thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-20--Coronavirus: Contact Tracing Scheme Slammed As 'Shambolic' By Recruits – And Five Other Stories You

Coronavirus: Contact Tracing Scheme Slammed As 'Shambolic' By Recruits – And Five Other Stories You Need To Know

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The government’s Covid-19 contact tracing programme – initially hailed as a beacon of hope in the battle to contain the virus – has been experiencing a number of setbacks with recruits describing the process as “shambolic”.
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Black, Asian and minority ethnic campaigners last night called for a public inquiry into disproportionate coronavirus deaths impacting these communities.
As of 2pm Tuesday, the UK death toll was 35,341.
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Here’s what you need to know today:
Chaotic Covid-19 contact tracers’ training
More than 17,000 contact tracers were hired by the government to track the spread of Covid-19 but a programme to train recruits has been described as “shambolic”.
People hired to contact those exposed to someone with coronavirus and advise them to self-isolate have spent days just trying to log into the online system, The Guardian reports. In addition to this, virtual training sessions have left participants unclear about their roles.
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New contact tracers have been told to rely on a two-page script and a list of frequently asked questions, both seen by the publication.
Recruits were reportedly advised to consult YouTube for advice on how to support a bereaved person.
This comes as outsourcing firm Serco, which is responsible for training tracers, apologised after accidentally sharing the email addresses of almost 300 recruits.
Maja Hitij via Getty Images
It made the error when it emailed new trainees to tell them about training.
Serco said it had apologised and would review its processes “to make sure that this does not happen again”.
On Monday, deputy chief scientific adviser Dame Angela McLean said the lockdown should not be eased unless the government puts in place a system to test, trace and isolate the infected.
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Government ministers echoed this warning in a briefing to Sky News.
What will returning to work look like for single parents?
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While thousands of workers and unions in England raised concerns over the government’s advice for staff who could not work remotely to go back to work, single parents have been left wondering how they can return.
While childminders have been given the green light to look after children and nannies are allowed to work again, these forms of childcare are financially out of reach for many families.
And with schools and nurseries effectively closed, and social distancing rules preventing family members from helping out, many parents still have no viable childcare options.
“So single parents have not had any support during this whole time and I feel quite let down that I have struggled mentally, physically, financially and emotionally to keep it going for the greater good of the country and the NHS. And for what?,” Yasmine, a mother-of-two, told HuffPost UK.
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“For it all just to be completely undone, with people being sent back to work with no clear plan of how we’re going to manage ourselves out of this situation? It’s just really worrying to be honest.”
“Shabbily Treated” BAME Communities deserves public inquiry into impact of coronavirus, campaigners say
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A public inquiry to examine the disproportionate impact of coronavirus on Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities is urgently needed, campaigners have declared.
High-profile figures including author and journalist Gary Younge, MP Diane Abbott and Professor Azeem Majeed were among those who spoke out at an online meeting on Tuesday calling for an investigation similar to the inquiry following Stephen Lawrence’s death.
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Anti-racist campaigners have also highlighted the hypocrisy of desperately needing migrant workers in the NHS, care homes and other sectors during the current crisis and the legislation preventing them from working when the disaster is over.
HuffPost UK revealed how people from BAME communities felt they were being “thrown to the wolves” with the government’s new back-to-work guidelines in an easing of lockdown measures.
The UK has one of the highest per-capita death rates in the world for coronavirus and around 28 per cent.
Cambridge University moves all lectures online for next academic year
King's College Chapel (centre), Cambridge, England joe daniel price via Getty Images
The University of Cambridge has confirmed that all “face-to-face lectures” will be moved online during the next academic year.
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It becomes the first university to set out measures for the full 2020/21 academic year, as the institution says it is “likely” that social distancing will continue to be required.
Lectures will continue virtually until Summer 2021, the university said, while it may be possible for smaller teaching groups to take place in person if it “conforms to social-distancing requirements”.
A spokesman for the university said: “The University is constantly adapting to changing advice as it emerges during this pandemic.
“Lectures will continue to be made available online and it may be possible to host smaller teaching groups in person, as long as this conforms to social-distancing requirements.”
All teaching at the university was moved online in March, while exams are being carried out virtually.
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Brazil and India record spike in cases despite strict lockdown
India recorded more than 5,200 new infections on Tuesday - its biggest spike so far in a single day. Its tally of confirmed cases is now over 106,000, with 61,149 active infections.
This comes as Brazil sees its highest daily death toll of 1,179. With almost 18,000 new daily infections, the pandemic is quickly gaining pace in the country.
New Zealand PM suggests a four-day working week to rebuild the country
New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern has suggested employers consider a four-day working week and other flexible working options as a way to boost tourism and help employees address persistent work/life balance issues.
In a Facebook live video, Ardern said people had suggested everything from the shorter work week to more public holidays as a means to stimulate the economy and encourage domestic tourism, while the borders remain closed to foreign nationals.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-20--Calvin Harris Very Casually Reveals He Once Had To Have His Heart Restarted

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Calvin Harris has revealed that he had to have his heart restarted in hospital at the height of his fame.
The Superstar DJ casually mentioned his ordeal as he shared a clip of himself playing a gig in 2014 on Twitter.
“Interesting year for me 2014,” he tweeted. “Started with me knocking myself off number 1 in the UK and ended with my heart getting restarted in the ER... this sort of stuff happened in between.”
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Interesting year for me 2014, started with me knocking myself off number 1 in the UK and ended with my heart getting restarted in the ER...this sort of stuff happened in between https://t.co/BS0JqXmyhY — Calvin Harris (@CalvinHarris) May 20, 2020
The 36-year-old Scottish star has previously spoken about suffering from arrhythmia, a problem with the heart’s rhythm that affects two million people in the UK, but this is the first time he has revealed the severity of his condition.
The same year he was admitted to A&E, Calvin was forced to pull out of the MTV Europe Music Awards in Glasgow after a heart scare, which he later confirmed was arrhythmia.
Calvin Harris SIPA USA/PA Images
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It led to him giving up alcohol and following a healthier lifestyle, which he said has made a “noticeable difference” to his life.
“Things are a bit less fun but haven’t had an arrhythmia since 2014” he previously said.
“Wouldn’t dream of encouraging anyone to drink two bottles a night and live off the baker – got me in a right old state.”
Calvin Harris went on to star in a series of Armani underwear campaigns Armani
One year after ditching the booze, Calvin became the face – and body – of Emporio Armani, starring in a series of memorable underwear ads for the Italian fashion brand.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-20--US Man Duets With 'Singing' Husky To Spread Love During COVID-19 Crisis

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As an administrative resident at a Colorado hospital, Tate Hegstrom has witnessed the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on the health care industry firsthand. Now, his musical gestures of support for front-line workers have earned him and his 3-year-old husky, Kovu, a global audience.
Last week, Hegstrom uploaded a video of himself performing an acoustic version of Bill Withers’ 1972 hit, “Lean on Me,” on Instagram. Kovu, meanwhile, was sprawled out behind him, howling along in perfect harmony.
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The clip quickly became a hit, appearing in segments on “Good Morning America” as well as a host of other outlets. On Sunday, Hegstrom and Kovu teamed up for a second time to perform Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours,” and the results were just as impressive.
Hegstrom, 25, told People his job at HealthONE, a part of HCA Healthcare, has required him to support front-line workers at Denver’s North Suburban Medical Center who are responding to the coronavirus crisis.
The “Lean on Me” performance was part of a company-wide effort to show appreciation for the hospital’s medical professionals and cleaning staff. Getting Kovu to show off his musical prowess is actually easier than it looks, Hegstrom said.
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“All it takes is a little motivation, and he hops right in,” he explained. Noting that his canine pal has a similar response to sirens and other melodic sounds, he added, “I’ll spend 12 hours in the hospital, and when you come home after a long day and he gives you one of the big ol’ howls, it is something special.”
Hegstrom, who lives in Denver with his wife, Emily, told People he’s grateful for the attention his duets with Kovu have received. Ultimately, he’d like his performances to encourage others to show their support for those on the front lines of the fight against Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
“Any sort of appreciation people can show online is helpful, including donating to hospitals, donating food or sending cards,” he said.
As of Tuesday, Colorado had confirmed a total of 22,202 cases of Covid-19 and 1,224 deaths.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-20--What Is The R Rate For Coronavirus And Why Is It So Important To Lockdown?

