What a difference a month during lockdown makes! We all have to thank Charlie Oakhill, a one-man construction crew, who has been working tirelessly with his diggers to turn the new car park owned by the Village Hall from a grass field into a car park.

Also doing all this in his time off from his proper job and without any remuneration.

It’s good that we still have people like this who will work for others in the community.

Mobile Covid-19 testing site set up in county

A new drive-through mobile testing unit (MTU) for coronavirus is being set up in Gloucestershire.It will be running for five days, from Thursday 7 May until Monday 11 May inclusive, and will be based at Oxstalls Tennis Centre in Gloucester.

People with symptoms including key workers, people living with them or over-65s can attend the site, which is run by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), to be tested.

The full list of who is eligible to attend is here. Anyone with symptoms who is in the key groups listed can log onto the website and register via the self-referral portal. If they meet the criteria, they will be issued with a unique code and will be able to select the Gloucester location, as long as appointments are available.

The nearest alternative sites currently available are at Bristol Airport and Worcester Rugby Club, so a case has been made to the DHSC to try the mobile unit to enable more Gloucestershire residents to access testing.

It is an important step in tackling Covid-19 in the county as it will establish if people with symptoms have the virus, to determine whether they can return to work or need further advice and support.

People who cannot drive to the site can order a home testing kit but supplies are limited. There is also some capacity for frontline health and social care staff to be tested as part of the local NHS testing centre in Brockworth, but this must be booked through employers.

The MTU will be put up and disassembled daily by the military. Gloucestershire County Council and Police have worked together to ensure that signage, entrance and exits and traffic flow are managed and there will be a team on site to ensure it runs smoothly.

• Privacy
• NHS Test and Trace
• Verify the call is from Test and Trace
• COVID Testing at the Rugby Club
• COVID-19 Testing at the Rugby Club

It is Christian Aid week from the 10th to 16th May. This is an opportunity for us to be generous again to those in need across our World. Please see Christian Aid for further information. I am hosting 2 Christian Aid events next week 

Firstly for those who like quizzes  -a quiz on Zoom over a cuppa , Fiona Crocker is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Christian Aid Quiz Invite for all
Time: May 10, 2020 04:00 PM London

And secondly ‘Tea at the Vicarage in aid of Christian Aid” – an opportunity for Stinchcombe villagers to pop in and share a cuppa with the Vicar -‘virtually’ anytime from 2pm -4pm. And to take the opportunity to ask Fiona any questions ….about anything! However, Fiona does reserve the right to say ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I’m not sure I can answer that one!” Fiona looks forward to meeting familiar faces and new ones too. And she asks that you give a small donation to Christian Aid during the afternoon. 

Topic: Tea at the Vicarage for Stinchcombe
Time: May 13, 2020 02:00 PM London

Hope to ‘see’ you soon.
Fiona

Covid-19 Emergency Living Fund set up to help people in financial hardship

The county council has extended its existing Welfare Support Scheme to create a new Emergency Living Fund to help people who are in financial hardship because of the coronavirus.

The council has also increased the funding that is available to support people through the Covid-19 pandemic by almost 40 percent. It has also changed the criteria so more people will be able to apply.

The Welfare Support Scheme already provides practical support to those in financial hardship for things like food deliveries, rent, gas and electricity top-ups, and essential household items such as furniture and white goods.

The new fund will offer more help, and now covers the replacement of white goods that have broken down, supermarket vouchers and cash when necessary.

You can apply for help if:

• You are a Gloucestershire resident over the age of 16 and you are classed as being in a vulnerable group, for example, you have a history of mental illness or you need support to avoid uncontrollable debt; and
• You are either on a low income or receive benefits; or you are on a low income or are unemployed and you are waiting for a benefit claim.

Cllr Mark Hawthorne, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said: “In times of crisis, it is often the most disadvantaged people who are worst affected. We are putting in place an additional safety net for our most vulnerable residents who have been affected by Covid-19 to support them through this difficult time.”

The Covid-19 Emergency Living Fund launched on Monday 4 May and applications for help will be reviewed within 24 hours, with people who are approved for support getting the help they need another 24 hours after that.

In addition to this, another specialist support scheme for vulnerable children and families has also been extended. Previously only social workers could refer children and families for support but this has also been changed so now any professional can refer them for help.

For more information on who can receive support and how to apply or refer someone.

The Royal British Legion calls on the nation

The Royal British Legion calls on the nation to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day from home. 

Join us on Friday 8 May as we pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of the entire Second World War generation, from British, Commonwealth and Allied Forces to evacuees and those who served on the home front. As we face some of the most challenging times since the end of the Second World War, now more than ever it is important to unite in recognition of service to the nation, just as communities did 75 years ago.

There are many parallels between the struggles of the Second World War and what we are going through today. We look to our Second World War generation to learn from their experiences, and we continue our work to protect them from the threat we currently face.

With members of the public unable to attend VE Day 75 events, The Royal British Legion is playing a central role in the delivery of a range of remote activity, including:

• A live VE Day 75 livestream at 11.15am
• National moments of Remembrance and thanksgiving, including a Two Minute Silence
• A UK-wide singalong to Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again at 9pm
• A VE Day learning pack for children aged 7-14 years
• An evening of memories and music in partnership with the BBC from 8pm on BBC One

Two Minute Silence

At 11am, we’re encouraging people across all generations and communities to take part in a national moment of Remembrance and pause for a Two Minute Silence to honour the service and sacrifice of the Second World War generation and reflect on the devastating impact Covid-19 has had on so many lives across the world.

There is no right or wrong way to take part in the Silence, some may wish to stand at their windows, step outside their homes while remaining distanced from others, watch the broadcast on television, or simply sit in a quiet moment of reflection.

Whilst VE Day marked the beginning of the end of the Second World War, many thousands of Armed Forces personnel were still involved in bitter fighting in the Far East.

We remember the contribution of all Allied Forces, including forces from across the Commonwealth, without who the liberation of Europe and Japan would not have been possible.

 The Second World War had a profound impact on communities across the UK and the Commonwealth which continued long after the war came to an end. The challenges of leaving, longing for and returning home were experienced by many people at the time and are still faced by Service families today.