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Manchester starts COVID community vaccinations Wythenshawe was the first area of Manchester to start community-based vaccinations for COVID-19 on Wed 16 December at the Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre.  People aged 80 and over as well as care home workers are the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccination, along with NHS workers who are at higher risk. Those who are eligible will get a letter or call from their GP. Other areas across city will follow very soon.  Please continue to follow the social distancing, face covering and hand hygiene rules. Manchester’s Director of Public Health Dave Regan explains more about the COVID vaccine.  www.manchester.gov.uk/coronavirus

Sarah’s special Santa Clause: help for parents and carers on Covid questions and Father Christmas

One of Manchester’s public health team has made a special festive film for youngsters – aimed at keeping the magic of Christmas and allaying any fears related to the Covid pandemic.

Sarah Doran, a public health consultant – made the film as something parents and carers could show children – to answer any questions they may have about the Big Man, his little helpers - and of course the reindeer – while we are living in a world with restrictions and differences from previous years.

View Sarah’s film on YouTube

Get help with your child's learning

Are you worried your child may have missed some learning during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Do you sometimes struggle to support your children with schoolwork?

Our adult education service runs free online family learning courses, which will help you to support your children, but can also further your own education and even open new job opportunities. Find out more at manadulted.org.uk/courses/families/

We are also running online courses to help parents/guardians of three to seven year olds with book sharing skills. You can sign up at smartsurvey.co.uk/s/FamilyReading

COVID Business Support Grants

1,000 Christmas grant
If you are a 'wet pub' and have already received a Local Restriction Support Grant, you don't need to do another application to get the extra £1,000 grant announced by Government. We'll use the details from your original application to send you a simple form to complete and return.

You'll need to provide a copy of your accounts up to March 2020 (this has been requested by Government) and sign a declaration to confirm that no more than 50% of your income is from food to qualify. If you are not sure what to send, send us what proof you have, and we'll check it against the Government guidance.

Local Restriction Support Grants
We have already paid out over £3m in Local Restriction Support Grants to businesses in the city affected by COVID restrictions and closures. You can apply even if you get rates relief and so don't pay anything this year.

Check to see if your business is eligible and apply online. You just need to tell us the earliest date you were required to close, and we'll work out how much you are entitled to. Easy!

Plus, If you're in the Hotel, Bed and Breakfast, Hospitality or Leisure Services sector, you may be eligible for an additional backdated grant to August of between £3,000 and £6,825. We'll pay this automatically; you won't need to make a separate application.

Apply now at www.manchester.gov.uk/LRSG

Additional Restriction Grants (ARG)

You might not be eligible for a Local Restriction Support Grant but if your business has been affected financially you might be due a slice of the £11.7m fund available to provide Additional Restrictions Grants. These grants cover two main groups:

• Businesses with property costs that had to close as they are non-essential retail, hospitality, leisure or beauty services but couldn't claim form other schemes because they were not registered for business rates.
• You can still claim an ARG even if your business is now open again.

Businesses with fixed property costs, supplying or supporting the hospitality, accommodation, and leisure sectors that have been hit hard by the national and local COVID restrictions. You can apply if you have a business rates bill in your name and if you don't. If you don't, you'll need to have property related costs, for example rent for a stall.

Check eligibility and apply online: www.manchester.gov.uk/ARG

Help with Debt, Bills and Borrowing

If you are not working or furloughed at the moment due to COVID-19 and need help with debt, bills or borrowing, visit www.manchester.gov.uk/helpinghands for advice and support.

Remember the golden rules

👋 Hands
😷 Face
↔ Space

gov.uk/coronavirus