What Is The R Rate For Coronavirus And Why Is It So Important To Lockdown?
With lockdowns easing across the world, the R0 number is suddenly on everyone’s mind. But what is it? The R0 is an inexact estimate about how quickly the coronavirus is spreading through a population and is being looked at closely to judge how well resources are doing in combating the virus.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-20--Elizabeth Hurley Rocking Her Iconic ’90s Versace Dress In Lockdown Is A Must-See

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Elizabeth Hurley just threw on the shiny purple gown she wore to an awards show in 1999, and it looks like five minutes have passed, not 21 years.
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The 54-year-old shared an image of herself lounging in the iridescent cowl-neck Versace dress she previously wore in 1999 to the Council of Fashion Designers of America awards.
“Just hanging at home watching tv for @harpersbazaarus in a @versace dress I wore 21 years ago to the #cfdaawards #lockdown #nineweekstomorrow#TurnUpNotIn,” she wrote in the caption.
When Liz wore the gown the first time, it was accompanied by a wavy layered hairstyle and a sparkly bag.
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This time, she accessorised it with a luxe blanket and ... a remote control.
Elizabeth Hurley attends the 18th Annual CFDA Awards on June 2, 1999, at the 69th Regiment Armory in New York City. Ron Galella via Getty Images
In response to the throwback, the star’s 18-year-old son with businessman Steve Bing, Damien, praised his mum with some star-eyes emoji.
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Throughout her time in lockdown, Elizabeth has been posting a number of throwbacks on Instagram.
Last week, she shared a photograph of herself from an issue of Vogue Spain, as well as a TV ad she’d done for Magnum ice cream.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-20--'It's Such An Uncertain Time': Single Parents Question 'Get Back To Work' Advice

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“You’ve been at home for seven weeks. Nothing has really changed, but now you can go back to work. Even though you can’t get any childcare and schools aren’t open.”
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This is how Ben Brooks-Dutton, a single father, sums up the current government coronavirus advice for parents like himself.
“Any single parent out there would think their employer’s decision could be: ‘Well you’re allowed to come back to work now, but you’re not a viable employee, so I can’t keep you on.’”
Thousands of workers and unions in England raised concerns last week after the government said staff who could not do their jobs from home could go back to work.
But while many grappled with the advice to avoid public transport, or how safe their workplaces might be, single parents have been left wondering how on earth they can return at all.
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While childminders have been given the green light to look after children and nannies are allowed to work again, these forms of childcare are financially out of reach for many families.
And with schools and nurseries effectively closed, and social distancing rules preventing family members from helping out, many parents still have no viable childcare options.
Last Monday, asked what parents without childcare should do if they were asked to return to work, the prime minister said it was “only fair to regard that as an obvious barrier to their ability to go back to work”.
“I’m sure employers will agree with that,” Boris Johnson said, assuredly.
But while single parents said they were pleased to hear this, some told HuffPost UK they were worried there weren’t any legal protections for parents – especially those caring for children alone.
Others called for more clarity about childcare options outside of school hours for parents who were needed back at work as the country gradually reopens.
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The prime minister’s assurances certainly haven’t stopped nursery manager Emma*, a single mum with a five-old-son, worrying about how she will afford childcare if she’s needed back at work – a job other parents will rely to get back into the workplace.
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“The government has said that nurseries should be prepared to open on June 1, so at the moment, it looks like that is when I’ll be going back to work,” Emma said.
As her son is in reception class – one of the school years ministers hope to get back into the classroom first – she hopes he will be back at school at the same time.
As a critical worker, she would be entitled to a school place for her son anyway.
But it is the question of who will care for her son when classes are over for the day that she worries about.
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Emma, who works 45 hours a week, normally relies on her parents to look after her son after school. But with social-distancing rules still in place, this is no longer an option.
“Usually my parents help me out, as the cost of after school clubs are so expensive,” she said.
“I don’t even know if the after school club will be opening at the same time as the school. It’s such an uncertain time.”
She’s not alone in her worries. As a single parent, Yasmine Camilla – who has a seven-year-old son and a five-year-old daughter – is concerned how she would manage if she was needed back at work.
She was furloughed from her job as a project manager last week.
Yasmine said her employer has been “very flexible and reasonable” during the lockdown. But with the lockdown easing, she thinks there could be work for her to do again within two weeks.
While she was working from home during the first weeks of lockdown, she “can be needed on any kind of project throughout the whole business”.
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“Some of them, I might not be able to do from home,” she said.
Yasmine Camilla has been furloughed from her job in marketing Supplied.
With schools closed until at least June 1 to prevent the spread of Covid-19, Yasmine said it was unclear what she and other single parents were supposed to do about childcare when they’re still not allowed to see family members.
“I read today that childminders are allowed to reopen, but that wouldn’t help me,” she said. Usually, Yasmine sends her children to a childminder for “wraparound care” outside of school hours.
“If schools weren’t open, I couldn’t afford to pay my childminder for full-time care… That’s not what I have been doing up until now and it’s not budgeted for. I don’t have the money.”
But it’s not just the financial impact of this kind of childcare she’s worried about as a commuter who normally gets a packed train into central London for work.
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“Say I was to start reusing the childminder, I could get on the train and catch it there, have no symptoms and give it to the kids in my childminder’s care,” she said. “You don’t know if they have an at risk person at home.
“It’s a complete worry,” she added. “It’s not what is needed to keep the virus levels down.”
Yasmine already felt let down by the government during the lockdown as a single parent. “You could be furloughed if your work ran out, but you couldn’t be furloughed because of childcare,” she said.
“So single parents have not had any support during this whole time and I feel quite let down that I have struggled mentally, physically, financially and emotionally to keep it going for the greater good of the country and the NHS. And for what?
“For it all just to be completely undone, with people being sent back to work with no clear plan of how we’re going to manage ourselves out of this situation? It’s just really worrying to be honest.”
Single dad Ben Brooks-Dutton and his son Supplied.
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Ben Brooks-Dutton, a single father and partner at diversity consultancy The Unmistakables, agreed that the government had failed to offer nuanced advice for different groups in society during the pandemic.
Ben said: “At the moment, it feels like the advice is just blindly saying: ‘You’ve been at home for seven weeks. Nothing has really changed, but now you can go back to work. Even though you can’t get any childcare and schools aren’t open.’
While Ben usually relies on a part-time nanny to look after his son outside of school hours, social-distancing rules mean he feels uncomfortable inviting him back into his home – even though the government’s guidelines now allow it.
But as a partner in his business, Ben has been able to ensure that he and his employees – including other parents – won’t be forced back into the workplace.
However, he worries about workers at businesses which are less understanding.
Susan Harris, legal director at trade union GMB, said that unclear messaging from the government had led some employers to try and get workers back into the workplace – without taking into account their lives outside of work.
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“The PM has said that he would expect employers with staff who have caring responsibilities to ‘be understanding’ on the issue of continuing to furlough employees whilst schools remain closed,” Harris said.
“But the confused messaging has led to some employers trying to get employees back into work - without carrying out risk assessments and without thinking about caring responsibilities that employees may have.
“We are being contacted by employees faced with this situation and the answer is the same - get your GMB rep involved in the discussions with your employer; why is the employer unable to either continue to furlough our members or allow them to work from home?
“And if the employer will not listen to reason, then we remind them that forcing women with caring responsibilities back into the workplace may leave us with little choice but to commence tribunal claims against the employer for indirect sex discrimination.”
Victoria Benson, chief executive of Gingerbread, a charity that supports single parent families, said single parents were being left to wade through an “awful lot of uncertainty” in the government’s coronavirus recovery strategy.
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Any policy changes by ministers must support single parents, rather than “pushing them further into poverty and causing additional anxiety about the future”,” she said.
“For some the news that they may be able to return to work will be very welcome but there are still many questions around schools reopening and childcare provision.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-20--What Are The Coronavirus Vaccine Human Trials Actually Doing And What Is Involved?

