With the nation in lockdown, victims of domestic abuse are trapped with their abusers and isolated from support. Even before Coronavirus, there weren’t enough bed places for women to leave - with 3 out of 5 women referred to refuges being turned away for lack of space. Now, rates of domestic abuse are increasing, and we’re in a national crisis. Women’s Aid has seen a 41% increase in survivors trying to access support online. But for many women, digital support won’t be enough. Many desperately need accommodation away from abuse. But there could be a place for these women to go. While many survivors and their children need to access safe accommodation, hotel rooms and across the country are empty due to cancelled events and travel plans. The French government has already committed to housing those fleeing domestic abuse in hotels. In the UK, Southall Black Sisters have successfully lobbied hotels to agree to house those escaping domestic abuse. The hotels are not looking to make a profit on this - only cover their costs We need a firm commitment from the Government that they will pay hotels across the county so that no survivor is trapped with their abuser.

It is important because we are also in need of financial help during this crisis.

MANORLANDS is facing closure within months due to a funding crisis. Sue Ryder, which runs the Oxenhope hospice, says income has dried-up because of the coronavirus pandemic. The charity, which relies on public donations to maintain its services, has had to close its shops and cancel fundraising events. Now, with a potential funding gap of £12 million over the next three months, Sue Ryder is warning that without immediate financial support it will be forced to shut its hospices and stop providing its other end-of-life services. “During this particular period it should be providing 100 per cent funding – and then looking to the future, covering at least half the running costs of our hospices.”

Reading Gaol is of huge national and international cultural significance in terms of its history and its ties to Oscar Wilde’s incarceration there. For the LGBT community those connections to Oscar Wilde are of heightened importance. Wilde wrote “De Profundis,” from his cell and the site was later the inspiration for his poem: “The Ballad of Reading Gaol” As a listed building and a Scheduled Monument, it is of national historical importance. The eastern section of the 900 year old Abbey church and quite possibly the site of Henry I’s tomb lie underneath the ground. The community in Reading and beyond feel that it's best future is as a cultural and arts site that can share this history and complete the Abbey Quarter for Reading. The council submitted a bid for the site with the support of the community. Matt Rodda MP for Reading East has said "I am concerned that the Government still want to sell the gaol to the highest bidder and I understand they now have a preferred bidder who they are working with." Alok Sharma as the neighbouring MP for Reading West prior to the election spoke in support of saving the site, wore a 'save Reading Gaol T-shirt' and said he would back the campaign. We call on him to act on these words now. As a member of the government he is in a unique position to ensure that this special site is saved for our community.

"Unprecedented" A word we have heard often during this crisis. In this unprecedented time, the UK government has made never seen before concessions in an effort to uphold the financial and mental stability of the nation. Yet Huddersfield University School of Pharmacy insists on treating 4th-year university students like this final year is business as usual. It is no secret that the school of Pharmacy already has initiatives in place to support students such as the "best 100 credits" but these were in place before the COVID-19 pandemic. We petition for additional support warranted by our current worldwide circumstances, in the form of the no-detriment policy. This no-detriment policy has already been rolled out university-wide, however, the school of pharmacy has decided to exclude pharmacy students. We believe this to be unfair and strongly ask the school to reconsider their decision and put additional systems in place to support final year students. Pharmacy students are students just like everyone else and during these unprecedented times, we are also going through hard times while isolating at home. Final year pharmacy students are being expected to achieve the same level of efficiency or grades as they would under "normal" conditions, however, the conditions in which we are sitting these exams are far from "normal": Many students would usually utilize library services to study, which allows compartmentalization between home and study. But now many don't have a quiet place to revise. Many students are in the vulnerable group as well as their families and some may experience COVID-19 symptoms during exam season, which may affect productivity. There is extremely limited or unconventional support from lecturers with the absence of lectures or tutorial sessions. It is important to note that the University's attendance policies state that there is a positive correlation between contact time and student performance. Taking exams online introduces many variables that must be considered. Exam conditions may be hard to achieve in some of our homes. Downloading resources and changing windows consumes time depending on device and internet speeds, the latter experiencing higher traffic due to the UK lockdown. In conclusion, the BPSA has put out a statement supporting the no-detriment policy for Pharmacy students and Keele Unvistity has already put it in place for their pharmacy students. As final year pharmacy students at Huddersfield University, we do not aim to make excuses of any kind but rather ask for support. We have worked hard the past 3 years to come to where we are today and plan to repeat the process, but amidst this current pandemic and the challenges, it brings we may not be able to do so. We hope that the Huddersfield school of pharmacy will consider the implementation of the no-detriment policy as we have already seen university-wide.

