The Government has announced that it is asking transport operators to make face coverings mandatory on public transport from Monday 15 June.

People are asked to continue to work from home if you can, and to avoid public transport where possible. But for some people this may not be an option.

When necessary to use public transport people may be more likely to be in enclosed spaces for longer periods of time where there is a greater risk of the spread of the virus and social distancing is likely to be difficult to follow consistently.

Social distancing and hand washing remain by far the most important disease prevention measures.

Face coverings are not the same as face masks. It is important that people do not use medical grade PPE masks to ensure these remain available for frontline staff.

The Government has set out advice for people on how to make their own face coverings easily at home, using scarves or other textile items. 

Find out more on from the Department for Transport.

Yesterday, two Borough Council volunteers received the Silver Owl Award from SHARE Museums East: celebrating 25 years of volunteering.

Cathy Moorhouse and Marian Harrington both started volunteering as part of The Higgins Learning Team, delivering and developing sessions for schools back in 1995.

SHARE Museums East, who support excellence, resilience and cooperative working in museums across the East of England, invited Cathy and Marian to an online ceremony for the SHARE Volunteer Awards 2020.

Congratulations and a huge thank you to both Cathy and Marian. They are both a huge part of our volunteering team and fantastic ambassadors.

Our volunteers are incredible individuals who work alongside officers from around the Council to keep our parks beautiful and local communities clean, help us to run wonderful events, support our local museum, art gallery and theatre and support people in our local libraries, and carry out fantastic work in our county-wide Records and Archives Service.

Visit our youtube channel to see a message from the Mayor thanking our volunteers. 

If you would like to volunteer at a cultural venue, please email Gemma at gemma.hutton@bedford.gov.uk. If you would be interested in volunteering in local parks and open spaces, contact volunteering@bedford.gov.uk or to volunteer at Bedfordshire Archives and Records Services email archive@bedford.gov.uk.