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The nation has been given a glimmer of hope in the fight against coronavirus with the news that up to 30 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine will be made available to the UK by September – if human trials by Oxford University prove successful.
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Business secretary Alok Sharma said earlier this week that Oxford was one of the world’s forerunners in the race for a vaccine and that clinical trials were “progressing well” with all phase one participants having received their vaccine doses on schedule.
But what exactly is the coronavirus vaccine trial, what are scientists trying to find out and what do participants have to do as part of their involvement in their involvement in the clinical study?
What is the purpose of the human trial of the coronavirus vaccine?
The aim is to test a new vaccine against Covid-19 in healthy volunteers.
The study will assess whether healthy people can be protected from coronavirus with this new vaccine called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19.
It will also provide valuable information on safety aspects of the vaccine and its ability to generate good immune responses against the virus.
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Who can take part in the human trial of the vaccine?
Up to 1,102 participants have been recruited across multiple sites in Oxford, Southampton, London and Bristol.
Volunteers must be aged between 18 and 55 and cannot have tested positive for Covid-19. They must be in good health and be based in one of the recruiting areas.
They must not be pregnant, intending to become pregnant, or breastfeeding during the study.
Participants cannot have previously taken part in a trial with an adenoviral (relating to this particular group of viruses) vaccine or received any other coronavirus vaccines.
Jack Sommers, 34, who is taking part in the Covid-19 vaccine trial. Jack Sommers
Jack Sommers, 34, who lives in south-west London, volunteered for the trial the day after discovering he was being made redundant from his job.
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He told HuffPost UK he realised he was the perfect candidate for the study and wanted to do something useful.
“I am healthy, have had an uneventful medical history and have had no symptoms of coronavirus,” he said. “And as I live alone, there is no risk of me infecting vulnerable people or frontline workers.
“I also only live a 10-minute walk away from St George’s Hospital in Tooting which is one of the sites for the trial so I knew taking part would be relatively easy.
“For me to take part seemed a no-brainer and I knew how important it was.”
Why are human volunteers needed for the trial?
Until now, this Covid-19 vaccine has only been tested on laboratory mice and other animal species and this trial is the first time it has been given to humans.
The vaccine was developed in less than three months by a team at Oxford University and, although there has been pre-clinical research, it needs to be tested on humans and data needs to be evaluated.
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Scientists need to demonstrate the vaccine actually works and stops people getting infected with coronavirus before it can be rolled out to the wider population.
“When my grandkids ask: ‘What did you do during the Great Coronavirus Lockdown Grandad?’ I’ll be able to say: ‘I did this.’ It makes me feel I am doing something worthwhile.” - Jack Sommers
“Without people willing to take part, new vaccines wouldn’t be developed,” said Jack.
“I know there are some theoretical risks, but I have the greatest faith in the doctors and scientists and feel safe in their hands.”
Jack added: “In years to come when we all look back and talk about this time and my grandkids ask: ‘What did you do during the great coronavirus lockdown grandad?’ I’ll be able to say: ‘I did this.’ It makes me feel I am doing something worthwhile.”
How does the trial work and what do participants have to do?
Half the volunteers taking part in the trial will be injected with the prospective coronavirus vaccine while the other half will be given a meningitis vaccine that will be used as a control for comparison.
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Volunteers will not know which vaccine they have received.
Jack said: “I completely understand there needs to be a placebo in clinical trials and, for this study, they wanted something stronger which is why they have used the meningitis vaccine.
“As far as I am concerned, I’m quids in. Whichever jab I have received, I’ve either been vaccinated against coronavirus or meningitis.”
After filling in paperwork, giving blood and urine samples for testing and watching a safety video, Jack was accepted on the trial.
He returned to hospital to receive an injection in his shoulder, which he described as “exactly like getting your holiday jabs”.
Jack Sommers, 34, who is taking part in the Covid-19 vaccine trial. Jack Sommers
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Jack and the other participants were sent home with a thermometer and a measuring tape to measure any potential swelling of the injection site.
Participants were also asked to fill in an e-diary to record any symptoms they experience in the first seven days after receiving the vaccine and to report if they feel unwell over the following three weeks.
Jack reported experiencing a very mild throat tickle the day after the injection and, the next day, he had a slightly raised temperature.
He is now in the second week following the vaccination and simply logs on to the e-diary every day and answers two straightforward questions on whether he has symptoms.
“I only have to give any details if I feel anything different, but I haven’t as yet,” he said.
Jack will return back to the trial site one month on from to have tests.
There will then be another visit and check-up six months on from the injection and an optional one a year on from the vaccination.
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Jack said: “The symptoms for me have been very mild so I have barely suffered any inconvenience to my life at all.
“I had to input my temperature into the online diary for the first week, but now all I have to do is spend about five seconds putting: ‘No, I don’t have any symptoms.’”
At the start of the trial, a separate small group of 10 volunteers were also recruited to receive two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine four weeks apart.
This is to assess different reactions to a second dosage and establish both safety and how the immune response differs from those receiving a single dose.
A file image of a doctor filling a syringe with a vaccine. Meyer & Meyer via Getty Images
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What is the vaccine being tested?
The vaccine being tested in this research study is called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19.
It is made from a virus (ChAdOx1), which is a weakened version of a common cold virus (adenovirus) that causes infections in chimpanzees. It has been genetically changed so that it is impossible for it to grow in humans.
Scientists are hoping to make the body recognise and develop an immune response to the spike protein on the outside of the virus to stop it entering human cells and so prevent infection.
The main focus of the study is to find out if this vaccine is going to work against Covid-19, ensure it won’t cause unacceptable side effects, and see if it induces good immune responses.
What happens next?
There are a lot of complex stages in vaccine development according to Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at Oxford University’s Jenner Institute.
She says they will increasingly immunise more people to check for safety and immune response to the vaccine in older people as well as younger ones.
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“This is particularly important because it’s the older population that we really need to protect with a vaccine,” she said. “But with vaccines in general you often get a lower immune response as the immune system ages. So, we need to find out how well this vaccine works in older people compared to younger people by measuring the immune response to the vaccination.”
Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at the Jenner Institute at Oxford University. University of Oxford
She said the research team would also be checking if the vaccine actually protects people against Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.
“People don’t know which vaccine they’re having and, over time, as people become infected or have symptoms of coronavirus, they’ll come to us to get tested.
“When enough people have become positive for the coronavirus, the statisticians will look at which groups those people are in, to find out whether they are in the group that had the coronavirus vaccine, or whether all positive cases are in the group that had the meningitis vaccine.
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“We’re hoping for the infections to happen only in the meningitis vaccine group. And if that’s the case we will then be able to say that this vaccine works, at least in the age range we have vaccinated, and we can then start expanding the studies and we can start to apply for emergency use licensure so that the vaccine can be used more widely.”
Will people in the UK get access to the vaccine first if it is successful?
The UK will be first in line for 30m doses of Oxford University’s coronavirus vaccine by September if it passes trials, business secretary Alok Sharma has said.
He announced a deal had been struck between Oxford University and pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca meaning that 30m doses would be made available by September for the UK as part of an agreement to deliver 100m doses in total, if ongoing trials succeed.
“The UK will be first to get access,” said Sharma. “Once a breakthrough is made, we need to be ready to manufacture a vaccine by the millions.”
He also announced a further £84m in funding to accelerate the work currently being done in vaccine trials at Oxford University and at Imperial College.
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Is there a chance the vaccine won’t work?
Despite putting considerable investment into vaccine development, the government has cautioned that an effective coronavirus vaccine may never be found.
Gilbert agrees that, while she believes the prospects of developing a workable vaccine are good, nothing is certain.
“Nobody can be absolutely sure it’s possible to produce a successful vaccine, that’s why we have to do trials to find out.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-20--How To Keep Babies Busy In Lockdown, Even Just For 10 Minutes

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It’s no secret that parents are having a particularly difficult time during the Covid-19 pandemic. Social distancing means balancing remote work, household chores, child care, homeschooling and leisure activities to keep everyone happy and healthy.
But while there are endless worksheets, scavenger hunts, videos and activities available for school-age kids in lockdown, parents of babies have fewer options. We scoured the internet and asked parents in several HuffPost Facebook communities for their advice for keeping babies entertained.
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“This has been so incredibly difficult ― nearly impossible,” HuffPost reader Carissa Meg wrote. “I have a 9 month old. Keep in mind, she was 7 months old when this started. She is changing so quickly, so what worked one day doesn’t necessarily work the next. She went from three naps to two naps during these two months, and I imagine I may still be working from home when she transitions to one nap.”
Having a baby to care for can be a blessing in lockdown, but it can also be extra exhausting since they require constant attention and supervision. Still, there are ways to keep your baby entertained and secure with you in the moments when you have to answer a quick email or make a phone call. And there are resources full of fun ideas for parents looking for new things to do with their babies during this time of 24/7 togetherness.
Read on for advice from fellow parents. And above all, try not to put too much pressure on yourself. As Meg wrote, “We just have to do what we have to do and keep reminding ourselves they are loved and they are safe.”
Diversity Photos via Getty Images Staying home during the pandemic has led to many challenges for working parents.
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Learning Toys
“I have to give [my daughter] my focus most of the time. I might be able to buy myself 10 minutes max to hop on a call or catch up on email while she plays with Linkimals,” Meg wrote. “These are neat because they teach colors, letters, numbers and some fine motor skill activities.”
Developmental toys are a great way to keep babies occupied and entertained while learning. There are many different options for different stages in a baby’s first year.
Activity Centers
Meg said she also keeps her daughter busy with “a table she can stand in safely with various activities at her fingertips.”
Activity centers (both stationary and mobile) have been very popular for parents with little ones at home ― even in pre-pandemic times. With the challenges of work-life balance in lockdown, it’s no surprise they’re being put to good use.
Educational Shows
Expert recommendations generally advise against screen time for babies, but stressed-out parents know that isn’t always realistic. Educational shows and videos geared toward tiny tots can be a saving grace during social distancing.
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“I’m sure I’m about to get a ton of crap for this, but we probably wouldn’t survive without ‘Sesame Street’ and ‘Mickey’s Clubhouse,’” Raven Kenworthy told HuffPost. “I have an almost 8-month-old, and while my husband and I share parenting duties during the day, there are times we can’t avoid when we’re both on a call or need to be on our computers. That’s where his bouncer and a show comes in handy. It buys us about 10-15 minutes.”
Baby Books
Parents can read their babies books and then let them flip through and play with them. Meg said she’s had luck with “board books that sing songs.”
Many babies prefer chewing on their books rather than looking at them, so it could be worth checking out the offerings from “Indestructibles,” a brand of “rip proof, chew proof, nontoxic, 100% washable” books for babies.
Runs And Walks
HuffPost reader Lauren Mikov recommended “runs in the jogging stroller and walks wearing a baby carrier!” This can be mutually beneficial since parents may be able to catch up on a phone call or podcast ― or just get some fresh air and exercise ― while keeping their babies stimulated.
“We find he sleeps better at night and is more cooperative throughout the day if he gets some outdoor time,” Mikov said of her baby son.
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Educational Apps
Again, screen time is not ideal, but desperate parents can keep their infants entertained with educational games and apps geared toward babies.
The EasyPeasy app has options specifically for little ones in the 0-2 years age range. Other apps offer games geared toward different developmental levels and skills.
Sensory Activities
There are countless ways to promote babies’ development without any sort of screen. Activities that engage different senses can be very simple and stimulating. HuffPost reader Gennie Bruce Gorback, who is an early childhood educator and stay-at-home mom, created a Facebook group to offer parents ideas for “developmentally appropriate play, using items they can find around the house.”
Sibling Interactions
If your baby has an older sibling at home, it might be worth letting them entertain each other (in the presence of an adult). Scholastic has a list of activities for preschoolers and babies to try together, like show and tell or making funny faces.
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Ideas From Parenting Resources
In addition to the ideas and resources mentioned above, there are tons of websites full of options for baby play and entertainment.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-20--3 Hair Mistakes Your Stylists Wish You Wouldn't Make At Home