NHS and social care workers, carers, key workers and hundreds of thousands of community volunteers are keeping us and our country safe in the fight against Coronavirus – the silent enemy. An enemy that does not differentiate between young or old; rich or poor; or those with power or the powerless. We have witnessed immense courage and bravery of our NHS, public sector and community spirited volunteers who are serving humanity selflessly without the fear of putting themselves at risk. Everyone is doing their little bit in saving lives, helping and supporting the most vulnerable in our communities. Doctors, nurses, care workers, teachers and bus drivers have already sacrificed their lives in the line of duty and in their attempt to save the lives of others. The appreciation and love shown up and down the country by many people through lighting up buildings, by standing on our streets to #ClapforNHS #ClapforCarers #ClapforKeyWorkers and displaying rainbows in windows is overwhelming. We now need to further show our solidarity and support to honour them appropriately. We are proud of our NHS, social care, carers, key workers and community volunteer heroes for their efforts in protecting us all now and in the future. Generations to come will look back at their contributions and sacrifices for keeping us safe.

Initially the footbridge was due to close last year around August for an inspection by Network Rail.But the work was put off untill a new application was made and the bridge closed in February this year. Once Covid-19 arrived , any work on the bridge or reopening was suspended indefinitely, leaving the bridge closed & the community facing less access to local services. It is important because the footbridge is a vital link for surrounding neighbourhoods to take their children to school, get to work and access shops. Untill Network Rail decide when they intend to start work they should reopen the footbridge instead of closing it indefinitely, leaving locals very much cut off in what are already difficult times.

The Coronavirus lockdown has seen a dramatic decline in cars using our roads, but they still get priority. With many of us across Tooting, Putney, Battersea, Clapham and Balham wanting to get out once a day to walk, run or cycle - as permitted by the government, our parks and commons are becoming crowded, and many residents don't have gardens or access to other private outdoor spaces. Paul Martin, the Chief Executive of Wandsworth Council could help to create more space for us to by making residential roads, all those with an existing 20mph limit, in the borough pedestrian priority - so we can walk, run or cycle AND maintain social distancing at the same time. This could be done by following steps that other cities have taken, for example installing temporary planters or barriers in the middle of the streets, temporary cycle lanes to be installed on busier roads with cones to help where pavements are narrow, or putting up signs to inform drivers that pedestrians and cyclists have priority. Other cities from New York, Chicago, and Berlin have already done this, and it would mean that the few cars still using the road would have to slow down for pedestrians in them, not the other way around.

On the 23rd of March 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that all UK residents must stay at home on a lockdown to protect the NHS amid the growing threat of coronavirus. No doubt this move can last six months or longer that has effected every individual within the UK financially. In this critical time of pandemic individuals and businesses have to continue paying for their vehicle insurance even though they are restricted to drive unless it’s essential. It is unfair that over 33 million policyholders have to pay insurance on vehicles that they cannot drive due to the lockdown. I urge the UK government to step in and support its citizens during this global crisis.

This is important because we are currently in an unprecedented time. Due to Covid-19 people are struggling with money, people are unsure if their jobs or businesses are safe. We don’t need the added stress of paying for a full change of uniform and PE kit when the current ones have hardly been worn.

As the coronavirus crisis continues and many of us are losing our jobs, more people than ever will be applying for housing benefits to help us get through. But unless the government increases the amount of rent it covers, thousands of people still won’t be able to afford their rent. That’s because right now housing benefits only cover the cost of the cheapest 30% of rent prices, and it can leave people hundreds of pounds short on their rent. With so many people suddenly relying on housing benefits to pay rent, and with no option to move to a cheaper flat, we’re calling on the government to increase the Local Housing Allowance to cover at least the average cost of renting and remove any caps stopping people getting the full amount. Will you sign the petition now, and help make sure that those impacted by the coronavirus crisis have the support they need.

Hundreds of thousands of people - who have lost their jobs or had their hours reduced due to Coronavirus - are now being forced to claim Universal Credit in order to feed their families and keep a roof over their head. But instead of being able to get the help they need immediately, they are forced to wait for 5 weeks before they can get any money, or take out a loan called an “advanced payment” to tide them over. It means families will have to choose between going into debt and having smaller benefits payments in the coming months, or waiting over a month for money they need to pay for food, bills and rent. It doesn’t have to be like this. In this time of national crisis, the government could choose to end the 5 week wait by making the “advance payment” for Universal Credit a grant not a loan. This would mean families get the money they need straight away, and their full universal credit payment in the following months. MPs and experts are calling on them to do exactly this. Huge public pressure could be enough to push them to do the right thing. Will you sign the petition so that people get the money they need, when they need it, without being pushed into debt?