The Big Issue - UK (2020-04-30)

heUKhasbeenlockeddownforaroundamonthanda

half.Ournewwayoflifewasunthinkablejustweeksago– we

shelterathometoprotecteachotherandprotecttheNHS,with

somethingassimpleasa triptothesupermarketnowaneerie

andanxiousexperience.AndwhiletheChancellorrolledouta

rangeofmeasurestolessentheeconomicblowoflockdown,

swathesofthecountryarestillintrouble.Justlastweekmore

than 50 charitiesjoinedforcestodemandactionfortensofthousandsoffamilies

whorecentlysignedupforUniversalCreditbutwhowillmissoutoncrucialcash

becauseofthetwo-childbenefitlimit.

Thesetoughtimesmeaneverypersonputtingtheire�fortsintohelpingothers

isdoingsomethingessential.Mostcan’tturntheeconomyaround,buttheycan

takethesparecashthey’vefoundduringlockdown– likemoneytheywouldhave

beenspentinahairsalon–andgiveittothosefightingonthefrontline,orthey

canusetheinternettopreventisolatedelderlypeopleexperiencing loneliness.

Here are some of Britain’s most creative good Samaritans.

T

• New Horizon,thesupportnetworkfor
  homelessyoungpeople,isgettingcashtocontinue
  itsvitalservicethroughthesaleofgreetings
  cards.Theyteamedupwithgraphicgi�tsbusiness
  Alphablots,whichishandingover10pfromevery
  oneofitssocialdistancing-themedcardstothe
  charity,whichisbackedbyChannel4 anchorJon
  Snow.NewHorizonYouthCentreprovideshot
  food,showersandlaundryservicesaswellas
  housing,trainingandemploymentsupportto
  morethan7,000youngpeoplea year.They’ve
  beenforcedtocloseduringlockdownbutare
  continuingtheircrucialworkduringthepandemic.


• Manchester United legend andall-round
  goodguyGaryNevillewasalreadyontheballwhen
  itcametohelpingothersoutduringthepandemic,
  whenhemadehishotelroomsavailablefreeof
  chargetofrontlinehealthcareworkers.Buthehasn’t
  forgottenaboutthebeautifulgameanditsclubs,
  manyofwhichfaceuncertainty.Earlierthismonth
  hedonateda“significant”amounttoBrighouse
  TownFCinlightoftheseason’searlyendmeaning
  theclubwillgowithoutseveralincomestreams,not
  leastcashontheturnstiles.Hesaidhefeltana�finity
  withBrighouseTownasitwasthelastopponent he
  watched Salford City FC play with his dad.

Compiled by Hannah Westwater

covid crusaders.

Meet

Britain’s

cheer-up

champions

• World War Two veteranCaptain
  TomMoorewontheheartsofthenation
  whenheraisedmorethan£28mfortheNHS
  bydoing 100 lapsaroundhisgardenahead
  ofhis100thbirthday.Asortingo�fi ce had to
  besetupjusttohandlethe
  massesofbirthdaycards
  arrivingforhisbirthday,
  April30.Anestimated
  90,000cardsandgood
  wisheshavearrivedinthe
  post– andthey’renow
  beingsortedatBedford
  School,wherehisgrandson
  studies.Volunteersare
  opening,displayingand
  photographingthemailto
  show to Moore himself.

28 | BIGISSUE.COM 30 APRIL-06 MAY 2020