UK News

All adults in England invited to book coronavirus vaccination

Anyone over the age of 18 can now book an appointment to get a COVID-19 jab - with the NHS calling it a "watershed moment".

The Manc The Manc - 18th June 2021

Anyone aged 18 or over in England can now book an appointment to get a COVID-19 vaccination, the NHS has confirmed.

Around 1.5 million texts are due to be sent out to people aged 18 to 20 on Friday (June 18) – as the country prepares for a “final push” in its fight against the pandemic.

Less than 200 days after administering the first coronavirus vaccine, the health service is now inviting everyone to come forward to book a jab at one of the 1,600 operating vaccination centres.

NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens described it as a “watershed moment”.

High demand is expected, with the first group of people in their 20s to be offered vaccines booking more than one million appointments in a single day.

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Around eight in 10 adults in England have already had their first dose while more than half have received a second.

Everyone aged 18 and over can now book a jab in England / Image: Asian Development Bank via Flickr

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “In our race between the vaccine and the virus, we’re approaching the final stretch and we are doing all we can to vaccinate people as quickly as possible with first and second doses.

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“When you get the call, get the jab so we can put this pandemic behind us for good.”

The end of lockdown in England has been delayed by four weeks in a bid to buy more time to vaccinate higher numbers of the population.

Cases are continuing to rise sharply due to the spread of the Delta variant – which is thought to be around 60% more transmissible and has now become the nation’s dominant strain.

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was “sensible to wait just a little longer” to remove remaining COVID measures.

The new prospective date for England exiting lockdown is now July 19.

The NHS is inviting all adults to come forward as part of the “final push” in the pandemic / Image: Wikimedia Commons

How to book a coronavirus vaccine

In England, people can book their vaccination appointment online or by calling 119.

You may also receive a text message over the next few days inviting you to book an appointment.

These invitations appear as an alert from ‘NHSvaccine’ and include a web link to the NHS website.

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A map of vaccination centres in Greater Manchester is available here.

Featured image: TOI

UK News

King Charles III’s annual income to increase by more than 50% as crown estate revenue rises

Danny Jones Danny Jones Kings Charles III's annual income rises by £45 million

King Charles III’s annual income is reportedly set to increase by more than 50% after the total revenue of the official crown estate rose significantly over the last 12 months.

Posting record-breaking profits since King Charles was coronated back in May, raking in a total of £1.1 billion for the 2023/24 financial year, the crown’s budget is now being adjusted, with a review set for 2026/27.

As per the official royal accounts published this week, the sovereign grant which helps fund members of the royal family and their civic duties is set to rise from £86m this year to £132m in 2025/26, meaning the King is set for a whopping £45m (approx. 53%) pay rise.

The royals currently receive 12% of the crown estate’s overall profits and as the majority of Britain continues to struggle with a cost of living crisis, it’s also the details surrounding last year’s outgoings and overall expenditure that have proved tough reading for many.

In addition to roughly £600,000 of the sovereign grant being spent on the King’s coronation and other related events last year, the monarchy’s accounts also revised the £369m set aside for renovations in and around Buckingham Palace, let alone other royal residences.

According to The Guardian, “Royal accounts also show that the Prince of Wales received £23.6m income from the Duchy of Cornwall in his first full year after inheriting the land and property-owning estate from his father.”

Frogmore Cottage, located on the Windsor estate, saw a £2.4m refurbishment on behalf of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as well but has remained empty for more than a year – though the costs have reportedly since been returned to the public purse.

Perhaps one of the toughest/most frivolous to swallow for the taxpayer, though, is the revelation regarding the two new helicopters. Set to replace the existing aircraft used by the royals for the last 15 years, the two new AgustaWestland AW139s are said to cost £8m a pop.

Making 170 journeys last year and costing a total of £1,096,300, the monarchy’s travel bill rose from £3.9m to £4.2m all-told, with the official royal train remaining the most expensive per mile.

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Elsewhere, in the King’s Speech (written for him) following Labour’s landslide updating of the Conservative Party after 14 years, Charles said: “Stability will be the cornerstone of my Government’s economic policy and every decision will be consistent with its fiscal rules…

“Securing economic growth will be a fundamental mission. My Government will seek a new partnership with both business and working people and help the country move on from the recent cost of living challenges by prioritising wealth creation for all communities.”

While the crown and government have reiterated the aim of “rising living standards”, many Brits will understandably struggle to take these words as sincerely as others, with urgent action needed to support some of the poorest regions across the nation.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (via X/Wikimedia Commons)

UK News

Ex-Salford rugby player and Andy’s Man Club co-founder receives special honour from University of Bradford

Danny Jones Danny Jones Andy's Man Club founder Luke Ambler outstanding contribution award

Ex-Salford rugby player, motivational speaker and health coach Luke Ambler has been given a special honour for his work with the men’s mental health organisation, Andy’s Man Club.

The former rugby league athlete and Ireland international – whose career started out at Salford City Reds before moving on to Leeds Rhinos, York, Harlequins and Halifax – set up Andy’s Man Club in 2016 after the loss of his brother to suicide, with the vital support group and charity growing massively since then.

Now hosting more than 4,500 men at over 190 different regional support groups across the country every week, including several here in Greater Manchester – one over at Etihad being the most recent – the non-profit has become a vital resource for men in the UK and only keeps spreading further.

As a result of his incredible dedication towards men’s mental health and suicide prevention, the 34-year-old was presented with a special award from the University of Bradford last week.

As reported by The Hoot, Ambler received an outstanding contribution award from Bradford Uni on Tuesday, 16 July, being presented with the accolade during their ongoing summer graduation.

In typically humble fashion, he dedicated the honour to everyone but himself: “To all my team; my parents, my kids, my family, friends, staff and volunteers thank you – none of us do it alone.

“Thank you also to all of you who have supported us and continue to do so thank you.”

Speaking to the BBC, he went on to add: “It’s amazing to look back on how far it has come… I don’t want to put a limit on it – we really want to help more men and find out why people get into such dark places.”

Read more:

Male mental health continues to be a hugely overlooked and pressing issue and the impact of organisations like Luke’s cannot be overstated, having not only provided an all-important outlet but also raised huge funds and awareness for the cause.

Meeting every Monday at 7pm, Andy’s Man Club is all about creating a safe space for men to open up about the storms affecting their lives in a safe, judgement-free and non-clinical environment. You can find your nearest location HERE.

Well done from all of us at The Manc Group, Luke. You can watch the presentation and his acceptance speech in full down below.

#ITSOKAYTOTALK

What a lovely way to honour the Andy’s Man Club co-creator.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Luke Ambler

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