Stay home and celebrate VE Day
Next Friday, 8 May, it will be 75 years since VE Day – the day the Second World War ended in Europe.
Under normal circumstances we would be encouraging you to join together and hold a street party to mark this significant anniversary. Sadly, we cannot do that this year but we don’t want this day to go by without being marked at all.
That’s why we have produced this short guide to help you celebrate VE Day 75 from the safety of your own home.
Here are a few tips on how to get involved:
- Hold your own at home Victory in Europe tea party. Decorate your house with homemade Union Jack bunting. Templates are available online including via the BBC website and from amummytoo.co.uk
- Print off and colour in your own Union Flag
- Pause at 11am for a two minute silence in memory of those who gave their lives during the conflict
- Raise a glass with the nation. At 3pm on 8, May 2020 you are encouraged to join in the national toast to the heroes of the Second World War, from the safety of your own home, by standing up and saying ‘To those who gave so much, we thank you.'
- Join the Royal British Legion on BBC One at 9pm on Friday 8 May for a UK-wide rendition of Dame Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again’ to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day. Click here for the lyrics.
- Learn to dance the classic 1940s Lindy Hop – there are plenty of tutorials on YouTube or learn the basic steps and get some inspiration for your playlist with the English Heritage VE Day pack.
- Did someone in your family serve or play a role in WW2? Share a photo of them and their story on social media with the #VEDay75 hashtag
- Try making a traditional 1940s dish like Lord Woolton pie. Click here for this and other retro recipe ideas.
- Encourage your children to go online and find out more about the significance of the day. The Royal British Legion has produced a handy learning pack for 7 to 14-year-olds to help.
You can find more information on the official VE Day 75 website
 We are starting to see disposable gloves and other PPE items being dropped on the floor, particularly around supermarkets. Not only could you be spreading the virus but this is littering and if you are caught doing it then you will receive a £150 fine. If you are using PPE items while out in public places, please dispose of them safely.
If you have sewing skills then put them to good use by joining the Worcestershire group of For the Love of Scrubs. The group is busy making scrubs for staff working in Worcestershire’s hospitals. You can find out more by looking on the Worcestershire For the Love of Scrubs website. We are supporting them by printing A0 patterns.
Worcestershire Community Foundation is giving out rapid grants of up to £5,000 to charities and community groups for projects focusing on the delivery of community services around Covid-19. To apply or donate to the appeal please visit their website.
Other sources of funding for charities and community groups can be found on our coronavirus web page.
We are currently transforming Malvern Hills District Council’s bin lorries to carry two special thank you messages. One to the NHS and all key workers for everything they are doing and one to the public as a thank you for all the support you have given to our crews during this lockdown period. The first lorries have been decorated and you can view them below. Look out for them in your street.
 
University College London is running a study into the psychological and social effects of Covid-19 in the UK. The results are being used to understand the effects of the virus and social distancing measures on mental health and loneliness in the UK and to inform government advice and decisions.
They are looking for adults in UK who are happy to take part and spread the word about the study. Participation involves answering a 10-minute online survey now and then answering a shorter follow-up survey once a week whilst social isolation measures are in place.
Click here if you would like to take part
What happens to the data?
The data people provide will be analysed anonymously (so people can’t be identified) and provided into weekly dashboards for cabinet office, wider departments of government (including DHSC and DfE), Public Health England, NHS England, and mental health organisations and charities. The reports are also made publicly available for members of the public to see what is happening, very much promoting ‘open science’ during the pandemic so that people are informed about how the nation is being affected: www.marchnetwork.org/research. The data is then being used to inform what advice is given to people, and what support is available, whether that is formal mental health service support or other support such as from telephone lines (such as Samaritans) and voluntary organisations. The data is also being used to inform decisions such as the length of lockdown. These are all decisions that directly affect individuals’ daily lives, so taking part can give individuals a chance to say what challenges they are facing.
Is the study ethics approved and GDPR compliant?
This study has full ethical and data protection approved and is GDPR compliant, all hosted through secure servers and data safe havens. It’s funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Nuffield Foundation (two of the largest scientific funders on medicine and society respectively).
Healthwatch Worcestershire would like as many people as possible to share their feedback of accessing information and health and care services during the coronavirus outbreak. This will enable us to help these essential services at this difficult time, by providing feedback about what is working well, any issues and where further information is needed.
The COVID-19 Survey can be complete online here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/HWW-Covid-19.
More information can be found on the Healthwatch Worcestershire website.
Our coronavirus page has a range of helpful advice to support you during this difficult time including help to pay your Council Tax, support for businesses, a list of companies delivering food, the impact on our services and more.
- Protect your family by Staying home and following the rules on social distancing. The Cabinet Office has issued a list of social distancing dos and don’ts to help you follow the rules correctly.
- Washing your hands with soap and water often and for at least 20 seconds
- Washing your hands as soon as you get home if you do go outside
- Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
- Putting used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
- Looking after your physical and mental health
Every Mind Matters has advice on looking after your mental wellbeing while staying at home.
There is a list of ways to keep physically active and home workouts on the Sport England website.
More advice is available on the NHS coronavirus page.
If you are in need of support and do not already have help from friends, family, the voluntary sector or adult social care then please fill in the form on the Worcestershire Here 2 Help website.
We have also produced a list of businesses delivering food.
We know many of you are helping look after vulnerable loved-ones or people in your community. We thank you for everything you are doing. It is important to make sure you protect yourself while doing this. The Government has issued new advice as part of its How to help safely campaign.
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