains, before launching his #sasMASK brand from home, in the midst of national lockdown.
Hass said: “From a standing start, we are building up a reputation as the UK’s premier face mask supplier.
“We’re delighted that Montpeliers have recognised this and placed their trust in our #sasMASK to help protect their staff and customers. We are confident other hospitality businesses will quickly see attractions of the #sasMASK especially as they start the process of encouraging back customers to their venues.”
Paula added: “We have introduced new policy surrounding hygiene practises and social distancing measures to ensure our staff and customers feel safe and happy. Staff training is also being conducted to introduce everyone to the new normal and make sure we can still provide the best service to our guests.
“In short we’ve missed our customers and can’t wait to welcome them back.”
The Montpeliers portfolio includes Montpeliers of Bruntsfield, Indigo Yard, Rabble, Candy, Eastside, Lulu as well as Tigerlily.
Unlike many of the masks on the market, the #sasMASK is manufactured in Europe and complies with the latest material and layering guidelines for non-medical-grade face coverings.
The #sasMASK has not only been designed to be washable, comfortable and affordable but also comes in more than 30 designs; with this range due to double in size in the coming weeks.
Screen & Shield can work flexibly with businesses of all sizes, providing small orders for the likes of cafes and shops, to providing bulk orders with large firms, and offer custom branding to any and all. Business customers can also benefit from the ‘Team Vouchers’ system, which provides pre-paid voucher codes so staff can choose their own designs.
Since its launch, Screen & Shield have had over 1,500 orders from individuals, businesses and community groups from around the UK and new supplies of tens of thousands of custom #sasMASKs are being produced to keep up with demand.
And, with the wearing of face masks now compulsory on public transport in Scotland and set to become mandatory in shops in Scotland from July 10, Screen & Shield is expecting orders to continue to surge.
A STUDENT who almost dropped out of university after a series of mystery collapses is today celebrating completing her Edinburgh Napier degree at the same time as her classmates.
Natalie Dunsmore’s health woes emerged when as a second year she blacked out while on a sunshine break in Cyprus.
Many more episodes followed, including periods when Natalie collapsed every two or three days, once in front of a class at a lecture.
On another occasion she blacked out on the day of an exam, but still managed to complete the paper after being checked over by an ambulance crew.
However, her ill health was taking its toll, leaving her wondering if she would ever complete her studies.
“I decided close to the end of third year that I was going to give up university,” said Natalie, 21, of Harthill, Lanarkshire. “I felt as if I was a hassle to everyone, and decided it was easier to drop out.
“But the University pushed me on and told me I could do it. They had already put in place a buddy system for me, meaning someone from my year was with me at all times on campus.
They also gave me a medical pass with first aid instructions on a lanyard, and allowed me to use a separate exam room and have extra time if needed.
“The University couldn’t have done any more for me to ensure I felt safe on campus.
“Despite missing most of fourth year due to being unwell in hospital, I finally got diagnosed with epilepsy, and I managed to hand in my dissertation and complete fourth year normally alongside my peers. Looking back I’m so glad I stuck with it and pushed on.”
Natalie is now the proud holder of a BA (Hons) in Business Management.
She said: “Whatever problems people come across, there are always routes you can take to what you want to achieve. I had many low times when I thought dropping out was my best option, but I have overcome this and now have a degree after suffering terribly for three years of my course.”
Natalie now hopes to go on and do a Professional Graduate Diploma in Business Education with a view to taking up a teaching role.
Dr Mike Sanderson, lecturer in Human Resource Management and Disability Contact for the Business School, said: “The staff at Edinburgh Napier University have been extremely impressed by Natalie’s determination to complete her studies in the face of many health difficulties.
“As an institution we are highly student-focused, and will leave no stone unturned to explore ways in which we can support students through their studies.
“We are delighted for Natalie and congratulate her on this great achievement. She is an inspiration to us all.”
NHS Lothian staff working across a number of Children’s Outpatient services at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children have been busy packing, ahead of the move of the first children’s clinical services to the new facilities at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People.
This move is being delivered in a phased approach, and already a number of administration teams have migrated and settled into their new environment.
Alongside the provision of outpatient face to face appointments, NHS Lothian will continue to make use of video call technology ‘Near Me’ for a number of appointments, offering greater flexibility as well as reducing the need for families to travel to attend in person.