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If you’re standing at your bathroom counter during the coronavirus pandemic, scissors in one hand and bangs in the other, put everything down and back away slowly.
While you may have watched a YouTube tutorial or two on how to trim your fringe or get the perfect rainbow hair at home, do you really want to upset your hairstylist (and your bank account) later when you need to fix your quarantine look? With some parts of the country beginning to open salons, can’t you wait a bit longer?
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HuffPost spoke with three experienced stylists. These pros agree it’s A-OK to try some beauty routines at home. On the other hand, there are maintenance steps you should probably not attempt yourself.
mikexavier via Getty Images
Don’t try box dye.
Melody Choate, hairstylist and salon educator, told HuffPost that many of her clients have called about covering their greys while her salon is closed.
“They’re asking what kind of box colour is best, which… there is no box colour that’s best,” she said. “With box dye, you don’t know the volume of the developer. The higher the developer, the more damaging it is to your hair, and box dye is often high-volume. You’re potentially damaging all your hair just to cover your roots.”
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If you just can’t wait to see your stylist, Choate said, apply box dye as sparingly as possible.
“If you do have to use box colour, I’m not going to shame you for that, but something to keep in mind is to only do your roots,” she warned. “Don’t pull it through the ends. When you do that, you can lose other dimensional colour you had previously. And your ends can be more fragile than fresh hair at the top of your head so that harmful box colour can cause damage.”
Don’t bleach your hair (or use other harsh chemicals).
Sami Skinner, a stylist, colour correction specialist and Redken artist, said at-home bleach is her number one no-no for those trying to change their look during this time of social distancing.
Sanny11 via Getty Images Bleach will do more harm than good if you don't know how to handle it. Wait for your hairstylist to reopen to lighten your hair.
“If you bleach your hair and it’s been lightened before, if you overlap that lightener at all, you’re risking your hair falling out or extreme damage. That’s a nightmare to fix,” she explained. “The other thing is, if you’re not a natural blond and you’re bleaching your hair at home, you’re not going to get the pigment you’re looking for — it’ll be that orange tone. The amount of money and time needed to fix that is a lot worse than people imagine.”
Sarajane Maples, a colourist and bridal stylist, noted that keratin is another chemical to leave to salon appointments only.
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“An at-home keratin treatment is almost a reverse perm; it’s breaking down the composition of your hair and reforming it into something different,” she told HuffPost. “That’s something you’re not going to want to mess with: the composition of your hair. Keratin now is very mild, but you want someone who does those treatments all the time to be doing them.”
Don’t trim your layers.
All three experts agreed that if you’re giving a men’s cut to someone, it’s fairly foolproof as long as you have clippers with a guard. But leave long hair alone.
“Please don’t cut your long hair,” Maples said. “It’d probably be better for it if it had the chance to grow anyway. Colour can usually be fixed, but hair has to grow back.”
Do experiment with nonpermanent colour.
Are you seeing Instagram ads for colour-depositing conditioners? Brands like Overtone are all over social media, and Choate said products like theirs are a solid option for exploring colour without damaging hair.
“They generally wash out really quickly,” she said, “and if they don’t wash out quickly, it’s easy for us to get out.”
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Skinner added that if you use a colour-depositing conditioner, be sure to read the directions well. Otherwise, your new hue may last longer than you intended.
“If you put it on dry hair, it’s a nightmare to get that stuff out,” she said.
It also makes a difference how deep the colour is. “If they specify they’re a pastel, it’s like a whisper of colour that’ll fade within four to five washes. Some are very inky, saturated tones and those are the ones that are not fun to take out. That’s a colour correction,” Skinner said.
And if you have blond or balayage hair, she advised reaching out to your stylist. “It’s not hard for us to make a colourful conditioner and drop it on your doorstep. Then I could control the pigment and help in that way.”
Do try clip-in extensions.
“If you can’t get a cut, you can pop in some halo extensions and you can’t tell you haven’t had a haircut in a while,” Maples said. “Some people have been in quarantine for three months and that’s a long time without a change.”
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She noted that “the brand I work with has halos in 17 to 20 inches that I can color for clients, and they can pick it up outside the house and have something fun for a couple weeks.”
Do trim your bangs (just don’t create new ones).
Skinner said she’s OK with clients trimming their bangs and has offered to FaceTime with them while they’re at it.
Choate added that it’s ideal to wait for your stylist, but if you’re reaching for the scissors, try this: “If your bangs are driving you crazy, it’s best to cut up into them in vertical sections. It creates a softer look and is less committal. Hold your shears vertically and cut up into them to get some of that weight out instead of having a blunt line with a horizontal chop.”
In addition, Choate said that when trimming your fringe, “it’s always best to start longer because your hair springs up so much. Cut it a lot longer than you think and go from there.”
Do call your stylist for pointers and products.
If your salon is closed, then your stylist is probably at home just like you, Maples pointed out. Chances are they’d love to offer tips or drop off products to help you change up your hair safely.
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“Your stylist wants you to contact them so their job isn’t so hard later,” she said. “Always go to your stylist first.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-20--Boris Johnson, Don't Make Me And 1.3 Million Other Children Go Hungry Next Week

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Like 1.3 million other children in the UK, I get free school meals. For many young people they are, put simply, the difference between whether they eat or not. Imagine how those of us who rely on them felt when we heard they will be taken away from us during school holidays.
I know that a lot of students are troubled with the “shame” of admitting they get free school meals, and I’ve seen kids go hungry at lunch because they don’t want to admit they don’t have the money to get food.
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“It’s up to all of us to speak up, especially in lockdown, for young people that feel like their needs are a burden on others.”
That’s why I started a petition to urgently call on the government not to abandon children by taking away lunches next week during half-term. It’s up to all of us to speak up, especially in lockdown, for young people that feel like their needs are a burden on others. Children shouldn’t know the feeling of a starved belly; especially when these children are living in a developed country with one of the biggest economies in the world.
A few weeks ago, our prime minister Boris Johnson did a good thing and took steps to make sure that young people like me could get a decent lunch while schools were closed, including over the Easter holidays. But now, for reasons they haven’t explained to us, the Prime Minister has decided to withdraw that support over May half term. We don’t know what plans there are yet for the summer holidays.
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Millions of children could be without school meals over half term Getty
We are now in our eighth week of lockdown, and with each week that passes the struggle to just get by and eat properly gets harder. Holiday periods can be a cause of distress as parents try to figure out how to provide for their kids 24/7. Too many families are reaching breaking point right now. We must make sure we are helping them.
“I shouldn’t have to worry if my parents are going to reach breaking point soon, and if they did, how we would cope.”
Imagine as a parent feeling incapable to provide for your own kids. No matter how hard you work and how much you struggle, you’re not able to give them even one hot meal a day, starving yourself to feed your kids. It’s a heart-breaking reality for many families across the UK, and the government needs to find an efficient solution to solve this alarming and upsetting problem.
And the vouchers aren’t enough. Many people can’t access big supermarkets that are a car journey away, and so are stuck buying from local stores that cost double the price for basic essentials. The government must step up and find more efficient alternatives; support local food banks that are struggling due to the surge of demand, help give emergency food parcels to those in food deserts, relieve the debts of families at breaking point. These are just a few solutions off the top of my head that would instantly improve the dire situation many of us are currently facing.
The government is spending so much to protect businesses, and that’s the right thing to do. But surely, we need to protect the health of children too? Don’t all kids have the right to get a decent lunch?
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I’m not alone in this fight. As I scrolled through the comments under my petition, one person wrote: “How does this even have to be a petition?” Frankly, I don’t know. I was taken aback reading that because I, as a teenager, shouldn’t have to worry about kids starving. I shouldn’t have to worry if my parents are going to reach breaking point soon, and if they did, how we would cope. To quote another comment: “No young person should be worrying about whether they will have enough food.”
Hundreds of voices have spoken out against this and over 15,000 have already signed my Change.org petition, which gives me hope that we can come together to help those more vulnerable in our society. I really believe that if enough of us ask Boris Johnson to commit to feeding 1.3 million children in England over the holidays then he will do the right thing.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-20--How Weddings Are Predicted To Look In A Socially-Distanced World

