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Weekly coronavirus death numbers at the lowest since start of lockdown

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) has published the latest figures for weekly recorded COVID-19 related deaths.

The Manc The Manc - 14th July 2020

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published the latest figures for weekly recorded COVID-19 related deaths in the UK showing the number having fallen to the lowest level since lockdown was first introduced in March.

In the week ending July 3, the total deaths registered in England and Wales involving COVID-19 was 532.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) confirmed that this is the lowest number of deaths linked to the virus in the last 15 weeks.

It stated that: “The number of death registrations involving the coronavirus (COVID-19) decreased from 606 in Week 26 to 532 in Week 27, the lowest number of Covid-19 deaths registered since Week 12, week ending March 20, when 103 deaths involved COVID-19.”

“Of all deaths registered in Week 27, 5.8% mentioned COVID-19, down from 6.7 percent in Week 26.”

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According to ONS figures, more than 50,548 coronavirus / COVID-related deaths have been recorded in England and Wales during the outbreak, with the virus having been cited as the main reason for deaths increasing above what would normally be expected for this period.

The ONS also added that the deaths involving coronavirus in care homes in England, registered by July 3, was 14,332.

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To read the published report in full, you can do so via the Office for National Statistics (ONS) website here.

For the latest information and guidance amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, please refer to official sources via gov.uk/coronavirus.

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Parklife pumps more than £155,000 back into Greater Manchester community projects

Danny Jones Danny Jones Parklife grassroots community projects charity donations

Parklife is once again proving why it’s such an important event for Greater Manchester, not just in terms of music and culture, but through the money it pumps back into the community through grassroots projects.

The annual music festival at Heaton Park raises significant funds for local initiatives with each edition via the official Parklife Community Fund.

Partnered with the Manchester, Bury, and Rochdale councils, the finances generated through those who attend not only Parklife but also other concerts held at the outdoor venue, such as the recent Oasis shows, help local groups that make a positive, tangible difference in their neighbourhoods.

This year alone, the total includes £55,000 raised from guest list donations by festival attendees, as well as a further £100k generated from other events held in Heaton Park, making 2025 one of, if not the biggest, years for donations to date.

RockFit UK locations Manchester classes
RockFit classes in action. (Credit: Supplied)

Distributed by the City Council and the local authorities in Bury and Rochdale throughout the respective boroughs, the aim is not only to give back but to enhance local life, through everything from important youth programmes to community wellbeing and improvement schemes.

Launched back in 2017, the festival fund is approaching nearly half a million pounds raised on behalf of local causes, strengthening its connection with the nearby communities surrounding its host site.

The region’s vast and stunning green space is a huge tourist attraction in itself, meaning literal grassroots causes like the woodland management group are vital to maintaining that beauty and status.

Other projects include an astronomy group, as well as fitness drives like ‘RockFit’ (seen above), which now meets at Heaton Park regularly to promote exercise for both physical and mental health.

It’s also worth noting that the fund covers surrounding areas like Higher Blackley and Crumpsall; Sedgley, Holyrood, St Mary’s and even South Middleton.

You can see more examples of the charitable community work in action down below.

heaton park gardening groups
astronomy group heaton park
Credit: Supplied

Sam Kandel, founder of Parklife Festival, said of the fund: “Parklife is proud to call Heaton Park home, and it’s really important to us that the festival has a lasting, positive impact on the local community.

“The Community Fund is our way of saying thank you to residents and supporting the brilliant grassroots projects that make Manchester, Bury, and Rochdale such special places to live.”

Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon (Exec Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods) added: “Parklife brings people from Manchester and beyond to our wonderful Heaton Park, and it is right that the communities living close by benefit from the event through reinvestment in local initiatives that will leave a legacy for all.

“The Parklife community fund means that local communities choose what’s important to them and they have the opportunity to bid for funds to invest in projects that enhance local amenities, strengthen community connections and wellbeing for the benefit of everyone.”

Those looking to benefit from the fund can apply online now and you can find out more information by contacting the relevant councils’ neighbourhood pages.

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Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied)

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Work finally begins on Greater Manchester’s new ‘innovation hub’ in Atom Valley creating 20,000 jobs

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Atom Valley ground broken

It’s official… work has finally begun on the first major development in Atom Valley.

If you’re not familiar with Atom Valley, this new project is set to be a unique innovation ‘cluster’ – plans of which were approved by local leaders all the way back in summer 2022 – with the potential to create up to 20,000 new jobs in Greater Manchester once it’s complete.

Greater Manchester wants Atom Valley to become a ‘springboard’ for new and emerging companies and researchers, giving them the support and the opportunities they need to trial and commercialise their innovations right here in our region.

The new development which ground has now been broken on is a Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Centre (SMMC) – which is set to become a thriving hub of innovation.

Here, start-ups and emerging companies will be able to pioneer new technologies and scale up their ambitions, all while creating jobs and driving growth across the region in the process.

Located next to the Kingsway Business Park in Rochdale, it will offer 30,000 sq ft of new laboratory space, workshops, and design studios, as well as a lecture theatre, meeting rooms, office space, and flexible workspace for start-ups.

When fully kitted out, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) predicts the SMMC could add up to £107 million to the local economy.

With the ‘right’ support, local leaders say the SMMC will also be a vital link between Atom Valley and the Oxford Road Corridor, ultimately forging a pathway for new companies and projects to expand from the city centre out into the wider city region.

Work has finally begun on Greater Manchester’s new ‘innovation hub’ in Atom Valley / Credit: DLA Architecture

Mayor Andy Burnham says this is the ‘most ambitious development’ in Atom Valley so far

“It will help unleash the untapped potential of the world-leading research taking place across our city region, bridging that crucial gap from invention to bringing those new innovations to the market,” he explained. “And it will create a new hi-tech corridor from the out to the north of Greater Manchester, creating jobs and new opportunities for start-ups to scale up their ambitions.

“This is integrated, well-connected development in action, and a clear sign of our mission to spread the benefits of growth right across our city region.”

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Construction of the SMMC is expected to be completed by summer 2026, and work is now also underway to agree next steps for the site to be occupied.

Featured Image – GMCA

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