The streets of Manchester city centre are usually teeming with revellers on any given weekend.
But the familiar hustle and bustle that makes part of why the city is so great has sadly been somewhat non-existent since the country was first placed under national lockdown restrictions amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic towards the end of March 2020, and while the partial lifting of those restrictions throughout the year and the introduction of the tiered system that followed, allowed for a significant number of hospitality businesses to welcome customers through their doors for a period of time, before being ordered to close once again, others have never been permitted to reopen at all.
When it comes to the identifying the industries that have been continuously subjected to ongoing restrictions, it’s hard to recognise the nighttime economy – the fifth biggest industry in the UK – as being anything other than one of the hardest hit.
Nightclubs right across the UK have now been closed for in excess of 329 days.
And after ongoing economic struggles, several devastating permanent closures, and a long, hard fight by business owners and industry names – as well as the forming of an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) in December – that inevitably arose as a result of prolonged shut-down, the Nighttime Industries Association (NTIA) was left with no choice but to issue a stark warning to the government last month.
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The body urged government ministers to provide further financial support to nightclubs, after warnings came that 75% of clubs could face serious hardship during the third national lockdown.
While some of Manchester’s most iconic nightclubs and entertainment venues were among those to celebrate receiving a share of the government’s £1.57 billion Cultural Recovery Fund, many more were denied funding and were left feeling that the Arts Council considered them to be “culturally insignificant” due to their rejection.
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NTIA CEO Michael Kill said that the entire sector faced financial ruin if support is not implemented soon.
“Our biggest concern at the moment is nightclubs becoming systematically extinct by the government’s ignorance and lack of narrative around the night time economy.” Mr Kill said.
“That becomes a cultural issue and an economic issue.”
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Visit Manchester / Flickr
The overarching feeling among the night time industry was that it had ultimately been forgotten by the government throughout the pandemic.
Neglected to be addressed in the daily press conferences, and with updates only sporadically provided.
But yesterday evening, after what seemed to be one of the longest times coming, Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation directly via a live televised Downing Street press conference and appeared to hint that Brits could be allowed to return to nightclubs with the use of rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) tests.
Mr Johnson said that the use of lateral flow tests could be the “route forward” to reopening those businesses that have been “the toughest nuts to crack”.
"We want this lockdown to be the last."
Boris Johnson says his roadmap out of lockdown that he will announce on 22 February will outline "as much as we possibly can about the route to normality, even though some things are very uncertain".
Ahead of the revealing of his roadmap for lifting lockdown restrictions next week, the Prime Minister said: “For the purposes of this country and doing things within the domestic UK economy, we will look at everything.
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“But what we are thinking of at the moment is more of a route that relies on mass vaccination [as] we intend to vaccinate all of the adults in the country by the autumn, plus lateral flow testing, rapid testing for those bits that have been the toughest nuts to crack.
“Such as nightclubs or theatres – those parts of the economy we couldn’t get open last year.
“I think that will be the route that we go down and that businesses will go down [and] you are already seeing lots of business using the potential of rapid, on-the-day testing as well.
“I think that, in combination with vaccination, will probably be the route forward.”
He then insisted that it was “still early days” in easing COVID1 -19 measures, and that “there are lots of discussions still to be had”.
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Pregnancy-style lateral flow tests, or ‘rapid’ tests, have been used by the government as part of “surge testing” in areas with high coronavirus (COVID-19) infection rates – including most recently in parts of the borough of Manchester where a new variant has been found – as they can give results in 30 minutes.
They are also currently being offered to people who do not have symptoms in a range of settings, such as universities, schools, care homes and workplaces, with the potential for nightclubs to be added to that list.
Despite previous doubts by Public Health England (PHE) over their reliability, Sir Patrick Vallance – the government’s Chief Scientific Adviser – last week described lateral flow tests as a “really important part of our toolkit”.
The government is reported to have spent more than £1 billion on lateral flow tests so far.