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Wedding season would now be in full swing had the world not been in the grips of a pandemic. Instead, couples across the UK face cancellations or postponed ceremonies – with a backlog expected well into 2021.
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The future is uncertain for those getting married. When restrictions do begin to ease, small ceremonies involving five or fewer people may be allowed to take place first, Bernadette Chapman, director of the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners, tells HuffPost UK. Although as it stands, there hasn’t been any insight from the government on this.
At a later date – although, no earlier than 4 July – the hospitality industry is expected to begin reopening. “It might be that slightly larger weddings are allowed at this time but again we cannot know for sure,” says Chapman. “We anticipate some wedding venues will begin to open but it’s unlikely large weddings indoors will be possible.”
Wedding planners are keen to help ceremonies go ahead, however, and are considering how they can make them as safe as possible for couples and their guests. Here’s what that might look like.
Zeferli via Getty Images
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Outdoor venues
We now know the virus doesn’t spread as much outside, so there’s likely to be an increase in celebrant-led ceremonies at home in the garden, or in the gardens of wedding venues. “We’re anticipating couples having a legal ceremony prior to this with their witnesses,” explains Chapman.
Chapman also predicts clients will hire open air marquees to accommodate guests in the grounds of wedding venues, rather than indoors, to minimise risk.
But demand will be high, and she warns of a possible shortage of registrars in 2021. There will be couples who were due to marry this year, as well as those due to marry in 2021, wishing to move forward – and “there are only so many summer 2pm slots on a Saturday”.
Fewer guests
If an outdoor wedding isn’t possible, Chapman expects couples will limit guest numbers by at least half. Large, indoor weddings are likely to be a thing of the past until a coronavirus vaccine or effective treatment is found, she believes.
“[There may be] an emphasis on the ceremony and wedding breakfast,” she adds. “This should minimise the difficulties of social distancing when you’ve been drinking all day or dancing.”
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Chapman envisages that during the ceremony, rows will be spread further apart and families – or households – will be seated together. If couples choose to feed guests, it’s likely there’ll be fewer people seated at tables, she says – perhaps half the number a couple would usually have.
Hanneke Vollbehr via Getty Images
Michelle Jacobs, a wedding planner specialising in destination weddings for Jewish couples, is used to planning weddings with 200-250 guests. She’s suggested clients schedule a smaller intimate wedding for family and close friends – and then schedule the bigger event once it’s safe to do so.
“This may be in 2021 or it could even be in 2022,” she says. “But at least they have been married – and as I always remind my couples, the marriage ceremony is the ‘main event’ and what it’s all about.”
Jacobs advises that the smaller ceremony could take place at the couple’s home or in their garden – and extra guests could be invited to join via Zoom or a similar video service.
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More elopements
Valentina Ring, who runs The Stars Inside, a wedding and elopement planning company, believes there’ll be a move towards elopements, as couples choose to really focus on the experience.
“We may see more intimate gatherings for celebrating in a truly personal way,” she says. “I’ve definitely seen an increase in the enquiries I receive and stories I hear of couples wanting smaller weddings.
“Honestly, I think the pressure of hosting a perfect wedding for hundreds of people doesn’t sit well with many 20- and 30-somethings nowadays, and they want to take control over what is right for them and what is meaningful to them.”
“We may see more intimate gatherings for celebrating in a truly personal way” - Valentina Ring, who runs The Stars Inside, a wedding and elopement planning company
Decline of the destination wedding
With 14-day quarantines in the pipeline for those who travel into the UK from abroad, destination weddings are likely to take a back-burner – possibly until 2022.
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Jacobs recommends clients consider what she calls a “UK wedding weekend”, where they hire a venue for a full weekend, so they get to have the advantages destination weddings offer. “By doing it in the UK, we’re not asking guests to take the perceived risk of taking a flight and travelling overseas,” she adds.
No hugs and kisses for the happy couple
It’s likely wedding guests will be asked not to hug or kiss the couple – or other guests. Chapman envisages there being signage dotted around the venue reminding guests to do this and adhere to social distancing advice.
A focus on hygiene
It might be the new norm for guests to wear face masks or covers to weddings – in fact, couples may provide them for everyone to wear. They might even have specially-made wedding face masks, Chapman suggests.
Additionally, expect to find hand sanitiser on tables and dotted around the venue, encouraging people to keep their hands clean and germ-free.
Daytime entertainment
Traditionally, weddings lay on entertainment in the evenings – and regardless of culture or religion, dancing is often involved.
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Chapman foresees a focus on increased entertainment during the daytime to encourage an alfresco feel to the wedding – dining outside, dancing on the lawn, roaming musicians.
“This would allow slightly larger numbers, and as there is no evening element it is easier for guests to keep their distance,” she says.
A different style of wedding photography
Photography plays a huge part in documenting a couple’s special day, however we might say goodbye to big group photos, where everyone gathers close to the newly-married couple.
Wedding photographer Simon Fazackarley says much of it will depend on what the government suggests, as well as the scale of weddings moving forward. “There’s a possibility we’ll have to consider group photos within households and have spacing between other households within the same photo,” he says.
“I certainly see situations where I could do groups and combine them using Photoshop to eliminate the social distance, but the majority of my couples would probably like to keep it in for authenticity.”
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Fazackarley predicts wedding photography will focus more on intimate portraits of just couples. “A lot of my work focuses on capturing the emotional moments occurring between people – hugs, for example – and I sadly think we’re going to lose that,” he says. “For a while at least.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-20--Cycling Your Commute. A Complete Beginner’s Guide

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In a post-lockdown world, many people will look for new ways to commute to keep their distance from others. A popular solution? Cycling.
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It’s already on people’s minds, as more than a third say they’ll rethink the way they travel after the pandemic, a survey by charity Cycling UK found. And it’s not surprising, given that the government has urged people to go back to work, but avoid public transport.
Cycling to work seems like a no-brainer if you don’t have a lengthy commute: it’s faster than walking, you’re outdoors where the likelihood of coronavirus spreading is reduced, and it’s better for the planet.
It’s also beneficial for your health. Analysis of data from 300,000 commuters in England and Wales between 1991 and 2016 found those who cycled to work had a 20% reduced rate of early death compared to those who drove.
Improved infrastructure is on its way, too. The Department for Transport recently announced a £2bn package to create a “new era for cycling and walking”.
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Pop-up bike lanes, wider pavements, safer junctions, and cycle and bus-only corridors have been promised in England, as part of the ambitious aim to double cycling and increase walking by 2025.
So, you’re thinking of getting on the bicycle bandwagon. Now what? Use our six-point guide to get bike ready.
1. Find the best bike for you
Cycling doesn’t have to be expensive, so don’t fork out loads if you’re a newbie. If you live in a city, look up bike sharing schemes to begin with – such as Santander Bikes, Lime, Jump, Freebike, Beryl – to check cycling is for you. Just make sure you take anti-bacterial wipes to give the handlebars a clean.
If you’re committed to buying your own bike, start conversations with friends who cycle, or look online to see what might suit you. Got three minutes to spare? Watch this YouTube video from the Cycling Experts on the different styles of bike for different purposes.
Hybrid bikes – those with characteristics from road bikes, touring bikes and mountain bikes – are good all-around cycles for commuting, recommends Bike Radar. They’re not the lightest or most comfortable bikes for long distances, though.
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“Most modern hybrids are usually built around 700c wheels... the tyres are often wider than a road bike’s – but usually not as wide as a mountain bike – allowing you to traverse rough roads and gravel paths with ease,” they say.
SpiffyJ via Getty Images
If you live in a particularly hilly area, an e-bike might be a good option, giving you a boost and ensuring you don’t arrive at work looking like a sweaty mess. Folding bikes could be a good choice for those who have to balance public transport with two-wheel travel. It’s worth steering clear of Dutch-style bikes, though. While aesthetically pleasing, they aren’t the best for a daily commute – they’re heavy so you’ll find it slow-going.
If you can, head to your local bike shop to discuss your options. “The important thing is that you choose a bike that’s comfortable for you and fully roadworthy,” Dame Sarah Storey, Paralympic champion and British Cycling Policy Advocate, tells HuffPost UK.
“And don’t be put off by the saddle on the bike, as these are easily interchangeable and all good bike shops will be able to advise on an alternative.”
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2. Get clued up on basic safety
Staying safe on the road is incredibly important. Before you start, make yourself aware of the Highway Code. Dame storey advises new cyclists to always look ahead, anticipate hazards and signal any movements clearly.
Remind yourself of basic road positioning rules, too. Emily Brooke, CEO and founder of bike share scheme company Beryl, reminds new cyclists not to “cycle in the gutter”, as this can be dangerous. “The best position to take is riding one-third of the way into the lane as it discourages motorists from trying to pass you when there potentially isn’t a safe enough space,” she explains.
Turning in the road can be scary for beginners – especially when it involves moving in front of traffic. You can go about it in three stages, says Brooke: look, signal, manoeuvre. “Before you turn, slow down a little and look over your shoulder to get a clearer picture of what’s happening behind you,” she says.
“When you’ve assessed the situation and feel it’s safe to turn, signal with your arm showing which way you’re going to be going. It’s a good idea to wait a couple of seconds before manoeuvring and get eye contact with the motorist behind you, so they recognise you’re planning on turning.”
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Worledit via Getty Images
Don’t forget the safety of your actual bike – make sure it’s roadworthy and fitted with working lights when riding in low light. Your local bike store can help with this – they can give it a service if the bike is old or secondhand.
And one last point on safety: cycling coach Robert Evans warns against using headphones. ”You should never wear headphones while riding even if you think you can hear what is happening around you,” he told Essential Living.
“Cycling relies heavily on your sense of hearing to identify cars or other cyclists approaching. Headphones, even on a low volume, not only disrupt this sense, but if you were to get into a collision with a vehicle or pedestrian this could be used against you even if you are in the right.”
3. Choose your route and practise it
Before you start back at work, plan the route you’d take and do a few test runs while it’s less busy. That way, you can see how long your cycle commute will be, so you know how long to leave yourself to get to work at a leisurely pace. You don’t want to rock up to the office dripping with sweat, after all.
Brooke suggests looking into national cycle network routes, local cycle paths or quieter roads you can take. “This may mean your ride becomes slightly longer, but it will make the whole thing more enjoyable,” she says.
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Westend61 via Getty Images
4. Build up your fitness
You may not be able to ride the full distance to work straight away if you’ve not cycled before, so don’t overstretch yourself. Instead, build up your distance gradually, suggests Craig Myers, British Cycling’s recreation manager.
“If you’re completely new to cycling and feel a little nervy, stick to parks or traffic-free routes to begin with and progress from there,” he says. “There’s no need to put yourself under any pressure. Cycling is a really accessible activity – you don’t have to be Geraint Thomas to enjoy getting out for a ride.”
5. Invest in basic bike accessories
There’s so much cycling gear out there, it’s hard to know where to start. Firstly, get some front and rear bike lights and reflective clothing so you’re visible in the dark. Brooke also recommends the Proviz REFLECT360 cycling backpack for commuters.
Will you wear a helmet? It’s a hotly debated topic and a question of individual choice – but a safe option. “There’s no British law to compel cyclists, of any age, to wear helmets when cycling, though it’s particularly recommended for young children and those who aren’t confident in their riding ability,” says Brooke.
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You’ll want to be prepared for worst-case scenarios, like punctures or your chain falling off. Myers suggests carrying a spare inner tyre tube, tyre levers, a multi-tool and pump. Pick these up at your local bike shop and make sure you’re familiar with how to use them, too.
It’s also useful to have your phone on hand for directions (hello Google maps). Alternatively, Brooke recommends the Beeline Velo, a minimalist bike computer that directs you to your desired destination safely.
jacoblund via Getty Images
You’ll need a decent lock if you’ll be leaving your bike outside your work. The Kryptonite Keeper 12 Standard Lock comes highly recommended.
Brooke says it’s best to lock your bike in an extremely visible spot so frequent passers-by act as a theft deterrent. “Fill as much of the lock with as much of the bike as possible,” she says, “ensuring you include a wheel and part of the bike’s frame.”
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6. Dress the part
You don’t have to dress head-to-toe in lycra. “If you’re going to be riding at a leisurely pace, you can probably do it in your work clothes,” says Dame Storey. “However, it’s important to make sure you’re protected from the elements, so get yourself a good breathable waterproof.” And check the forecast before heading out, so you know whether you’ll need it or not.
Trainers are a must and you might want to opt for cycle shorts or leggings if you don’t want your work trousers getting stuck in the chain or splashed with mud. If you’re finding you’re a bit saddle sore after a few journeys, invest in some padded shorts.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-20--I Was Dreading Ramadan In Lockdown. But There Have Been Unexpected Perks

