Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Whistle while you walk...and cycle and run
Holiday park issues duck calls for social distancing
IMRAN Hameed’s mum Salma is his biggest inspiration.
After moving here in the late 1960s as a strict Muslim, she befriended all her neighbours, no matter their race or religion, and had a stunning impact on their lives.
And Imran is carrying on her work by uniting communities and helping the needy with his volunteer group, Bearded Broz.
He has helped thousands through catastrophes including Grenfell and the coronavirus.
From starting up on his own with a Facebook post, his project has 750 volunteers and offers 24/7 food deliveries near his home in the West Midlands, plus Manchester and West London.
The 40-year-old has now been handed the Special Recognition Award at this year’s Pride of Birmingham Awards, in partnership with TSB.
Imran, of Sandwell, said: “It’s more important than ever to bring communities together.”
See the Pride of Birmingham Awards at youtube.com/ prideofbritainawards.
A HOLIDAY park is giving families duck whistles to help them with social distancing – and make following the frustrating rules more fun.
Visitors to the resort are being asked to blow them while they are out walking in the surrounding countryside or enjoying a bike ride or a jog in the area.
The aim is to alert others that they are coming and give everyone a chance to keep apart.
Chris Jeffery, park director at Cofton Holidays in Devon, said he came up with the idea after seeing a family of ducks while he was out walking recently.
And he ordered 24 boxes of whistles for holidaymakers the next day.
Mr Jeffery said: “Not only do the whistles offer an added sense of security but they’re also an awful lot of fun!
“I piloted the whistles with my children before rolling them out – my youngest son, Teddy, initially thought it was another one of dad’s silly ideas.
“But, in the end, both Teddy and older brother Harry had a great time running around ‘quacking’ in the woods.
“Cases of coronavirus are relatively low in Devon compared to much of the country but we know it’s always a risk, so we’re keen to make social distancing as fun as it can be for families.”
Other measures at the site, near Exeter, include additional hand washing facilities, reduced contact at check-in, personal protective equipment for staff and new signage and floor stickers to encourage social distancing.
The holiday park is also reopening its entertainment venue next weekend after a full redesign to make it safer.
This includes new procedures that allow guests to book tables at specific time slots.