The Canalside Heritage Centre (CHC) in Beeston had to close their facilities because of COVID-19 and they are really struggling for funding. I have been in contact with Stewart Craven, Chairman of the Trust, and Nicola Wood, the Visitor Operations Manager, to discuss their situation. It is a really special place and I have held surgeries there. They are very welcoming at the CHC and it is a great local community asset with 60,000 visitors per year and they also do some great outreach programmes. The Centre could really use your help to support their online campaign called the Emergency Fundraising Appeal to raise funds. Their aim is £10,000 and at the time of writing they have raised £8,771 so far. Here is the link to their donate page: canalsideheritagecentre.org.uk/appeal/help-save-canalside. In discussion with Ruth Hyde, Chief Executive of Broxtowe Borough Council, it is clear how determined we both are to support CHC.
The Government has announced that the social distancing measures will not change until five tests are met. Here is a link to the Prime Minister’s official twitter feed to watch the video twitter.com or here is a link to watch the video on Facebook facebook.com/10downingstreet. There is a lot of misinformation around COVID-19 on the internet and there is some misreporting in the media. My website is a place where you, the people of Broxtowe, can access official information and the link to it is here: darrenhenry.org.uk/coronavirus. A fellow MP, Damian Collins, has launched a website to help debunk those myths and conspiracy theories floating around the internet and the site is based on official sources and advice. This may be a useful website for the people of Broxtowe and the link is here: infotagion.com. Moreover, the Department of Health and Social Care Media Centre have responded to the misleading article in the Sunday Times about the Government’s response to COVID-19 and the link is here: healthmedia.blog.gov.uk/response-to-sunday-timesarticle. It is important that we all work together to beat COVID-19 and we need to do this based on reliable and scientific advice. I am determined that everyone in Broxtowe should have the right information available to them so they can carry on doing the right thing.
Councillor Philip Owen, Chairman of the Children and Young People Committee at the County Council, has welcomed the Government announcement on help with technology for remote education. Cllr Owen thinks it will make a big difference to hard-pressed parents who are having to struggle with educating their children at home. There is a growing body of online resources available to support home learning and it is important that no child in Broxtowe is left behind during these difficult times.
On social media, people are engaging with #MeAt20, which is where people share a photograph of themselves at 20 years of age. Well, here is one of me at almost 20. I am sharing this picture of me as a way to draw attention to the excellent work the military are doing or preparing to do to support us during the coronavirus pandemic. For example, a COVID Support Force will consist of 20,000 specialist servicemen and women who are trained to assist public services, local authorities and citizens. The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory are supporting Public Health England’s efforts to understand the virus and tackle its spread. We are all pulling together, including the military, to play our part.
We really do need something to look forward to when we have gotten through this pandemic and have beaten COVID-19. My wife and I are looking forward to having a scone and a white hot chocolate once again at the Canalside Heritage Centre overlooking Beeston Rylands Weir.
Stay safe everyone.
Darren