Connect with us

News

Rough Sleepers To Be Offered Emergency Housing and Vaccine in Omicron Fight

Published

on

Rough sleepers will be offered a roof over their head this Winter, until March but only if they receive a vaccine in a bid to protect them from the Omicron variant.

With Covid-19 cases reaching record highs in the last week, councils will be given a £28million boost to protect people living on the streets during the cold Winter.

Councils will join with charities to identify those who are sleeping rough, and work with local housing associations or charities and hotels to provide accommodation.

The extra money, part of the government’s Protect and Vaccinate scheme, will see mobile clinics set up on the streets and outreach work in shelters to encourage people to get vaccinated. This comes as homeless charities like Glass Door were forced to shut down their usual Winter services over fears of the transmissibility of the new variant.

For weeks, organisations have been urging the government to give councils clear guidelines to ensure everyone at risk of sleeping rough is offered emergency accommodation, and the funding to provide it.

Jon Sparkes, chief executive at Crisis, said the money is ‘incredibly welcomed’ but pointed out that it must be based on need, rather than if a person was born in the UK or not. Based on the latest guidance, all non-UK nationals should be able to qualify for accommodation, and councils would struggle to find grounds to turn them away.

Prof Jim McManus, the president of the association of public health, welcomed the funding. “It’s important to get people off the streets when they have a vaccine, in case they have the normal flu-like reaction. Trying to keep yourself warm, when your body is having an immune response to a vaccine, and when you’re in the freezing cold, is awful.”

The homeless population has been especially hard hit by Covid-19, with one in 50 deaths among this group related to coronavirus in 2020, according to the Office for National Statistics.

However, there is limited data on what percentage of the homeless population have received a vaccine. Charity Homeless Link estimated in August that only one in three rough sleepers were fully vaccinated – a concern given this group often have underlying medical issues and less ability to self-isolate.

Eddie Hughes, the minister for rough sleeping, said: “In the wake of a surge in Covid-19 cases and a new variant, we have an even greater responsibility to protect vulnerable people.”

While the UK has one of the highest vaccine uptakes in the world – with more than 85% of adults are double jabbed, according to government data yet millions are yet to have their full vaccine course.

What do you make of this? Is this the right way to tackle homelessness? Let us know!

You can help the homeless by supporting our Help The Homeless campaign by donating just £5 to provide someone less fortunate with a warm Christmas Dinner. You can donate here. Thank you.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Featured

Karen’s Diner on Tour is BACK IN NEWCASTLE!!

Published

on

Karens Diner on Tour Newcastle upon Tyne

Karen’s Diner on Tour coming to town on tour and ‘well if y’all show up in force we’ll either come as a longer term pop up or simply just stay put for a while until we’ve insulted everyone in the North East!’

We have spoken to the top Karen who assures everyone who went last time that Bottomless means BOTTOMLESS!

At our pop-up Karen’s you will be greeted and waited upon by rude waiters who in return are expecting you to give it full Karen. A place where you can complain until the cows come home because we literally don’t care. You can expect good food, good fun and a dining experience like you’ve never had before. Let us know if it’s your birthday, if your name is Karen and for the love of Karen don’t ask to speak to the manager….

Your ticket includes a delicious BOTTOMLESS pizza and BOTTOMLESS prossecco or select spirits and mixers as well as select soft drinks drinks for a full 90mins

*We cater for all allergens

You will get full and authentic Karen experience – our games, our waitstaff and the full works. Decent food provided by the venue (we hope) and BOTTOMLESS booze for those who love a drink. This is a dining experience like no other – literally. Come enjoy the OG Karen’s from OG Karen’s.

Don’t accept imitations – book now to avoid missing out!

Get your tickets here: https://explorehidden.com/public/event/details/karens-diner-on-tour-newcastle-1557060?aff=3w51557060y6I

See our two below YouTube videos from the last time they were in the toon to see what to expect…


Follow our channel for more local videos…

North East Updates YouTube channel

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Raoul Moat Drama Coming Soon To ITV

Published

on

It looks set to be one of ITV’s biggest dramas this year and The Hunt for Raoul Moat is being brought to screen by the same people responsible for smash hit shows Line of Duty, Bodyguard and Vigil.

It was confirmed last April that production on the series had commenced, nearly 12 years after Moat gunman shot ex girlfriend Samantha Stobbart and her new boyfriend Christopher Brown, with Brown dying from his injuries. After fleeing Samantha’s home in Birtley, Moat, who had been released from prison just days earlier, went on the run, shooting on duty policeman PC David Rathband in the face as he sat in a patrol car on the outskirts of Newcastle and leaving him blind.

From there, Moat headed for Northumberland, forcing the quiet village of Rothbury into a lockdown as police launched a frantic search for him. The hunt for Moat reached its conclusion with a tense stand-off between the killer and the police on a riverbank, with Moat eventually shooting himself and dying from his injuries as he was rushed to Newcastle General Hospital.

ITV announced three parter The Hunt for Raoul Moat almost a year ago, as filming got underway in Yorkshire, with a cast including ex Bodyguard star Matt Stokoe as Moat and Inspector George Gently actor Lee Ingeleby as police chief Neil Adamson.

ITV have yet to officially announce an release date for The Hunt for Raoul Moat, but is expected to be form part of the channel’s spring programming.

Continue Reading

News

Jason Miller’s Story with Stage 4 Cancer – How positivity is key in every cancer journey

Published

on

Jason Miller’s story on staying positive 

Although thinking and acting positively might help you cope with cancer, it’s normal and sometimes unavoidable to feel angry and scared.

Positive thinking is frequently urged on those battling with cancer. But, it is not always simple. It might be terrifying to deal with cancer and its treatment. All effected can experience low moods and worry about the future especially how your loved ones will cope.

Being upset and scared can be a sign of courage and can show that you are ready to face an uncertain future. Nonetheless, there are occasions when it can be beneficial to make an effort to replace negative thoughts with more uplifting ones.

We sat down with Jason Miller who takes us through his journey after discovering he had an aggressive stage 4 tumor. We learn how not only the diagnosis was a sign for him to put affairs in order for his family but also how he ended up surviving through his positive outlook!

 

Are you or anyone else effected by the content raised in this video?

The Macmillan Support Line offers confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones.

Call free on 0808 239 06 25

 

We bring you news coverage from North East Sports, News, History, Culture and much more… Follow our page for more content.

Follow us on YouTube for all local videos and to support us – North East Updates – YouTube

Continue Reading

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Trending