Care Workers are the lowest paid in society but are one of the most important workers - caring for the most vulnerable. They are front-line workers and therefore are one of the most at risk workers during this Corona Virus pandemic. We cannot allow poverty pay to put citizens at risk! Respect the work that they do and ensure their well-being.

The recent impacts of Covid-19 have been particularly hard-hitting on University students during their Higher Education. Many students have been unable to continue with their work at the same standard they were able to prior to this disruption to their education, due to the immediate health concerns they and those close around them now face. Staffordshire University has given students a blanket extension of 10 days on all of their current assessments, however what other University's have also started to implement is a 'No detriments' policy for students. This means that as long as students submit and pass all of their remaining assessments, they will receive no less than the average grade they had achieved in this academic year assessments up to this point. However, if students pass their exams with a higher grade than their average, this is the grade they will receive for the academic year. So their grade can be higher than what they've already achieved, but not lower. Essentially, it's a safety net for students. Sign this petition to encourage Staffordshire University to implement this policy to help support students during this uncertain and extremely stressful period. Thank you.

Randox received £23 million in public funds through Invest NI in 2018, and benefited from a research partnership with our two universities QUB and UU. Now they are selling at an extortionate price (£120 per test) at a time when people are worried about food and job security and how they'll keep a roof over their heads. Meanwhile our NHS is struggling as they don't have enough tests so that key healthcare professionals can continue to do their vital work on the frontline of the fight against this global pandemic. Demand that Randox releases the Covid-19 tests free of charge to the NHS and stops profiteering from this crisis.

We the undersigned request a response to the issues detailed below. At present we have received information (very slowly) regarding our current TMA, allowing extensions whilst simultaneously being told no extensions to the EMA as it would present difficulties to the exam board. Whilst we appreciate that these are unprecedented times and acknowledge the efforts of the OU thus far, we do not believe it fair for the largest part of our module to be affected, with the only options to defer the module for another year or to hand in substandard work due to circumstances out of our control. We request for those who need it a deferral of the EMA (or a significantly longer time period for completion) or a cancellation of the EMA instead using TMA averages to determine our end of module result. The use of said course marks is in line with what universities and schools (for example GCSE and A results having been determined by the course marks). By extending TMA allowance, without provision for the EMA, you are failing to recognise multiple extraneous variables that will impede the ability to produce an accurate representation of what can be produced, thus resulting in making everyone rush or defer. There are various circumstances, beyond our control, that would severely impact our ability to produce an EMA due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the people who are at the open university chose to use this form of university over other universities due to its online nature, since many have children to support and therefore work. The fact that many people on the course work has led to them having to fulfil the duties given to key workers of extra, longer hours, giving them less time available to delegate towards university and thus an EMA. Some students who are also public sector workers have been seconded by furlough to voluntary work, meaning even less time is able to be found to write an EMA. The mental and physical health of students is also in question due to the EMA still going forward. A pandemic of this magnitude has not been witnessed in our lifetime and is quite rightfully terrifying the nation, especially those at high risk. The proportion of high-risk people at the OU is greater than at most universities; if these people happen to catch the virus, they are at high risk of being unable to breathe, move or even think to the capacity needed to write an EMA. The severity of the virus has also led schools, nurseries and playgroups to shut down, thus causing all children to be at home all day with their parents. This kind of distraction cannot be helped and although children can temporarily be occupied, they do not understand the importance nor value of the work that is being done by us students in order to try and complete such a time-consuming and mentally draining task of writing an EMA. Having to juggle looking after children and writing the EMA is something that is very difficult – the number of hours needed to delegate to both likely surpass those in a day, leading to mental and physical exhaustion. In some non-UK countries, the measures for lockdown are causing particular distress. Alongside the mental and physical exhaustion comes frustration due to a lack of facilities to study, broadband issues, open university site issues and the lack of availability of a computer in a household (many only have one computer that has to be shared amongst the household between workers and students). A lack of resources, space and time means that an EMA cannot be provided of exemplary standard, to the best of every student’s ability, leading to an inaccurate representation of the skill set of each student. The course material done up to now therefore provides a much more well-rounded, accurate representation due to the many extraneous variables listed above having been absent or not as amplified as in current circumstances. The lack of face to face support available, given tutorials have been cancelled, also leads to this inaccurate representation, as well as the difficulty getting in touch with the open university. It takes 5 days for the university to respond to a singular email, with no telephone help available, severely impacting time management and ability to work. We hope that given the many factors listed above for why deferring or cancelling the EMA would be beneficial to both the university and the students you follow suit of the other universities and cancel or defer the EMA at no additional cost to students.

