A Mobile Testing Unit staffed by the army will be visiting Oldham from Sunday for 3 days until Tuesday 2^nd June. It will provide testing for coronavirus for local residents (adults and children over 5 years) and keyworkers.  

The Unit will be at the Old Leisure Centre Car Park, on Rock Street, in the Town Centre. 

Testing will be by pre-booked appointment only and people can arrive either by car or by foot and are advised to follow the national social distancing guidelines.  

These tests will only be able to tell people if they have coronavirus now. They will not be able to tell if they have been infected in the past. The common symptoms of coronavirus are a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste. 

Booking available from Saturday evening only 

Residents wishing to book at test will be able to make an appointment through the national booking website – NHS testing from the evening of Saturday 30^th May.   

Employers of keyworkers can also book tests for their staff through the national employer booking portal. Employers need to register via e-mail following the guidance on the Coronavirus testing guidance site before they can refer their employees. 

If you are not able to access the testing website, you can book a test by telephone by calling 119. 

If the Oldham site is not listed on the booking portal it means that all the available testing appointments for the day have been filled. Home testing kits can also be requested via the same website and telephone number.

The Oldham Liberal Democrats and Councillor Howard Sykes (Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Opposition Leader on Oldham Council) have all signed a letter of support.  This is to aid vulnerable children and protect local education.  The National Education Union (NEU) Councillors Network has written a letter to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson for local councillors to sign up to. 

Schools have been underfunded and struggling and the Covid-19 world has increased that mounting pressure.  The signed letter has several key demands noted here:

1. Assurance that families will be eligible for free school meals (FSM) will be given food vouchers during summer holidays.
2. Government to work with local authorities to protect vulnerable children.
3. Supporting calls from the teaching profession that schools be reopened when it is safe to do so, for both staff and students.
4. Local authorities be given a role in coordinating with schools, trade unions and the DfE on a safe end to school closures.

Councillor Sykes says:  “This letter of support, has been backed by thousands of councillors from all parties and non, hopefully it will send a strong message to central government.  I am pleased that all Liberal Democrat Councillors on Oldham Council have signed it.”

Notes:

https://neu.org.uk/councillors-network

Letter to Gavin Williamson

Dear Gavin Williamson MP,

As local councillors, we are writing to raise concerns in relation to current school closures.

The first issue is our concern about the impact school closures are having on disadvantaged students and their families.

Students eligible for free school meals (FSM) have had mixed experiences when applying for the Government’s voucher scheme, with some unable to access vouchers to which they are entitled. We would like your assurances that all families with children eligible for FSM will receive vouchers for the full period of school closure, including school holidays. This may need to be in retrospect for families who have not yet been able to access their vouchers.

We would ask that the Department for Education (DfE) continues to work with local authorities who are at the forefront of supporting families facing unprecedented food insecurity in the current climate.

As you will know, holiday hunger is an issue for many families, and we would like your assurances that families eligible for FSM will be given food vouchers to sustain them during the summer holidays. We believe that this should become a permanent fixture within our school system, so no child need go hungry during the school holidays again.

We also have concerns about support for vulnerable children and the increased calls to domestic violence helplines nationally. We would ask that the Government continue to work with local authorities and schools to ensure vulnerable children do not ‘slip through the net’ and the necessary financial support is available to councils to support families fleeing domestic violence.

Finally, we are concerned by the current speculation on the end to school closures. We find current speculation unhelpful but would like to support the calls from the teaching profession that schools only be reopened when it is safe to do so, for both teachers and students.

We also ask that local authorities be given a role in coordinating with schools, trade unions and the DfE on a safe end to school closures.

We hope that the Government will continue to collaborate closely with local councils to support families and schools as we weather the current crisis and its aftermath. This will require an end to austerity and a new, long-term, funding settlement for local authorities and schools, to ensure they are best equipped going forward.

Yours sincerely,

The Undersigned

Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Opposition leader on Oldham Council, is appalled at a new analysis.  The shocking study shows the areas worst hit by Covid-19 will now receive some of the largest cuts in Government support.  

Oldham Borough is in the top ten Councils hit harder than any other area by the virus.  More than £100 million of public money has been diverted away from Councils in the bottom half of the English deprivation index.  Oldham Borough is unfortunately one of those Council areas.