HuffPost UK Courtesy of the author
The coronavirus pandemic has been an unsettling time for all of us, but particularly for those of faith who have had to adapt to celebrate holy periods such as Easter, Passover, and now Ramadan, completely differently.
For Muslims like myself, Ramadan is a period of fasting, prayer and self-reflection, and a time that is usually spent with family and friends. This year, it’s instead been a time of social isolation. Inspired by those ‘expectations vs reality’ Instagram memes, I felt like doing one of my own this Ramadan Posting a picture of myself smug in my comfy clothes not worrying about seeing my favourite Pret sandwich staring at me, versus what it has actually been like: pulling my hair out and talking to myself because I’m so desperate for social interaction.
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Here are the few of the expectations I convinced myself would happen in comparison to the pleasant reality of what Ramadan has been like.
Expectation: Yes, I don’t have to dress up to leave the house!
I’ll be honest, it usually takes me forever to decide which Hijab best matches my outfit, setting my alarm that little bit earlier to make sure I have enough time to get ready. More time to sleep.
Reality: I have not changed out of my PJs for seven weeks.
Even for zoom meetings with colleagues, as long as my top half is presentable, they will never know, or I opt for no video camera. It’s not only because I love being comfy, but because I have had so many clothes wardrobe clear outs to pass the time, I have no other clothes left.
Expectation: I can avoid seeing that person you always dread talking to at Iftar!
When we break our fast at sunset each day, there’s always that one aunt you see once a year that chews your ear off and asks about when you’re getting married. I love to reply with sarcasm, it usually works when I say that it’s next week and the invitation must have gotten lost in the post. You haven’t eaten all day and so all you want to do is stuff your face and not make small talk or have deep conversations about a hypothetical future spouse.
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Reality: Being at home for Iftar, I am yet to find a good enough excuse to get out of doing the dishes.
I have nowhere to run.
Expectation: Hey, I don’t have to walk past all those lovely smelling lunchtime treats!
Finally, I don’t have to fight temptation or worry about non-Muslim friends or colleagues eating in front of me. I have a pep talk with myself each morning to tell myself I can do it. I don’t have to worry about being in a meeting and being the only one fasting. What gets me the most is probably the sweet smell and taste of caffeine. It doesn’t bother too much though, you get used to it after all these years. Unless I am having one of those bad days.
Reality: I am now clock-watching like never before.
I’m throwing myself into work tasks and hoping, pray, that enough time passes that I can see light at the end of the tunnel. Instead it’s 2pm, and I still have six more hours to go, and have to give a pep talk to myself: “Aya, come on, you can do this!”
Needless to say, this Ramadan has been one to remember. For both me and everyone I have spoken to during this challenging period, lockdown’s actually made us all take time from our hectic and frenetic daily lives to focus on things that we maybe didn’t pay much attention to.
For me, one of the purposes of Ramadan is to retreat from our social life to devote more time to our own spiritual and mental wellbeing – and I am definitely looking after myself and investing in self-care. And I have appreciated more than ever being safe, being healthy and, at the end of the day, having food on the table.
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I’ve been able to spend more time connecting with my faith and spirituality more than I have been able to before. Ramadan normally being such a social time, I’m so thankful for things like FaceTime, which let me see my friends for our virtual Iftars and make sure I don’t miss out on my niece and nephew growing up. It has, of course, been tough not being able to go to our mosque during this time, but I’ve seen how so many are trying to instil a sense of community online.
In such unprecedented and difficult times for all, I hope that others are finding solace with social isolation during Ramadan and that we continue to be healthy and safe, taking nothing for granted.
Aya Bdaiwi is a project and communications manager at Faiths Forum for London - an interfaith charity that empowers faith communities
Have a compelling personal story you want to tell? Find out what we’re looking for here, and pitch us on ukpersonal@huffpost.com


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-20--Zoom And FaceTime Are The New Normal, But They're Literally Making Me Sick

