Government ministers are reportedly looking into launching a ‘Seat Out to Help Out’ scheme in a bid to encourage people to start attending theatres and live entertainment venues again.
Theatres across the UK have been allowed to reopen with socially-distanced audiences since 15th August, although this was not the case in Greater Manchester and other areas of the country where local lockdown restrictions apply.
The majority however have chosen to remain closed and bosses within the industry have said they will not be able to finance performances without their audiences at a near-full capacity. It’s currently thought that the majority of theatres are operating at around a 25% capacity, but need to be at around 70-80% capacity to be financially viable.
The government previously pledged £1.57 billion to keep the arts sector afloat, but the industry has still seen thousands of people made redundant throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
‘Seat Out to Help Out’ would provide discounts for those with a ticket.
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The scheme is predicted to resemble the recent Eat Out to Help Out scheme – launched by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak – which gave people up to 50% off the first £10 of their meals on Monday to Wednesdays throughout August.
A government source told the Sunday Times: “It could be tickets for a tenner on a Monday, with a link to local restaurants.”
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Royal Exchange Theatre
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has warned that the nation needs to “get back into theatres” to stop them from going out of business.
Writing in the Mail on Sunday, he said: “We need to start filling seats in much larger numbers – not just for the audiences, not just for the venues and livelihoods who depend on them, but for the entire urban economy, too.
“Theatre is a lynchpin of London’s West End and its absence is painfully reflected in its deserted streets. Innovation is key. It has the ability to rewrite the entire script, and I’m keen to take some of the best experimental ideas for getting people into our theatres safely and put them into practice.”
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He then discussed the possibility of improving ventilation in theatres, or securing “quick turnaround testing” – which would allow for theatre-goers to confirm that they do not have the virus before attending that evening – and added that there were people “waiting in the wings to get full performances back on during the crucial Christmas period” who had his full support.
Details of a potential Seat Out to Help Out are thought to be announced in due course.
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Seven in 10 NHS workers think the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic
Emily Sergeant
A new survey has revealed that seven in 10 NHS workers believe the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic if one should arise.
After the recent meningitis B outbreak in Kent last month raised the conversation of mass contagion once again, of course following the COVID-19 pandemic, a new YouGov survey of more than 1,000 NHS workers has now uncovered how well prepared staff in the health service think it is for another global pandemic.
The results show that 69% of staff surveyed think the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic, and to make matters worse, 26% of those even say it’s ‘very poorly’ prepared.
Only one in five (22%) think the NHS is could properly handle another pandemic, but statistically, YouGov claims none of those surveyed said it’s ‘very well’ prepared.
Seven in 10 NHS workers think the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic / Credit: Pxhere | Rawpixel
When workers were asked how the NHS’s level of preparedness now compares to prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 41% did concede that they think it is better prepared now than 2020, however 37% admitted they think it’s no better prepared.
16% actively think it’s less well-prepared now than it was prior to 2020.
This marked a new era of ‘transparency’ and ‘accountability’ in the NHS, with the league tables delivering on the Government’s promise to drive up standards, tackle variation in care, and ensure people get the high-quality service they rightly expect.
Every trust in England – from urgent and emergency care, through to elective operations and mental health services – will now be ranked quarterly against ‘clear and consistent’ standards.
Featured Image – Stephen Andrews (via Unsplash)
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Seven people arrested in Salford over plans to conduct coordinated mass shoplifting campaign
Emily Sergeant
Seven people have been arrested in Salford over plans to be part of a coordinated mass shoplifting campaign of ‘high end’ retailers and supermarkets across the country.
According to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), it is believed the group had been training for ‘non‑violent direct action’ in Salford as part of a coordinated mass shoplifting campaign, where they were intending to steal goods from high‑value stores and major supermarkets across the country, and then redistribute them to places such as food banks.
Working in collaboration with the Metropolitan Police Service, officers arrested one male and six females in Salford yesterday afternoon (Sunday 19 April) on suspicion of conspiracy to steal.
They all remain in police custody for questioning.
It has been reported in multiple sources, such as the BBC and the MEN, that the individuals arrested are believed to be part of the Take Back Power Action Group.
Take Back Power Action Group describes itself on its website as a ‘nonviolent civil resistance group’ that is aiming to ‘put the 99% in charge’ through citizen’s assemblies.
“We are ordinary people from all walks of life who believe that in order to fix Britain, taxing the rich is an essential first step, and we want ordinary people to decide how,” a statement on the group’s website declares.
Speaking following the arrests over the weekend, Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker said: “This joint operation with the Metropolitan Police has resulted in the arrests of seven individuals who we believe were planning to take part in coordinated national activity targeting high‑value retail stores.
“We are taking robust action to disrupt this type of organised criminality, and it will not be tolerated in Greater Manchester.
The Manc -
7th September 2020 
