Bulletin - Thursday 27 August 2020

Call for borough of Bolton to be taken out of restrictions

Councillor David Greenhalgh, the Leader of Bolton Council said: “I am delighted that the Mayor of Greater Manchester has listened and respected my call to have restrictions eased in Bolton. These decisions must be locally based and data driven.

"According to the data, the number of positive cases this week, for the borough, has fallen dramatically and continues the downward trend. We are way outside those authorities that are areas of concern on government lists.

“That is not to say that there is any room for complacency. Guidance must still be followed and our enforcement will still be robust and we will not tolerate premises and residents flaunting the rules.

“But it is clear to me that this one size fits all approach across Greater Manchester is inappropriate.

“We are asking for the support of Greater Manchester leaders to recognise that Bolton should join Wigan in having restrictions eased.

“We are thankfully not seeing anywhere near the number of hospital admissions leading to deaths as we did in April, May and June, and we must now be allowed to get back to a degree of normality that allows residents to go about their lives while accepting personal responsibility and following the guidance and safety measures.

“I have been in contact with the Health Secretary directly to express our administration’s view.”

Virtual food festival promises feast of tasty treats

The full programme for the first ever virtual Bolton Food and Drink Festival has been served up.

Online highlights include a cook-along with acclaimed chef Simon Wood, a special performance from folk band Lancashire Hotpots, wild food foraging with popular chef Andrew Nutter, daily storytelling with Bolton Libraries, and a market place with special offers.

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, council chiefs took the decision to change the popular, award-winning festival (August 28 to 31) to a virtual format this year.

The event is organised by Bolton Council, and sponsored by Warburtons; Bolton at Home; Bolton School; Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and Stateside Foods.

Bolton’s Fund: New rounds of grants for community projects

The partners behind Bolton’s Fund have announced the upcoming rounds of funding that will help tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the community.

Charity and volunteer groups across Bolton are urged to bid for funding for projects in the following areas:

• Digital Inclusion
• Supporting Social Enterprise 
• Health and Wellbeing 
• Children and Young People 
• Climate Change 

Bolton’s Fund is a voluntary sector grants programme delivered by Bolton Council, NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group, Bolton at Home and Bolton CVS.

Last call to extend alcohol order

An order that allows officers to confiscate alcohol from nuisance drinkers in Bolton is set to end, and the public can have their say on whether it should be extended.

The borough-wide order was introduced in 2012, granting Greater Manchester Police, or any authorised officer, the power to challenge alcohol related crime and anti-social behaviour.

The direction, now known as a public spaces protection order (PSPO), must be reviewed every three years with residents given a say on whether it should continue.

Have your say by completing the online form.

Fit fans healthy programme

Bolton Wanderers Community Trust is recruiting men for its next Fit Fans 12 week free weight management programme.

It’s based at the University of Bolton Stadium and is aimed at men aged 35-65 with a BMI of over 28 and a waist circumference of 37 inches or more.  Further information can be found on the website here.

Back to school safely: A guide for parents and pupils

We have produced a comprehensive guide for parents and pupils ahead of returning to school in September.

The government has confirmed that all pupils across all year groups will return to school or college full-time at the beginning of the Autumn term.

The guidance includes details of the safety measures schools have put in place as well as the steps parents can take to help keep everyone safe.

Face coverings

The government has made an announcement about face coverings in schools.

Because additional local intervention measures are in place, in Bolton, at the time this Bulletin went to press, the government guidance states:

Secondary schools and colleges

• From 1st September, it is mandatory for secondary school children and staff to wear a face covering in communal areas whilst moving around school where social distancing is difficult to maintain.
• Face coverings should not be worn in the classroom during teaching and learning

Primary schools and Early Years

• Children are not required to wear face coverings in schools and early years settings

However, if additional intervention measures are removed in Bolton;

• Secondary schools will have the ''discretion'' to require face coverings in communal areas, where social distancing is not possible.
• Face coverings in secondary schools would not be mandatory
• School leaders can decide what is right for their school

Guidance for specific schools will depend on local restrictions and school planning. Your child’s school will let you know the arrangements for the start of term, and any changes. You can read the government press release on the use of face masks in school here.

Support for wellbeing of pupils and teachers

The government has announced the Wellbeing for Education Return programme which will start in September.

The programme will support staff working in schools and colleges to respond to the additional pressures some children and young people may be feeling as a direct result of the pandemic.

It will also help with the emotional response they or their teachers may still be experiencing from bereavement, stress, trauma or anxiety during the past months.

The training will be offered to every school and college in England.

For further information see: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/8m-programme-to-boost-pupil-and-teacher-wellbeing

Coronavirus (COVID-19): home test kits for schools and FE providers

All schools and further education providers are receiving a supply of home test kits.

This guidance is intended to support schools and further education providers in offering home test kits. It applies to all mainstream, special, alternative provision and further education providers and covers:

• When to provide a test kit
• Replenishment of test kits
• Storage of test kits
• Usual testing options
• Test results

Anyone who experiences any coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms can access a test at a testing site or at home using the online booking portal. This includes all pupils, teachers, and staff.

For the latest updates