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I survived child trafficking and incest abuse, but my body dysmorphia has plagued me in ways that I never anticipated during the coronavirus quarantine.
The Mayo Clinic defines body dysmorphia as a “disorder in which you can’t stop thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in your appearance.” In my case, it’s the result of post-traumatic stress disorder, and I’ve struggled with it for over two decades, despite years of therapy.
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Only three photos exist of me between ages ten and 20. Beginning around the time of puberty, I developed a fear of looking in mirrors and having my picture taken. I saw my abusive father’s eyes in every reflection. It frightened me so much as a 12-year-old that I learned to apply Bonne Bell lip gloss without the help of a mirror. In the years since, I have considered plastic surgery. Days before my wedding last year, I considered hiring a sketch artist instead of a photographer for the ceremony. At my worst moments, I removed all the mirrors from my walls.
Anxiety always exacerbates my dysmorphia. It melts the boundary between internal and external terror as my mind insists that I look as monstrous as I feel.
“Only three photos exist of me between ages 10 and 20. Beginning around the time of puberty, I developed a fear of looking in mirrors and having my picture taken.”
Before the pandemic, my therapist suggested anti-anxiety medication to manage those feelings and taking selfies as a form of exposure therapy. The control that I have over a selfie has helped a little, but I still experience panic attacks when someone wants to take a group photo at a work conference or family gathering. Feeling self-conscious about my anxiety amplifies the panic on a closed emotional loop. I end up fearing that I’m acting strangely because I am, in fact, acting strangely.
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But group photos are not an issue during the Covid-19 crisis. Instead, video conferencing is the triggering event these days. While many people may dislike Zoom, FaceTime or other video meetings right now, I dread them. With video chat platforms as the main method of communication, I’m struggling to stay connected with my boss, friends and family while not spiralling into a full depressive meltdown. Nothing incites my body dysmorphia more than seeing my own image on screen.
Just recently I texted my boss before a video meeting, telling her that I would prefer a phone call. She texted me back, insisting that we use Zoom. The meeting itself didn’t worry me. I was over-prepared with charts, graphs and a bevy of data points. But the anxiety of knowing that I might see my own face during the meeting sent me into a panic. I took a deep breath and dug through my bag, which hadn’t left the house in eight weeks, to search for anti-anxiety medication. I swallowed the dose, knowing that I didn’t have the energy to push harder for a phone conference without divulging details of my PTSD that I absolutely did not wish to discuss with my boss. Even if I wanted to tell her that I’m a sexual abuse survivor, it would not be a brief conversation. Worse, I feared it would distract from the work that we needed to finish.
In other words, I managed the best I could.
“With video chat platforms as the main method of communication, I’m struggling to stay connected with my boss, friends and family while not spiraling into a full depressive meltdown.”
Before the meeting, I smoothed the collar of my dress shirt and straightened my favorite necklace ― a gift from a friend that holds a golden key stamped with the word ”courage.” I checked that my makeup wasn’t smudged the way that I usually do: by homing in on one specific quadrant of my face in the mirror and averting eye contact with myself.
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Usually when I look at my entire reflection, I recognise only the features that remind me of my violently cruel father. The dysmorphia blinds me to everything else. That sends me into a panic attack that I can best describe as a sort of migraine. This, in part, is the reason that I have only one mirror in the entire house. It hangs above the bathroom sink and I avoid it whenever possible.
Throwing open my laptop, I logged in to the meeting and held my breath, waiting for my webcam’s green light to glow. I exhaled a sigh of relief when the screen opened to my boss’s face, not mine. We checked in about the goals for the week and I avoided glancing at the smaller screen of my image. There is a way to close the smaller window, but I couldn’t find the button. I just hoped that I didn’t look as nervous as I feel.
My boss told me that she needed to show me something and my face flashed on screen. I jumped. My dog jumped too. Recoiling, all I could see were the eyes of the person who hurt me as a child, the mouth of my father who smiled sadistically when I was in pain, and the arms of the man who hit me until my body was covered in bloody welts. I wanted to run away and I started to feel sick, but I fought the urge and reminded myself that I needed to remain composed and look professional. While my boss was having a seemingly normal meeting with her employee, I was feeling triggered.
Later that day, my nephew texted my husband and me. He wanted to FaceTime to show us his new baseball. I would have preferred a phone call, but he is obsessed with baseball and I wanted to be supportive. My husband noticed my anxiety escalating as the FaceTime call rang. He reached out to hold my hand. My breath grew more and more shallow. I tugged at my hair. I checked my phone and massaged my hands to distract myself. The video call was unable to connect for some reason and I exhaled a sigh of relief. My husband pulled me close, telling me not to worry, that I’m beautiful.
“I want people to understand that for some of us, the struggle isn’t so obvious. Check on your loved ones, even those who seem to be OK.”
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It is the twisted fate of nature that even survivors of child abuse and incest must grow up to look more and more like their biological parents. When I feel calm and relaxed, I recognise my features as my own. When I feel happy, I don’t think I look grotesque like my father, who trafficked and raped me. When I’m stressed out, the symptoms of dysmorphia are much worse. As Covid-19 infections spread, it’s been hard to find ways to replace my normal coping routines while practicing social distancing.
I knew that I needed to figure out a better way to deal with this because it was interfering with my work and family and making me feel mentally unwell, so I was relieved when my therapist agreed to a phone call instead of a video conference. Within a few minutes, I asked her again if she thought that plastic surgery would help my dysmorphia.
“No, I don’t think that will address the root of what’s going on.” She pointed out that dysmorphic disorder is more psychological than physical. She told me that even if I look like my parents, I am not them. I said that I don’t want to look prettier; I just want to look different. We went around in circles like this until she finally asked me what I would change, if given the choice.
“I don’t know. A bigger nose?” I laughed. “I just want to not look like my dad.”
Hearing myself laying out this disoriented logic reminded me again that my therapist is right. Surgically changing my features won’t address the underlying reasons that I hyperventilate at the sight of my own face. Plus, plastic surgery is expensive. She assigned me homework to read Dr. Judith Herman Lewis’ book Trauma and Recovery and we scheduled our next appointment.
I know what I need to do to manage my dysmorphia right now. I need to follow a regular sleep schedule, to exercise somehow and to take my anxiety medication each morning while continuing to see my therapist. Listing the steps makes them sound so easy. My prescription bottle is stamped with a label that reads “Take as needed.” But lately, “as needed” just means every day. And while I may not be able to go to the gym, I can at least remind myself to breathe.
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I want people to understand that for some of us, the struggle isn’t so obvious. Check on your loved ones, even those who seem to be okay. More than anything, I want to set a good example for my niece and nephew. I’m not my father, and I want to continue to manage my mental illness so I can model healthy relationships for the kids in my family.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-20--Will Boris Johnson Ever Own Up To Any Responsibility For The UK’s Covid-19 Death Toll?

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The lame blame game
Months before he became Labour leader, Keir Starmer last year tried to put his finger on Boris Johnson’s biggest political weakness: a lifetime of avoiding responsibility. Whenever things went wrong, somehow Johnson disappeared from the scene and others were left taking the blame. Westminster’s very own Shaggy, ‘it wasn’t me’ seemed to be the Bojo MO.
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After he won his landslide election, it appeared that the PM was ready to accept that the buck stopped with him. With an 80-strong majority, the Commons was no longer an obstacle and his cabinet was reshaped to bend to his will. There could be no hiding place, and Johnson readily declared it was his duty to deliver on all his promises.
Coronavirus has of course swamped everything since. But as the political heat has intensified over his handling of the crisis, is the blame game that worked so effectively at the last election (Parliament’s ‘surrender’ Remainiacs, May and Cameron’s austerity) now being rolled out once more? Or will he finally have to own the errors on his watch?
Some ministers (and a fair few scientists) think that Therese Coffey yesterday tried to blame the medical and scientific advisers for supplying the ‘wrong’ advice early in the pandemic. And today, under fire from Starmer over care home deaths, Johnson himself highlighted that it was doctors who decided to discharge people into care homes, not his government.
Yet when the PM said “no one was discharged into a care home this year without the express authorisation of a clinician”, he was in fact not so much blaming medics as simply avoiding the question. He had been asked why there was insufficient testing of those discharged patients, not why doctors assessed them as well enough to go home.
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The eventual public inquiry may well discover that those clinicians were under the impression that testing and infection control was indeed in place, when it wasn’t. And as MoD scientific adviser Prof Angela McLean pointed out yesterday, testing was a matter for ministers - and focusing on the NHS was a direct result of “the testing we had at the time” (ie not enough of it).
McLean’s other zinger was of course that easing the lockdown should be “based on observed measured of incidence [of Covid-19], not on a fixed date”. The biggest fixed date right now is June 1, the PM’s deadline for not just more school reopening but also a fully operational test and trace system. That was the big reveal in PMQs, as Johnson once again used the event to unveil a major new policy ambition. With 177,000 daily tests being carried out in the last 24 hours, some in No.10 are certainly more chipper than they have been for days.
After two weeks of being thrown about the ring by Starmer like a dazed WWF fall-guy, Johnson was more robust today. The needle between the pair was evident, not least when the PM mocked the Labour leader’s ”brilliant forensic mind” as he failed to see a question had already been answered. Starmer certainly sounded too wounded (when accused of being negative), and too timid (he was not putting his own view on care homes, simply citing experts in the field) at times.
But he was on stronger ground when he raised the issue of why NHS and care home staff from overseas were being hit by the ‘NHS surcharge’ hike imposed by the government. Johnson looked visibly uncomfortable, admitting he had “thought a great deal about this”, especially as two foreign-born nurses had “frankly saved my life”. Yet his subsequent justification - the NHS ‘needs funding’, the surcharge is raising ‘£900m’, it’s ‘very difficult to find alternative sources’ - was lame on several levels.
First, the cost of scrapping the fee for health and care staff is about a tenth of that figure. Second, the money is a tiny proportion of the overall NHS budget. Third, he has vowed to spend ‘whatever it takes’ (and borrow accordingly) to foot the bill for coronavirus. Fourth, most of the people who pay that surcharge have already paid for the NHS in their taxes - they are being effectively charged twice. The blame game is at its most tawdry when a government says the very people on the front line in this virus fight are the ones who ought to be paying more to use the health service when they need it.
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There was at least some sense of shame in penalising some in the care sector when Priti Patel bowed to pressure (thanks to the Times’s excellent journalism) and extended the NHS leave to remain bereavement scheme to include staff such as porters, cleaners and care workers, and not just doctors and nurses.
When the PM returns for PMQs in a fortnight, there will be more Tory MPs around Westminster to cheer him on. No one can ignore that 80-strong majority, which today rammed through a return to a non-hybrid parliament, as well as the hand-picked chairman of the Liaison Committee.
But perhaps the words that linger most today are those of the ever-candid justice secretary Robert Buckland. When he said “I think pointing fingers and blaming people is extremely unproductive”, his target could have been fellow minister Coffey, or even Starmer. But maybe the most unproductive blamer-in-chief will prove to be the PM himself.
Quote Of The Day
“Staying alert, for the vast majority of people, still means staying at home as much as possible.”
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden tweaks the government’s message.
Wednesday Cheat Sheet
The number of UK people hospitalised with Covid-19 fell below 10,000 for the first time since March.
Boris Johnson pledged there “will” be a “world-beating” test, track and trace system in place by June 1, with 25,000 contact tracers ready to trace the contacts of 10,000 new cases per day.
Justice secretary Robert Buckland conceded there may not be a “uniform approach” to reopening England’s schools in the face of opposition from councils and unions.
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The government has performed a U-turn on a policy which could have seen the families of some overseas NHS staff killed by Covid-19 deported.
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden said he hoped British tourism could be “up and running” by July.
Rolls-Royce has announced plans to slash at least 9,000 jobs, largely because of the aviation industry downturn.
Jacob Rees-Mogg has faced a backlash from MPs with young children and those with health conditions after he ordered the end of parliament’s remote working.
Michael Gove published plans for how Northern Ireland’s borders and revealed a post-Brexit trade border would indeed appear in the Irish Sea.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-20--Deptford Fire: Firefighters Tackle Blaze At Block Of Flats In South East London