Dominic Raab In these troubled times we need to be at home for the sake of our families and their peace of mind .

The situation surrounding Covid-19 has impacted the students of Arts University Bournemouth considerably. Although we are receiving support from tutors online where they can provide this, we are unable to use the facilities at the university in order to realise our projects to the best of our abilities (specifically final year’s Major Projects) as well as use physical learning facilities from the library. Many of our projects are unable to reach realisation as we are unable to access the facilities necessary and collaborate with others due the current social restrictions enforced by the UK government. Each individual student has a different circumstance whilst at home. Whether it’s not having the money or space to use alternative methods for their projects or having to look after their own children or vulnerable family members during this pandemic. We have been told by tutors to do as much as we possibly can based on our circumstances and they will be lenient when grading. But how can we possibly put a project before the needs of our family members or our own mental wellbeing, when many of us are scared to lose loved ones due to this virus? Third year students have been working tirelessly towards showcasing their skills in their Major Projects for three years. Whatever we are able to create during this pandemic, will not be a true reflection of our abilities due to our personal circumstances, whatever they might be (mental health, finances, looking after family etc). On the 25th March 2020, The University of Exeter announced a ‘safety net’ policy: "Our commitment to your success given the exceptional circumstances in which you are sitting these examinations and other assessments, we have decided to introduce a ‘safety net’ policy.” "This ‘no-detriment’ approach is as follows: so long as you would qualify to progress/graduate based on your marks obtained this year (including those in the summer assessment period), then we will ensure that your final academic year average is the same as, or higher than, the average you have attained up to Sunday 15th March. Details about how your average to 15th March will be calculated will be provided in the FAQs on our website by the end of Friday 27th March. If you achieve higher marks in assessments submitted and examinations undertaken after Sunday 15th March then you will be able to raise your mark for the year. To repeat, as long as you qualify to pass the year, completing the summer assessments can only help not hinder you because we will not let the extraordinary circumstances in which you are completing these assessments leave you with a mark below your current overall mark." [1]https://www.exeter.ac.uk/coronavirus/communications/students25march/ [2] https://thetab.com/uk/soton/2020/03/26/sotons-no-detriment-policy-means-your-grades-cant-go-below-your-current-average-83828 [3] https://thetab.com/uk/edinburgh/2020/03/26/breaking-no-remaining-exams-assessments-can-negatively-impact-your-course-grades-for-this-semester-65113 This ‘safety net’ policy will give all students the peace of mind that the grade they receive for their last projects, will fairly reflect the work they have created over the past year. It is unfair for assessment changes to be communicated over email and the ‘safety net’ will reduce the pressure that students are feeling at this current time. Please support university students during this uncertain, stressful time!

BECAUSE MANY SOCIAL HOUSING TENANTS WILL NEED THEIR SPARE ROOM IN ORDER TO ISOLATE

Bingham is a local community where people rely on the local bus service to go to the Supermarket for essential shopping, popping to the post office and picking up prescriptions at the pharmacy during the current situation regarding Covid-19. We understand that this is a decision that has not been taken lightly by Lothian Buses but we feel that our community has been cut off with no local bus service to serve the area.

With the spreading of the Coronavirus at frightening levels across the UK at the present time and with the fact that those in Dunfermline and surrounding areas at present need to travel 15 miles to either Kirkcaldy or Edinburgh for A and E services and the fact that with the rapid spreading of the Coronavirus that this puts a totally unacceptable disadvantage to the people of fife needing emergency treatment the First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for Health should take immediate steps to reopen a full A and E service at Dunfermline's Queen Margaret Hospital that should Never ever have been closed in the first place!

Thousands of people are not covered by the support announced by the government. If you are an employee with contracted hours or you work solely as self employed, you are entitled to 80% of your income if you cannot work due the COVID-19 crisis. However many people in the gig economy have a mixed pattern of work - a bit freelance, a bit contract, a bit self-employed, a bit zero hours. Some people have a pension and do a bit of self-employed work to top it up. Students do part time work to make ends meet. Supply teachers, fee paid Tribunal members, NHS agency staff, artists, performers, contractors. These people are all left with no support. Please treat them the same as everyone else and support them with 80% of their income if they can’t work due to COVID-19.

To let health care workers across the nation know how much they are appreciated all the time not just in times of need.

As a thank you to the countries key workers for the work they are doing for us, the people, during this health crisis.