You may be unlucky enough to know that Norovirus (also known as the “winter vomiting bug”), is around again. It's a very contagious virus which can cause nausea, projectile vomiting and watery diarrhoea.
It spreads by contact with droplets on contaminated surfaces, via an infected person or infected food or water.
You can stop the spread of the virus by washing your hands with soap and water (alcohol gel does not kill the virus) before preparing food, after using the toilet, or if you have been sick. It's also important to properly clean infected surfaces.
People with norovirus usually get better by themselves within 1-2 days, but make sure you stay well hydrated- especially children and the elderly.
Please do not visit A&E or your GP if you think you may have norovirus as there is no treatment or vaccine and you can easily spread the illness. If you are worried call NHS 111. If you have symptoms it is important to avoid visiting hospitals or other places such as care homes and schools, as ill people, the young and the elderly are more likely to become unwell with the virus.
Christmas is often a busy and stressful time. Cooking for more people than normal can mean having to handle different defrosting and cooking times for food, making sure that large amounts of food are stored safely, and that any leftovers don’t go to waste.
The ‘Food Standards Agency Freezer Fairy’ is providing advice and tips on freezing foods. These will help you to plan meals and work out what and when to cook, freeze and defrost in order to have a less stressful and wasteful Christmas. The advice and tips are especially relevant to those of us on a tight budget as we look to make food go further during the festive season.
First for Mums project wins 'Family project of the year'
An innovative project helping young mums to break the cycle of having their children put into care won the top award at a national youth charity awards ceremony.
First for Mums, run by YMCA North Staffordshire and funded by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, won Family Project of the Year at the Youth Matters Awards.
First for Mums works with women under the age of 24-years-old, who have had at least one child taken into care and are at high risk of further children being taken. Working closely with the local authority, the project focusses on the women’s strengths rather than deficits, to give them the skills to better judge their own situations, while improving their ability to parent and prevent their children being removed in the future.
The project, which started in 2015, triumphed after battling off strong competition from across England and Wales during shortlisting, a public vote and a final decision by judges. The awards were given out in a glittering ceremony in London, hosted by TV presenter June Sarpong MBE.
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