The move plan, which was agreed with the full involvement of clinical teams, is not only helping to free up space at the existing Royal Hospital for Sick Children site, but is enabling NHS Lothian to continue to deliver paediatric clinics in a way which fully adheres to and supports social distancing.
Susan Goldsmith, Finance Director and Executive Lead for the project, said: “It is exciting to see the first of our Children’s services move to their new home at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People. We have reached a significant milestone in this project’s journey, which is important to acknowledge and celebrate.
“While delays to the opening of the new facility have been well publicised, I hope that as each service moves and appointments commence; patients, visitors and staff will be able to see just how impressive the facilities really are.
“Reaching this stage in the project has required a tremendous amount of work from the contractors on site, as well as our own project and clinical teams and for that I would like to say a huge thank you.”
While the first outpatient services settle into their new home, work on the final stages of the remedial and enhancement work in other areas of the building continues. Once this has been completed, and following final commissioning, the second phase in the move of NHS Lothian’s Children’s services will take place.
At this point, those services still situated at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children site will also move to the new building.
Lothian MSP Miles Briggs said: “It is terrific that staff are finally able to move across to the new facilities at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, based at little France.
“This move has been a long time coming and I wish all NHS Lothian staff the best at their new home.”
FAQs
How do I know where my child’s appointment will be?
Your appointment letter will tell you where your child’s appointment is being held. If it is to be held at the new Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, you will also receive a phone call to make sure you know where you are going.
Is there parking available?
Parking is available on site. Parking stewards will direct you to the most appropriate car park. A small number of spaces are also bookable in advance, but these are reserved for patients with the greatest need, based on clinical priority.
My child has an appointment at the RHCYP, how do I find out the latest travel information?
With COVID ongoing, is it safe to bring my child to hospital?
Yes. We have separate areas for patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 and for those who have not. There are also a range of enhanced infection control measures in place, such as staggered appointment times to limit the number of people in any one area of the building, physical distancing within waiting areas and enhanced cleaning in consulting rooms between each patient.
My child has an appointment in August, does this automatically mean it will be in the new building?
No. Although most outpatient services are moving over the coming weeks, some will remain at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children site at Sciennes, until the new building is ready to be opened to all services, including inpatients. This is because some services need access to other clinical support, which will not be moving until the whole building is open. Departments that will not be moving at this stage include, but are not limited to: Pain, Respiratory (asthma, allergy, CF), Cardiology, Haematology Oncology, Plastics and Plastics dressings clinic. Does the move mean that the reported problems in the building have been fixed?
Our project team, as well as the contractors on site, are continuing to work on the final stages of the remedial and enhancement work. Once this has been completed, and following final commissioning, the second phase of the move will take place.
Why has everything not moved across to the new building?
Remedial and enhancement work is still taking place at the new building, which means that some services cannot move at this time.
If my child has an emergency, where do I go?
Children’s Emergency Services remain at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Sciennes. If you need to access this service, you should continue to do so at the old site. There are no Emergency Services at the new building within the Little France site at this time.
It has been reported that the RHCYP building will be opening in Autumn 2020, are things on track for then?
Our project team, as well as the contractors on site, are continuing to work on the final stages of required remedial and enhancement work. As part of this, we are due to imminently receive the final works programme. Once this has been received and discussed with the services involved, an opening date for the full building will be announced, alongside more detailed plans for the migration of the remaining Children’s services.
Morrisons has launched a food box that offers families the ingredients for five meals together with simple recipes describing how to cook them … and all for just £30, including delivery.
The family recipe box – called Five Meals to Feed a Family of Four – is designed to provide quick, easy and affordable homemade meals that families can cook from scratch at home.
Each is designed to be served in the evenings and make mealtimes a social, family experience.
The launch comes after a study released earlier in July showed an increase in family dinners during lockdown, with shared family mealtimes being cited as positive for mental health and social wellbeing[1].
Priced at £30, including next-day or nominated day delivery, the Morrisons family recipe box works out at just £1.50 per meal per head. Other similar boxes on the market cost upwards of £50 for the same number of meals and customers can save up to 78 per cent on the cost of the meals per serving by choosing Morrisons[2].