Conservative run areas are not receiving funding cuts in the same way.  Many believe this is a sly political move by Boris Johnson and the Conservatives.  Oldham Borough will now not receive £1.1 million diverted monies.

Councillor Sykes says “The cash was supposed to be for fighting Covid-19.  Our communities need this money, our area is already struggling badly.” 

“I commend bravery and hard-working nature of local people.  However, Oldham needs the financial support!  We cannot do without it.”

Residents are being invited to join a Greater Manchester-wide sing-along from their windows and doorsteps on Thursday May 28^th at 7.30pm to show support for each other.

The event, called Together in One Voice, will be captured under social distancing guidelines with drones, street cameras and residents own films (user generated content) and edited together to produce a show for national release on the evening of Sunday 31^st May.

Greater Manchester will once again harness the power of music and the benefits of singing to come Together In One Voice. The YouTube Live event with Manchester International Festival will feature songs and artists from Greater Manchester’s rich musical heritage past and present with a few special guest appearances.

The event will promote community spirit and encourage everyone to take care of their mental health in the weeks and months ahead.

For more details and to access the event go to www.togethermcr.com

For real time information: https://oldham.roadworks.org/

Adults and children over age 5 who have symptoms of COVID-19 can now access testing.

People can book a test for yourself or a family member, if you and/or a family member have coronavirus symptoms:

These tests will only be able to tell you if you have coronavirus now.

They will not be able to tell you if you have been infected in the past.

People will need to have the test in the first 5 days of having symptoms.

They may choose between a drive-through site, or a home test kit if you are not able to drive to a drive-through site.

The following are the drive-through sites in Greater Manchester:

• Manchester Airport
• Etihad Stadium

If people are not able to drive to one of these sites they can request a home-testing kit via the NHS testing site.website.

If people are not able to access the testing website, they can book a test by calling 119.

On 15 May 2020 peacefully in hospital. Angie aged 61, beloved wife of Wayne and the late Tony. Dearly loved mum of Simon Anthony, dear mother in law of Kelcy, much loved by Shannon and loving sister of carol, Sandra and the late Brenda.

Private funeral service Wednesday 27 May, 3pm at Oldham Crematorium. Webcasting link of service will be shared via Headley Jackson’s shortly.

Family flowers only, donations if desired to the Samaritans c/o Headley Jackson Funeral Directors, Lyon House 48/52 Rochdale Road, Shaw, Oldham OL2 7SA.

Further enquiries to Headley Jackson

01706 847422

info@hedleyjackson.co.uk

Howard Sykes:

I first met Angie, as she insisted in being called, along with Tony her first husband; who died so young and tragically; when they moved to Shaw from Brent (London) many moons ago.

They soon both got roped into activities locally in Shaw and Crompton with the Liberal Democrats.

Angie had many challenges in her personal life, but you would never know.  She was a 100% glass half full person.  She always had time for other people and their problems and was terrier like in getting justice and fair treatment for people.

She was a first-class ward colleague, elected twice, and it was an honour and pleasure to serve with her from 2002 – 07.

It was great to have her back on the Parish Council in 2015-19, where once again she was a credit to her community especially in the year she was Chairman.

There is a very long list of committees and bodies she served on during her public life.  It is impossible to list them all. 

The ones I remember her making and impact on where: Licensing Committee; Health and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee; Health and Adult Social Services Overview and Scrutiny Commission; Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People; First Choice Homes Oldham – Shaw and Royton Local Board; and a very active member of the A V Davies Charity – which I chair.

A lifelong fan of rugby league she travelled all over the country in her passion for the game.  I had the honour of attending the Grand Final one year at Old Trafford with her and Wayne – and typical of Angie she sorted the tickets and all arrangements out!

She survived the difficult times when husband Tony passed away, supported by her family and especially her son Simon.  It was great to see she found happiness once more when she married Wayne.

I have many found memories of my friend, who always had a smile.  We shared one New Year’s Eve together at her home with Wayne.  Our planned take away arrived much later than planned and we all had a few too many drinks before it did! 

That was Angie all over a first-class champion for residents but a happy and jolly soul always up for a laugh, a drink and was always good company.

I was proud to call her my friend and her family should be very proud of the real difference she made to many people’s lives by her interventions.  She will be sadly missed by her family but also by many in Shaw and Crompton.

#balloon4Eid

For real time information: https://oldham.roadworks.org/