The news of the Prime Minister’s indication that rapid flow testing could be introduced in night clubs has been met with relief by notable figures within the nighttime economy sector, including Greater Manchester’s Night Time Economy Adviser and co-founder of Warehouse Project and Parklife, Sacha Lord.
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After continuing to remain at the forefront of the fight to save the industry over the past 11 months, Mr Lord took to Twitter to give his thoughts.
Can someone pinch me please….
Tonight, after 11 months…The Prime Minister has finally uttered the word we have been waiting for:
With the release of the roadmap and the delivery of the Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s budget both on the horizon, Mr Lord also said in an tweet prior to the Prime Minister’s press conference address that: “The next two weeks are the most critical two weeks for hospitality, that I can ever remember”.
“We must do everything we can, to fight to save the 5th biggest industry in the UK”.
Offering further comment and reflection on the Prime Minister’s announcement in an appearance on BBC Breakfast this morning, Mr Lord also clarified that: “None of the [venues] that I’m speaking to think it’s viable to open at a socially-distanced rate, they’re all pushing for 100% and this is the key,
“This is the answer and this is what we set out many, many months ago… that we have two options to get into these venues, either you have had the vaccine, or you have a quick test on entry.”
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.@BBCBreakfast this morning. After 5 months of talks with the Government, it feels like theatres, live music venues, events, nightclubs etc, are a step closer. The conversation has now moved to reopening. pic.twitter.com/WRAhprBbLf
He closed by acknowledging the fact that he knows that lateral flow tests still take time to produce results at this point, but said “we are not expecting nightclubs to open tomorrow” and commended the situation the country is in with regards to the wider vaccine rollout.
While it’s unclear at this point as to whether rapid testing will be the “route forward” that is hoped for nightclubs, there is at least some light at the end of the tunnel.
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For the latest information, guidance and support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the UK, please do refer to official sources at gov.uk/coronavirus.
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A local baby bank is holding a vital fundraiser to stop it from closing for good
Danny Jones
A Greater Manchester baby bank is holding a vital fundraiser in hopes of preventing it from closing for goodimminently.
For anyone unaware, baby banks are crucial organisations run largely by volunteers who help provide supplies to families in local communities, with more than 300 in use across the UK at present.
Through delivering much-needed aid such as clothing, prams, nappies and baby food, right through to direct financial support, they help keep parents and their children in good supply of essentials and much more – hugely important work at any rate, let alone during the winter and a cost of living crisis.
However, the Little Green Sock Project over in Trafford is at risk of permanent closure and was initially given until the new year to raise £200,000.
As seen in this moving video, the baby bank based over in Stretford Mall is in dire need of support and, crucially, the funds for a new premises.
They’ve been deeply moved by how Greater Manchester united in reaching into their pockets and sparing whatever they can to contribute to their fundraising target thus far – and they really are nearly at the finish line, which would mean safety for the genuinely life-saving service.
Fundamentally operated as a non-profit and volunteer-led charity, they naturally don’t have the means to just take over a new space on their own and with the current site set to be demolished very soon, a minimum of £200k is needed to find and fund a new location.
Having amassed over 90% of the amount needed, they’ve already bought themselves extra time, they just need one last push from us.
Urging people to donate what they can and share their fundraiser where possible, as well as welcoming corporate sponsorships should other local businesses wish to back them or get stuck through volunteering days, time is of the essence.
The Little Green Sock Project was only started back in 2022 and has already supported over 1,300 children, redistributing more than £240,000 worth of essential items like clothing, cots, prams, and stair gates to local families, as well as saving 20 tonnes of items from landfills.
It’s no exaggeration to say that they’ve changed and saved lives, both parents and children, and with the often difficult festive period approaching, their work is needed now more than ever.
There are just under a dozen baby banks in all of Greater Manchester, many of which are facing similar pressures. (Credit: Supplied)
Speaking on their efforts and the fundraiser, founder Catherine D’Albertanson said: “We believe that essentials needed for the health and wellbeing of children should not only be for those that can afford them. Our work ensures that no child in our community goes without essentials, but without new premises, we will have no choice but to close.”