Unlike other recipe boxes, the Morrisons family recipe box contains full retail-sized packs of ingredients. This means customers will also have ingredients left over at the end of the week – which they can use to cook more meals.
The box is ideal for families that enjoy preparing meals from scratch and is also a great way to get children involved cooking at home.
Tessa Callaghan Head of Food Boxes at Morrisons said:“Many of our customers enjoy eating meals as a family and we have seen customers do this more during the pandemic. It can be difficult to constantly cook up new dishes that please everyone. So, we wanted to create a great value box that contained high-quality produce and recipe cards – to make it easier to try new things.”
Recipes that are included in the Morrisons Five Meals to Feed a Family of Four box are:
Classic Spaghetti Bolognese
Veggie Pasta Bake
Rosti Topped Cottage Pie
Sausage Tray Bake
Mixed Bean Chilli with Wedges
The box contains 22 different products and weighs 14kg. The contents represent a saving on normal Morrisons instore prices, even with next day delivery included.
Morrisons has sold tens of thousands of food boxes. Customers can now choose from 15 varieties including; a Vegetarian Food Box, Gluten Free Food Box, BBQ Food Box, Market Kitchen Takeaway Favourites Box and British Farmers Food Box. For more information, visit: morrisons.com/food-boxes.
The Morrisons Five Meals to Feed a Family of Four is available to buy via www.morrisons.com/food-boxes from Wednesday 15 July. Orders placed before 3pm can be delivered next day.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a statement on coronavirus this morning:
Good morning,
In the two weeks since I last addressed you from this podium, I am pleased to report that we have continued to make steady progress in our collective effort to beat the coronavirus.
For 3 weeks now, the number of new cases identified through testing each day has been below 1,000.
The latest SAGE advice is that, across the UK, the R rate remains between 0.7 and 0.9.
SAGE also assess that the number of infections is shrinking by between 5 and 1 per cent every day.
The latest ONS data shows prevalence and new infections to be stable and low.
The number of patients newly admitted to hospital with coronavirus each day, and the number of coronavirus patients in mechanical ventilation beds, have both fallen by more than 90% from their peak in early April.
And while we mourn every death, the average daily death rate continues, steadily, to fall.
This progress is testament to the phenomenal efforts of our NHS and social care staff working tirelessly on the frontline.
And it has only been possible thanks to the character and fortitude with which you, the British people, have made fundamental changes to the way you all live and work.
When we set out our plan to rebuild on 11 May, we said our goal was to return life to as close to normal as possible, for as many people as possible, as fast and as fairly as possible, in a way that is safe and continues to protect our NHS.
That goal remains the same – but the tools we use to achieve it are changing.
At the start of the pandemic, when we knew far less about the nature and spread of the virus, we had to take blanket, national measures.
National lockdown was undoubtedly the right thing to do and has saved many thousands of lives.
Now however, we know more about the virus – we understand the epidemiology better and our intelligence on where it is spreading is vastly improved. That means we can control it through targeted, local action instead.
In England, this work is led by NHS Test and Trace and within it the Joint Biosecurity Centre. My sincere thanks go to Dido Harding who oversees this work and who joins me today.
This approach is already working.
In Weston-super-Mare and Kirklees, we took swift and successful action to contain outbreaks at specific premises.
In Bradford and Blackburn with Darwen, we identified troubling trends in the data and worked closely with the respective local authorities to increase testing and take targeted action. That work continues.
And in Leicester, we instituted a local lockdown in order to bear down on stubborn rates of infection. As the Health Secretary announced last night, we will begin to relax the restrictions there next week. We can do so because the data is improving – with the percentage of people testing positive falling from a weekly rate of 12.2% on 29 June to 4.8% yesterday.
The approach varies in different parts of the UK, but all parts of the UK benefit from the support of our armed forces, additional testing facilities, and billions of pounds of support provided by this Government.
Today we are publishing our framework for containing and controlling future outbreaks in England, which will enable national and local government to work closely together.
From tomorrow, local authorities will have new powers in their areas. They will be able to close specific premises, shut public outdoor spaces, and cancel events. These powers will enable local authorities to act more quickly in response to outbreaks, where speed is paramount.
Action by local councils will not always be sufficient. So next week we will publish draft regulations which clearly set out how central government can intervene more effectively at a local level.
