'This is both the most important and most challenging edition we have published to date. Important because in a time of crisis local news plays a vital role in communicating how and where residents can get help - indeed, journalists reporting on the Covid-19 pandemic have been identified as key workers. Challenging because our editorial team was forced to work from home throughout the production process, while our regular distribution network of local businesses and charities is temporarily shutdown.'
Sarah Fecunda, who's a Co-op Member Pioneer, has been in touch asking how her organisation could help the local community during the Coronavirus episode.
North London Hospice has this week launched two urgent appeals asking the local community for help to maintain its end of life care services as the coronavirus pandemic deepens. It desperately needs the public to help meet an enormous shortfall in fundraising caused by the Covid-19 crisis, and it also is urgently seeking supplies of masks, aprons and gloves to protect its nurses and patients.
A message from Age UK Enfield: URGENT! We need to raise funds to help vulnerable older people who are isolated due to Coronavirus. We are working hard to provide information and advice, cooked meals and emergency food packages, and caring for people in their homes - Please Donate!
Benjamin Cuthbertson has been training for the Manchester and Boston Marathons since November - but they've both been cancelled. So instead he intends to run the first Palmers Green Marathon this Sunday, raising money for the Trussell Trust and its foodbanks. If you live on the route, you can watch him go by - 26 times!
Missing Friday nights at the Southgate Club listening to the great bands playing at St Harmonica's? Well, we can't do anything about the lockdown, but we can do our best to recreate St Harmonica's in the comfort of your own home.
As UK doctors call for lower speed limits to reduce the pressure on health services, London's top traffic cop has gone online to plead for slower driving and to highlight examples of criminal behaviour by drivers taking advantage of clearer roads to flagrantly breach speed limits.
Like many charities, Haven House children's hospice raises money through its events programme and its charity shops, but all events are now cancelled for the foreseeable future and all shops are closed. It expects a loss of income of £500,000 in the next three months alone, and has launched an emergency appeal for donations.
In order to continue to support vulnerable children and their families, Haven House has launched an urgent appeal.