Moreover, Little Green Sock Project is the only baby bank in the Trafford area and of the families it serves, 58% are single-parent households already struggling with the cost of raising children, while 29% are fleeing domestic abuse, often leaving their belongings behind to protect their family.
With their circular economy model, they also help reduce waste whilst providing “a trusted link between the families that have items to give, to those that need them the most”, with D’Albertanson adding, “If we lose this charity, we lose a vital safety net for many in our community.”
A service user commented: “It was a truly terrifying time when I was pregnant with my first child. I found myself completely alone, with a baby on the way, wondering how I could possibly provide for my son.
“Then I found Little Green Sock Project, and everything changed. Everything was carefully chosen, colour-coordinated, and presented in such a thoughtful way. It felt so special—like someone truly cared about me and my baby. That feeling is indescribable, especially for someone in my position.
“There are so many people like me with stories like this. It breaks my heart to think that the Little Green Sock Project might have to close its doors. I can’t imagine what my life would have been like without your help, and I hope with all my heart that the community comes together to keep this lifeline alive.”
Manchester parents need this much-loved baby bank – let’s not let it fall away on our watch. (Credit: Andy Bate at Royal Foundation)
Every pound donated goes towards helping find the Little Green Sock Project a new home, but people can help contribute in other ways, once again, by spreading the word or getting their hands dirty in person.
Greater Manchester never fails to amaze when it rallies behind causes like this, and we’re sure you won’t let us down this time either. Let’s keep the lights on the lifelines for local families intact.
You can donate now, or to find out other ways to do your bit, click HERE.
Featured Images — Little Green Sock Project/Andy Bate – Royal Foundation (supplied)
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Government to begin giving millions of UK workers ‘significant’ pay rises from this week
Emily Sergeant
The Government is to begin giving more than three million workers across the UK a ‘significant pay boost’ from this week.
Announced as part of last year’s Budget, and in a bid to ‘put thousands of pounds back in the pockets of working people every year’, the Government confirmed back at the beginning of February that a new National Living Wage of £12.21 per hour, and a new National Minimum Wage of £10 per hour would take effect from April onwards.
Ministers said the 6.7% increase to the National Living Wage – which is now worth £1,400 a year for an eligible full-time worker – is a ‘significant step’ towards delivering the manifesto commitment to deliver a ‘genuine’ living wage.
Today, millions of working people will get a pay rise as the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage increase.
New rates:
🔹 from £11.44 to £12.21 if you’re 21 and over 🔹 from £8.60 to £10.00 if you’re 18-20 🔹 from £6.40 to £7.55 if you’re under 18 or an apprentice
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) April 1, 2025
On top of this, the National Minimum Wage for 18-20-year-olds is also set to go up by a record increase of £1.40 an hour, which means full-time younger workers eligible for the rate will see their pay boosted by £2,500 a year.
The minimum wage pay boot has also been called the first step towards removing the ‘unfair’ age-bands that see a 21-year-old getting paid more than a 20-year-old for doing the same job.
According to the Government, this is also the first time the National Living Wage has taken into account the cost of living and inflation.
Three million UK workers will be getting a ‘significant’ pay rise from this week / Credit: Pexels
“In the last Parliament, living standards were the worst on record and sky-high inflation was crushing working people’s finances,” commented Chancellor Rachel Reeves, explaining why the pay boosts are being introduced.
“Making work pay is good for workers, will strengthen businesses’ workforces, and will grow our economy for years to come.
“It’s a key milestone on my number one mission to get more money in people’s pockets as we deliver our Plan for Change.”
Not only that, but the minimum hourly wage for an apprentice is also set to be boosted later this year too, with an 18-year-old apprentice seeing their minimum hourly pay increase by 18% to £7.55 an hour.
As a result of these particular changes, a further four million workers also could benefit from the positive spill-over impacts of the rate increases.
Emily Sergeant -
16th February 2021 