Where justified by the evidence, ministers will be able to close whole sectors or types of premises in an area, introduce local “stay at home” orders, prevent people entering or leaving defined areas, reduce the maximum size of gatherings beyond national rules, or restrict transport systems serving local areas.
I know that it will be hard going for people affected by these local measures. It isn’t easy, and for some it may seem unjust that people just a short distance away can live their lives closer to normal.
But it has to be right that we take local action in response to local outbreaks – there is no point shutting down a city in one part of the country to contain an outbreak in another part of the country.
Now of course, this local approach relies on having an effective testing regime in place.
And here we have made substantial progress.
Antigen test capacity – that’s the test which tells you if you currently have the virus – has increased 100-fold since the start of March, from fewer than 2,000 tests a day to more than 200,000 tests a day now.
Publicly available data suggests we are now carrying out our tests more than anywhere else in Europe in total, and more tests than Germany, France, Italy and Spain per capita.
We have set up testing sites around the UK and now have 200 mobile units which can be rapidly deployed wherever they are needed.
It is now the case, and has been for some time, that anyone, anywhere in the UK with symptoms can get a test without delay. We are also testing increasing numbers of people who don’t have symptoms but who are at higher risk.
As we approach winter, we will need to go further – not least as many more people will show Covid-like symptoms as a result of seasonal illnesses, and therefore require a test.
So we will further increase testing capacity to at least half a million antigen tests a day – 3.5 million antigen tests a week – by the end of October.
Demand for testing is not the only challenge that winter will bring.
It is possible that the virus will be more virulent in the winter months – and it is certain that the NHS will face the usual, annual winter pressures.
We have taken a number of steps therefore to get the NHS ready for winter.
We have massively increased the number of ventilators available to patients across the UK – up from 9,000 before the pandemic to nearly 30,000 now.
We have substantially increased the pipeline of personal protective equipment for the NHS and social care -constituting over 30 billion items of PPE over the course of the pandemic.
We will be rolling out the biggest ever flu vaccination programme in the history of the U.K.
And we will also of course give the NHS the resources it needs.
And today, I can confirm that we are providing an additional £3 billion of funding to the NHS in England to get ready for winter. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will also receive additional funds.
This will allow the NHS to continue to use the extra hospital capacity acquired from the independent sector and also to maintain the Nightingale hospitals until the end of March.
This new funding comes on top of the additional £30 billion of funding for health and social care that we have already announced this year.
So we are making sure we are ready for winter, and planning for the worst.
But even as we plan for the worst, I strongly believe we should also hope for the best.
That means looking ahead with optimism – now extending our plan to lift the remaining national measures which have restricted our lives since March so we can get back to something closer to normal life.
Now I must stress, the timetable I am about to set out is conditional. It is contingent on every one of us staying alert and acting responsibly. It relies on our continued success in controlling the virus. And we will not proceed if doing so risks a second peak that would overwhelm the NHS.
Nonetheless, it is important to give people hope and to give business confidence.
So in England, from today we are making clear that anybody may use public transport, while of course encouraging people to consider alternative means of transport where they are available.
From 25 July, we have already committed to reopening the indoor gyms, pools and other sports facilities.
From 1 August, we will update our advice on going to work. Instead of government telling people to work from home, we are going to give employers more discretion, and ask them to make decisions about how their staff can work safely.
That could mean of course continuing to work from home, which is one way of working safely and which has worked for many employers and employees.
Or it could mean making workplaces safe by following Covid Secure guidelines. Whatever employers decide, they should consult closely with their employees, and only ask people to return to their place of work if it is safe.
As we reopen our society and economy, it’s right that we give employers more discretion while continuing to ensure employees are kept safe.
Also from 1 August, we will reopen most remaining leisure settings, namely bowling, skating rinks and casinos, and we will enable all close contact services such as beauticians to resume.
Nightclubs and soft play areas will sadly need to remain closed for now – although this will be kept under review.
We will restart indoor performances to a live audience, subject to the success of pilots, and we will also pilot larger gatherings in venues like sports stadia, with a view to wider reopening in the Autumn.
We will also allow wedding receptions for up to 30 people.
All of these measures for 1 August should be done in a Covid Secure way.
In September, schools, nurseries and colleges will be open for all children and young people on a full-time basis, as planned.
