THE POSITIVE PROFESSOR

SOCIAL media’s voice of calm Karol Sikora has been signed up by the Daily Express. Readers can now enjoy his soothing advice in these troubled times that have won him hundreds of thousands of followers on Twitter. If you need reassuring everything’s going to be all right read Professor Positivity.

AS we gradually emerge from this lockdown, I’m left thinking about those involved in the forgotten industries.

Weddings, theatres, the arts, events, nightclubs and many others which, through no fault of their own, have had to either totally close or be severely restricted for over a year now.

We rightly hear a lot about hospitality, but these people all deserve to have their stories heard too. Many have gone without sufficient financial support and simply can’t afford to keep the business running on empty. Bills still need to be paid even if the doors are shut.

I’ve never really liked the term “essential” worker. We all have our roles to play and yes, some are more integral to the running of the country than others but everybody has a value to society. I prefer “key” worker.

I tweeted about these forgotten industries and have had some heartbreaking responses. People feeling despondent and worthless. Family businesses of many years gone bankrupt yet nobody seems to care. It’s all desperately sad.

June 21 is the date that many are clinging on to. Some businesses may not make it that far. And nothing is for certain – variants, vaccines and hospitalisations.

We’re all in the same lockdown but we are certainly not all in the same boat. It’s easier for those who can work from home to ride it out, but there are millions who are really struggling and the past year has put an enormous amount of stress on every corner of their lives – financial, psychological and physical.

My words may mean very little to many. I just hope that the powers that be provide the proper support that these forgotten industries have been missing.

If all goes well, the summer should bring far better news for all of us.