There’s no doubt Christmas is set to be a little different this year.
The uncertainty around the nature of the festive season is playing on everyone’s mind due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the level of restrictions which may be put in place, and the economic fallout, but for the 1.9 million+ people who use foodbanks in our society, that isn’t the only thing they have to worry about.
Ensuring they have access to food and vital items at Christmas time is always a priority.
But it’s more important this year than ever before – with families and children expected to be hit hardest – and this is why charities and foodbank organisations are speaking out and urging the public to do their bit.
For shoppers, taking the time to donate even one item can have a huge impact on someone’s life this winter.
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“The effects of the pandemic are being felt far and wide,” says FareShare UK CEO Lindsay Boswell.
“More people than ever are turning to charities and community groups because they’re unable to feed themselves and their families.”
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She continued: “A single tin of tuna or vegetables may not seem like much to give, but if enough people make a small donation, together those donations can make a big difference to people who need our help this winter.”
Earlier this month, a report by charity The Trussell Trust – which runs a network of 1,300 foodbank centres across the UK – confirmed a 47% increase in support needed during the pandemic, with a record 1.2 million emergency food parcels being handed out in the first six months of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
From April to September, more than 470,000 of the food parcels were delivered to children, which on average came to around 2,600 every day.
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Speaking on the importance of donations this year, Emma Revie – CEO of The Trussell Trust – said: “The pandemic has shown what can happen when we stand together in the face of adversity and how much people are willing to give to support their local community.”
The Trussell Trust is expecting its network of UK food banks to give out an emergency food parcel every nine seconds this winter.
FareShare is also set to supply food to 11,000 frontline charities.
If you’re looking for a way to make a worthy contribution ahead of the festive season, Tesco is among one of the leading UK supermarket retailers calling on shoppers to make a difference with a collection – which has been launched in Tesco Express, Tesco Metro and Tesco Extra stores nationwide – in partnership with FareShare UK and The Trussell Trust.
Customers are being asked to donate food up to 21st November.
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It’s as simple as buying the items with your usual shopping and dropping them in the dedicated Food Collection trolley at the exit, and the food needed includes longer-life items such as rice, tea and tinned goods, all of which can be made into nutritious meals.
Claire De Silva – Head of Community at Tesco – said: “Every year customers are so generous, but this is not a normal year,”
“The two charities we work with need to provide more food than ever this Christmas.”
All the food that goes to FareShare is used to provide meals for vulnerable groups – such as isolated older people, and those in homeless shelters – and customers unable to contribute food in store can help by donating Tesco Clubcard points to the two organisations.
Tesco will top up the value of all donations with an additional 20% in cash.
If Tesco isn’t your local supermarket, donations of food and vital items can also be made at other supermarket retailers – including as Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and more – as well as other local independent foodbanks, and through a range of community-led initiatives.
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This Manchester hotel has a Bonfire Night ‘escape’ package for pets to help keep them calm
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s most luxurious hotels is transforming into the ultimate pet refuge again over the firework season.
Bonfire Night is loved across the UK for the spectacular firework displays and all the festive-themed activities that go along with it, but the November annual event isn’t so fun for our four-legged friends, as fireworks can be frightening to pets due to loud bangs, flashing lights, and the unpleasant strong smell of spent explosives.
With multiple bangs occurring from numerous displays too, pets are rarely able to pinpoint where the booming explosions are coming from, only making it more terrifying for them.
This is why, after becoming a huge success following its launch last year, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in the heart of the city centre has brought back its special ‘Bonfire Night Escape’ escape package, turning the already pet-friendly hotel into a firework-free sanctuary.
The hotel‘s year-round ‘PAWfect Stay’ package includes any dog staying at no extra cost, plus a pet tuckbox, a guide to the best dog-friendly places in the city, and a toy waiting for them in the room, but this fireworks season, pet owners will also get a luxury hamper including Pet Remedy’s ‘Party Season Survival Kit’
The kit comes together with a range of fast-acting products to help immediately in stressful situations such as fireworks, and includes calming spray, a plug diffuser, and some calming wipes too.
On top of that, dog owners can also take advantage of the hotel’s Music Concierge service, which allows guests to request a record player and vinyls to be placed in the room ahead of check in – with lots of classical and relaxing music records available to distract anxious pets from the noise of Bonfire Night celebrations.
The award-winning The Refuge Bar and Restaurant inside the hotel also offers a menu of carefully-curated dog treats throughout the week, as well as doggy Sunday roasts all Sunday.
David Lockhart, who is the General Manager at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, said he likes to think of the hotel as a “home-away-from-home for our guests”.
“Our top priority is making sure everyone is feeling safe and comfortable,” he added. “We can’t wait to welcome our November guests and help them care for their four-legged family members, giving them everything they need.”
The Bonfire Night Escape package at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is available to book from Friday 1 November, subject to availability, and you can request the package via the hotel concierge or by emailing [email protected] to book.
Scissor Sisters confirm reunion after more than a decade ahead of massive Manchester gig
Danny Jones
Still a firm cult favourite from the 2000s, Scissor Sisters are officially back and are bringing a special reunion tour to Manchester and the UK and Ireland at large.
The American outfit were one of the biggest and most well-known pop groups on this side of the Atlantic during their heyday, notching three BRIT Awards and two number-one albums.
Starting out in New York, like many bands in an oversaturated music market, they ended up proving to be much more popular here in Britain than they ever did in the US, not to mention becoming real icons among the LGBTQ+ community.
And now, over a decade later, the Scissor Sisters are set to repay the likes of Manchester, Leeds, London and more with a series of comeback shows, including one at Co-op Live arena – a gig which the venue has already teased earlier this week.
Confirming the reunion on social media on Thursday, 10 October, the band said: “Exciting news, for the first time in over a decade, we will come together again, live next May across the UK and Ireland.
“And for the first time ever, our debut album Scissor Sisters will be performed in full in celebration of its 20th anniversary – alongside all the other Scissor hits from along the way… See you very soon. Jake, Babydaddy, Del.”
Long-time fans were quick to notice that there was no mention of fellow founding member Ana Matronic nor former drummer Randy Real; the band themselves told BBC that the current lineup following their indefinite hiatus is by no means a way of replacing anyone but does give them a chance “to get some people on stage and ask some friends to do fun things.”
Frontman Shears’ 2023 Cabaret co-star, Rebecca Lucy Taylor, was also teased with a possible appearance on the Scissor Sisters reunion tour. Either way, they’ve promised a “little bit of chaos, anarchy” and an “‘anything can happen’ energy again.”
It’s been 12 whole years since we last saw them out on the road, so it’s only fitting that they give us a dozen UK/IE dates, starting at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena before bringing the comeback party down the home stretch in Dublin.
Scissor Sisters are set to stun the Manchester crowd with their Co-op Live debut on Wednesday, 21 May 2025, with special guest support from Alison Goldfrapp of the iconic electronic music duo, and we truly really can’t wait to roll back the years with them.
Pre-sale goes live on Wednesday, 6 November at 10am which you can access via their website and general admission tickets will be available from the same time the following Friday, 8 November.
We can’t wait to hear all the favourites – ‘Filthy/Gorgeous’, ‘I Don’t Feel Like Dancin”, ‘Take Your Mama’ and more – but, until then, the announcements coming out of Manchester’s biggest new music venue just don’t stop…