And universities are also working to reopen as fully as possible.
From October, we intend to bring back audiences in stadia and to allow conferences and other business events to recommence – again, these changes must be done in a Covid Secure way, subject to the successful outcome of pilots.
Throughout this period, we will look to allow more close contact between friends and family when we can.
It is my strong and sincere hope that we will be able to review the outstanding restrictions and allow a more significant return to normality from November at the earliest – possibly in time for Christmas.
At all times, we will continue to work with the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to support and care for those at risk, wherever they live in the UK.
We have said that the shielding programme for those most at risk in England, the clinically extremely vulnerable, will be paused at the end of this month. We will stay constantly vigilant and be sure to restart shielding at any point if required.
Now I know some will say this plan is too optimistic, that the risks are too great and that we won’t overcome the virus in time.
And of course, if they are right in saying that, and we cannot exclude that they are, let me reassure them, and reassure you: that we will not hesitate at any stage to put on the brakes.
From May 11 onwards, this plan has been conditional, and it remains conditional.
But if we continue to pull together as we have done so far, I know we can beat this virus.
Hoping for the best, but planning for the worst – and it’s in that spirit that we must carry on waging this long, hard fight against Coronavirus.
Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party, speaking in response to the Prime Minister’s press conference today, said:“We all want society to reopen, we all want our economy to start growing again. So we’ll look at the details of this plan.
“But the key now is confidence. Do the public have confidence in the measures the Government have put in place? Do businesses have confidence in the advice that’s been given? And can we have confidence that the Government’s scientific advisers support these measures? This can’t be done on a wing and a prayer. It requires a credible plan, and national leadership.”
On local lockdowns:
“Labour has long been arguing that we need local control of lockdown. We need data to our local representatives, our local authorities. They need the powers to take the necessary measures. This is what will drive confidence, and this work with local authorities should have be done a long time ago.
“Mayors across the country, local authority leaders across the country, are saying what we need is the data so we know precisely what’s going on, on a day-to-day basis, on a street-by-street basis, or we need the power to take action, rapidly. That’s what they want most of all.”
On NHS winter funding:
“What I didn’t hear from the Prime Minister this morning was any extra money and funding for social care. And what we can’t do again is to leave social care out of the priorities as we go into the autumn and the winter. So where was the money for social care?”
Responding to Boris Johnson’s announcement today, allowing employers to start bringing home-working staff back to the workplace from next month, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “We all want to get the economy up and running as quickly as possible. Returns to workplaces must happen in a phased and safe way.
“The government is passing the buck on this big decision to employers. Getting back to work safely requires a functioning NHS Test and Trace system. Yet progress on test and trace is still patchy, and the government is still refusing to support workers who have to self-isolate by raising statutory sick pay from just £95pw to a rate people can live on.
“A safe return to workplaces also requires much greater investment in public transport if people are to be able to commute to workplaces.
“Before reopening any workplace, every employer must complete a risk assessment, and make plans to reduce the risk to workers through enabling social distancing. They must consult their staff trade unions, and larger employers should publish the risk assessment on their website.
“Not everyone will be able to return to workplaces full-time or immediately. People who have been advised to shield and those without enough childcare may need to work fully from home for the foreseeable future.
“Many businesses have seen the benefits of flexible approaches to working during this pandemic. This progress must not be lost. All staff should have the right to work flexibly from their first day in the job.”
The TUC is calling on employers to do the following before asking staff to return to the workplace:
Complete their Covid-Secure risk assessments as required by law, in consultation with unions and their workforces
Publish their Covid-Secure risk assessment on their website, as the government expects. The TUC is collating links to published risk assessments at covidsecurecheck.uk
Take the actions from the risk assessment to enable safer working, such as requiring social distancing and supplying PPE if it is required
Show flexibility and consideration for workers’ individual circumstances, including considering caring responsibilities, those who are shielding, and those who have other health conditions, including mental health
Allow workers who rely on public transport to have staggered start times to prevent a rush hour crush.
Has nature helped you through the last few months? It’s time to return the favour says Chris Packham
Chris Packham and wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation are launching this year’s Big Butterfly Count today as a chance for the public to give a gift back to nature this summer.
As so many of us have sought comfort, inspiration and hope through spending time in nature during the difficult last few months of lockdown, participating in the Big Butterfly Count is an easy way for us to do something positive to give back and help conserve nature for future generations.