HuffPost UK
Around 60 firefighters are battling a huge blaze at a block of flats in south east London.
Huge plumes of smoke were pictured rising from the building on Childers Street in Deptford on Wednesday evening.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) tweeted: “Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters have been called to a fire at a block of flats on Childers Street.”
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Videos and pictures of the fire were posted on social media as billowing smoke could be seen across the city.
Fire on Childers Street Deptford SE8 pic.twitter.com/k90Xq8bJpj — Andrew King (@andyse8) May 20, 2020
Big fire in Deptford Childers street pic.twitter.com/wMsdKt7BPe — C🇬🇧 (@CSM1094) May 20, 2020
Huge fire top floor flats #childers street. Hope everyone got out and is ok #deptford #fire #se8 fire fighters in attendance. pic.twitter.com/eyYaDRUK5D — Emma Bushell (@e4everything) May 20, 2020
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The fire broke out in a sixth floor flat and part of the roof of the building is alight.
Firefighters were alerted at 7.26pm and 34 calls were made to the control room about the fire.
The LFB later brought in reinforcements taking the number of engines at the scene to 12.
Fire crews from the south London districts of Deptford, New Cross, Greenwich, Old Kent Road, Lewisham and surrounding fire stations are at the scene.
A LFB spokesman said: “The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-20--Priti Patel U-Turn As Leave To Remain Policy Extended To Hospital And Care Workers

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The government has performed a U-turn on a policy which could have seen the families of some overseas NHS staff killed by Covid-19 deported.
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Home secretary Priti Patel has extended the indefinite leave to remain offer to include to staff such as porters, cleaners and care workers.
It comes after Labour’s Yvette Cooper called the government’s refusal to do so “deeply unfair” and “unthinkable”.
The extension of the NHS bereavement scheme is effective “immediately and retrospectively” and comes after Patel confirmed in a letter to the home affairs select committee that doctors and nurses were included while other low-paid staff were not.
Home secretary Priti Patel during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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In her change of tack, Patel said: “Every death in this crisis is a tragedy, and sadly some NHS support staff and social care workers have made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of saving the lives of others.
“When I announced the introduction of the bereavement scheme in April, I said we would continue to work across government to look at ways to offer further support. Today we are extending the scheme to NHS support staff and social care workers.
“We want to ensure families have the support they need and so this will be effective immediately and retrospectively.”
Leave to remain applies to all hospital support workers including cleaners and porters, social care staff and care home workers, the Home Office said.
Cooper told HuffPost UK: “It is very good news that the government has finally agreed to extend the bereavement scheme to the families of social care workers and NHS support staff who die on the front line.
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Yvette Cooper during a remote meeting of the home affairs committee on preparedness for Covid-19. House of Commons - PA Images via Getty Images
“The home affairs committee has been pressing on this for weeks. It would be unthinkable to ask a family who had lost a loved one as a result of caring for people with Covid-19 to leave their home and the country when they have already given so much to the UK fighting against this awful virus.”
Fears remain that overseas health workers will not be treated fairly, however.
It was unclear from Patel’s letter whether she would attempt to bar the same group from the government’s life assurance scheme, which sees families receive an automatic £60,000 payout if their relative dies on the coronavirus front line.
The prime minister also confirmed in the Commons on Wednesday that the government’s immigration health surcharge, which from October will see all migrants pay a £624 ‘immigration health surcharge’, regardless of whether they travel here to work on the Covid front line.
Cooper also added it was “still very unfair that those low paid workers are not included in the free visa extension”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-20--UK Holidays Could Be 'Up And Running' By Early July, Says Culture Secretary

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British people may be able to start taking holidays in the UK from the beginning of July, the culture secretary has suggested.
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Oliver Dowden said he would “love” to get UK tourism “up and running by the beginning of July”.
Tourism was one of the few major sectors which was barely mentioned in the plan for easing the coronavirus lockdown published by Boris Johnson earlier this month.
But Dowden said there was a “plan” to get domestic holidays going by July amid major doubts over foreign trips as the government introduces a 14-day quarantine for all people who arrive in the UK from abroad.
He told the Downing Street briefing: “I would love to get the tourism sector up as quickly as we possibly can.
“We’ve set this very ambitious plan to try and get it up and running by the beginning of July.
“Clearly, we can only do it if it’s safe to do so because I think the worse thing for our tourism sector would be to start, then see the R [infection] rate rise out of control, see a second peak that overwhelms the NHS that [means] we then have to slam on the brakes again.”
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There were also more grounds for optimism as NHS England national medical director Professor Stephen Powis said the number of coronavirus patients in hospital had fallen below 10,000 for the first time since March.
Dowden meanwhile appeared at odds with his cabinet colleague Robert Buckland, who said there may not be a “uniform approach” to get schools reopened on June 1. Teaching unions and some councils are at loggerheads with the government over the plan amid safety fears.
The culture secretary suggested he would prefer it if all English schools opened at the same time.
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden on Wednesday PA
“It is best, and the government has said this repeatedly, that we move as a whole nation, and that would include of course the whole of England in doing so,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dowden announced details of a taskforce being set up to help the arts, sports and digital sectors return amid social distancing restrictions.
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It will involve former footballer Alex Scott, former BBC and ITV chair Lord Grade, English National Ballet artistic director Tamara Rojo, and tech entrepreneur Baroness Lane-Fox.
“Finding creative, crowd-free ways to navigate coronavirus is the biggest challenge for our recreation and leisure sectors right now,” Dowden said.
The culture secretary also said he hopes the BBC will show “similar flexibility” in delaying the removal of the free TV licence for some over-75s if the crisis continues into August, with many lonely elderly people finding the television is a “lifeline” during lockdown.
Dowden said: “I think the BBC made absolutely the right decision in saying that – in the middle of this coronavirus crisis when particularly older people are being asked to self-isolate and who are feeling lonely, often the TV is a lifeline for them – it wouldn’t be acceptable to take away that TV licence, which is why they rightly extended the proposal for removing it until the beginning of August.
“I very much hope that, if we are in a similar situation come the beginning of August, the BBC will show similar flexibility again.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-20--SPAC Nation: Head Of Controversial Church Steps Down

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The leader of controversial London church SPAC Nation has stepped down from the helm, it has emerged.
Pastor Tobi Adegboyega has handed the reins to senior pastors Damy Balogun and Samuel Akokhia, who will jointly head up the organisation.
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Speaking in a video posted from the church’s Twitter account on Wednesday, Adegboyega said: “Handing over to the next generation is what Africans or churches must now learn. How do we talk about leadership without actually putting people in leadership and let us see their mistakes and how they grow?”
He added: “SPAC Nation is now going to be pastored here in London by Pastor Sam and Pastor Damy. They’ve earned their stripes, they’ve worked hard, they’ve raised fellowship, hundreds of fellowship, and many businesses,” he added.
“I’m handing over a church that started with three people when I was 25 and has grown to over 1,000 people. It grew from the corners of Peckham, when people told me that there’s no way we could grow.”
SPAC Nation church service HuffPost UK
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The religious leader praised the church’s impact on British society and said: “It grew to thousands of people to the most prominent offices in the UK – it has helped the police, councils and many more.
“So do not let people take advantage. Cheap tabloids will have no relevance until they speak negative because they know that negative news sells.”
It appeared to be a thinly veiled dig at the media following a slew of coverage, which came after an exclusive investigation published by HuffPost UK, detailing alarming allegations around SPAC Nation.”
Though Adegboyega says he is “stepping down” in the clip, he added he is still leading the church: “I’m still leading SPAC Nation, by the way. I have my protégés, my sons, they’re now the faces of it. I will allow [them] to make their decisions – I will allow them to make their mistakes.”
This appears to contradict a press release from the church marked with Tuesday’s date that states the pastor has handed over the leadership role altogether.
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Adegboyega now intends to embark on “more” philanthropic work around the world, according to the release.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police continue to review new criminal allegations relating to individuals associated with SPAC Nation.
Pastor Tobi Adegboyega illustration Hannah Eachus
The force received the latest reports in February.
It says the new alleged offences are of a similar nature to allegations of fraud and other offences made against individuals associated with the London-based church last year, as revealed by HuffPost UK.
No criminal investigation was launched into the 2019 allegations and SPAC Nation has always denied any wrongdoing.
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The church had said in response to the new allegations that it has thousands of members and could not respond on behalf of individuals, and that police should carry out the review and take whatever measures they deemed fit. Previously, SPAC Nation has distanced itself from the actions of its pastors, saying “a community with hundreds of pastors cannot monitor what each pastor or leader does”.
SPAC Nation has been hailed by politicians as a pioneering church and a beacon of hope for ex-gang members, but has been hit by a slew of serious allegations.
A HuffPost UK investigation revealed in November that it had created the conditions for fraudsters to flourish within its ranks and was failing to act on allegations of some pastors financially exploiting the young people it claims to help.
We were told about shocking evidence of abuse within safe houses set up by pastors in SPAC Nation, supposedly to protect vulnerable youngsters escaping gangs.
Safeguarding concerns have been raised in relation to church members. The incident pictured here was later dismissed as a joke. Screenshot
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The church’s large congregations include vulnerable young people from impoverished areas, and some members told HuffPost UK that pastors had been taking teenagers to donate blood for medical trials, with their fees then handed over to the church’s pastors.
The church previously told HuffPost UK that Adegboyega put a stop to the practice and said “any encouragement to ask anyone to donate blood is not done here. If Pastor Tobi ever addressed anything in line with this, it was to make sure people contribute to their community rightly and not to do so for money.”
In December the Charity Commission launched an investigation into SPAC Nation – which is a registered charity – to probe financial and safeguarding allegations.
The Charity Commission said its inquiry into the church had not yet concluded.
“It remains our intention to publish the findings of our inquiry upon its conclusion,” a spokesperson said.