DISBELIEF OF NURSE USING FOOD BANK
A NURSE who turned to food banks during the pandemic has said Boris Johnson’s pay offer “defies sense”.
Niaomi Gordon, 33, rationed supplies to keep herself and son Tom, 15, fed.
But she was outraged to hear the PM is reportedly seeking funds to refurbish his Downing Street flat and said: “It took me two months to save to buy trainers for my son because he’s gone up a size. Yet Boris Johnson wants donations to hang his posh wallpaper.
“It defies sense. He doesn’t understand what it means to struggle.”
Niaomi, a single mum, has five years’ experience working in the NHS. As a Band 5 intensive care nurse, her pay starts at £24,907 before tax.
But she is left with £100 a month when her bills and essentials are paid and was forced to use a food bank when she was signed off with Covid-19 and her sick pay was capped.
She said: “People in the NHS are using food banks and yet the public are under a misconception we’re on good money.
“Boris’s life was saved by the NHS – you would think he would have realised first-hand how hard we work and that we deserve to be paid fairly.”
FAMILIES preparing to visit loved ones in care homes for the first time in nearly a year may now have to wait even longer.
Some homes are delaying face-to-face visits – due to start tomorrow – because the Government guidelines were delayed and only issued on Thursday.
Each resident is allowed one nominated indoor visitor who must take a Covid test before entry and wear PPE. Only hand-holding will be permitted.
Helen Wildbore, of the Relatives and Residents Association, said: “This is yet another false hope. Some care homes have said they haven’t had enough time to prepare so they are not going to be able to offer relatives a visit.”
Caroline Abrahams of Age UK added: “The guidance that was supposed to come out last Monday got delayed.”
WAITING: A resident
CONCERNS were growing last night for a woman who vanished five days ago while walking home.
Sarah Everard’s family say her disappearance is totally out of character.
The 33-year-old left a friend’s house in Clapham, South London, at 9pm on Wednesday for a 50-minute walk home to Brixton via Clapham Common.
The marketing manager phoned her partner en route at 9.30pm but has not been heard from since.
Her family said: “With every day that goes by we are getting more worried.
“She is always in regular contact with us and with her friends, and it is totally out of character for her.”
Police yesterday searched ponds on the common and issued CCTV of Sarah on the night she disappeared.
DCI Ian Kenward said: “We are growing increasingly concerned.”
RUGBY League legend Jamie Peacock has shown he can go the extra mile after completing a gruelling ultramarathon.
The former Leeds and England RL star did a 52-mile loop around London on Friday.
Jamie, 43, who captained club and country, hopes the run will help him raise £30,000 for charity.
He said: “One thing you miss about playing is the challenge, physically. Running is a good substitute for that.
“When your body is tired, it’s all about that belief that you can do it and push your body, mentally.”
Jamie’s ultramarathon was in aid of the Greenhouse Sports charity.
If he hits his £30,000 target, it will pay for a sports coach to be based full-time in a school for a year.
Jamie took on the ultramarathon with his pal Simon Dent, who is a keen endurance runner.
The pair started and finished their challenge at the Greenhouse Centre – the charity’s base – and checked in at a number of the 40 London schools it supports along the way.
The pair also visited two of the venues for this year’s Rugby League World Cup – Arsenal FC’S Emirates Stadium and the Copper Box in the Olympic Park in Stratford, which will host the wheelchair rugby.
To donate, visit justgiving.com/team/ runwithjamie