The fine weather of spring 2020 has seen the earliest average emergences of butterflies for the last 20 years and Butterfly Conservation has received thousands of extra enquiries about butterfly and moth sightings made by an ever more nature-loving public.
This year’s Big Butterfly Count, Butterfly Conservation’s annual citizen science event which saw over 113,000 members of the public take part last year, is ready for its biggest year yet. The UK-wide survey simply asks you to spend 15 minutes in an outdoor space counting the amount and type of butterflies (and some day-flying moths) you see.
There were 11,057 counts submitted in Scotland for the Big Butterfly Count last year with overwhelmingly abundant numbers of Painted Lady butterflies spotted, up 7,541% (141,649 spotted) from the previous year, while Green-veined White and Small Copper butterflies saw declines of 56% and 60% respectively.
Chris Packham says: “While so many of us have had a bit more time to appreciate the nature on our doorsteps during the lockdown period, and learning about the natural world has been a mindful distraction from uncertainty, this is a real chance to do something positive and contribute to conserving nature.
“Butterflies and moths are key indicators of the health of our environment and anyone can help contribute to our understanding of these incredible creatures by taking part in in the Big Butterfly Count.
“The sightings you submit will be used to map and measure populations and the geographic spread of species across the UK. We’re asking everyone who have been given a helping hand from nature this year to return the favour.”
“We’ve seen an incredible amount of interest from people who have been out and about in their gardens and local areas spotting butterflies for the first time. From children learning about the lifecycle of a butterfly from a caterpillar found in their own back gardens to adults who have spotted a fluttering Red Admiral while exercising outside instead of at the gym.
“Nature has really shown its true value to us this year, but it is still under threat. Now, more than ever, we must all do our little bit to protect it.”
Steve Guy, Outdoor Category Director, B&Q said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the Big Butterfly Count once again. We’re encouraging all B&Q customers to get counting and to create butterfly friendly outdoor spaces.
“Attracting butterflies is simple if you have plenty of nectar to offer them. Plant as many of their favourite flowers – such as Lavender, Delphinium and Salvia – as you can in a sunny, sheltered spot. And you don’t need a big outdoor space – a window box or hanging basket with the right nectar giving plants can make you popular with butterflies.”
“The recent pandemic has brought into even greater focus the need for us to protect the environment and connect with nature in a positive and meaningful way. We now have a huge opportunity to build on this momentum and engage with people of all ages across the country on the importance of butterfly conservation, helping to improve our whole environment for wildlife and enrich the lives of people now and in the future.”
The Big Butterfly Count is open to everyone, from ages from 3 to 103, and provides a real contribution to science and our understanding of butterfly and moth populations in the UK, a key indicator of the health of our environment, including the effects of climate change.
Simply visit Bigbutterflycount.org to find out more or download the free Big Butterfly Count app to enter your findings.
People looking for work or those at risk of redundancy will benefit from additional assistance to move into work or retrain.
The package of support, outlined by Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop yesterday, is backed by £100 million for 2020/21, with at least £50 million of that funding set aside to help young people get into work.
The measures include a job guarantee for young people, a new national retraining scheme, and more funding to provide immediate assistance and advice if people are made redundant.
In addition, Fair Start Scotland, our employment support service, has been extended by a further two years to March 2023.
Ms Hyslop said: “We are potentially facing unemployment on a scale not seen for decades as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19). Today’s announcements show that we are ready to rise to this challenge with investment to help ensure that people who have lost jobs, those at risk of unemployment and young people entering the labour market can benefit from more and better job opportunities.
“This crisis is having a significant impact on our young people and we need to act quickly to protect their future. I have asked Sandy Begbie, who led the Developing the Young Workforce Group that played a pivotal role in the delivery of the Edinburgh Guarantee to young people, to develop an implementation plan for a job guarantee for young people, as recommended by the Advisory Group on Economic Recovery, and we will set out more detail on that plan in early August.
“The extension to Fair Start Scotland will also provide stability and continuity to the most vulnerable and those furthest from the labour market, including people with disabilities, health conditions and those who are long-term unemployed, to help them progress into work.”
The £100 million is in addition to the £33 million already committed for employability support for 2020/21.
