Charities to benefit from Covid anniversary flower
MONEY GOING TO CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AND POLICE CAUSES
A CHARITY is urging people to mark the first anniversary of lockdown and support health and police charities.
Pukaar Group’s Always In Our Thoughts campaign is inviting people to wear one of its flowers to publicly display support and solidarity with anyone who has been affected by Covid-19 ahead of the March 23 anniversary of the Prime Minister telling people they must stay at home.
The C-19 flowers will be available for a £1 donation. All money received will be donated to Leicester Children’s Hospital Appeal and Care of Police Survivors (Cops).
Chief Constable Simon Cole, a trustee of Cops, said: “Those who have been impacted by Covid are always in our thoughts.
“This national campaign is a way of putting something back as we remember those we have lost, those who have suffered and those who have served.
“My police colleagues have been at the forefront throughout.
“Care of Police Survivors charity is trying to support the families of those from policing who have lost their lives.
“As a trustee, I would like to thank the Always in Our Thoughts campaign for supporting Cops.”
Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Mike Kapur, said: “As patron of Leicester Children’s Hospital Appeal, I am thrilled the Always in Our Thoughts campaign has chosen to support it. The difference this support will make to the lives of children over the next five years will be felt for a long time to come.
“Despite the appalling impact Covid-19 has had, and will continue to have on many people’s lives, the development of the East Midlands’ first dedicated children’s hospital, here in Leicester, is such an optimistic project to get behind.
“The NHS has never been more in the forefront of all our minds and I look forward to wearing my flower with pride.”
Romail Gulzar, pictured, founder of Pukaar Group and the Always In Our Thoughts campaign, said: “Covid-19 has affected millions of people worldwide.
“The UK experienced a huge impact, which has been met with an incredible effort by our key workers.
“This has put people under huge stress.
“Many have lost their lives, many are suffering with the long-term effects of the virus and many have been left alone after their loved ones were taken from them.
“I wanted to find some way to encourage all of us to repay the kindness of these workers.
“The Always In Our Thoughts campaign will provide donations to charities that support those in need during this crucial period.”
Flowers can be bought online at:
THE outgoing Bishop of Loughborough is to lead a Church of England drive to tackle the UK’s “crippling” housing crisis and help those most in need.
The Rt Rev Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, who made history in 2017 by becoming the town’s first bishop, has been asked to look into the potential of freeing up Church land where affordable homes could be built.
It follows a report recommending that the Anglican Church should examine how its 6,000 acres of “strategic land” could be used to help.
Bishop Guli has been appointed as the Church of England’s Lead Bishop for Housing, a role she will take up later this year when she swaps Leicestershire for Essex to become the Bishop of Chelmsford.
The Commission of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York on Housing, Church and Community has spent nearly two years researching the housing crisis.
Its Coming Home report has warned about eight million people of all ages live in “overcrowded, unaffordable or unsuitable homes”, while those in poverty also “bear the brunt of this injustice”.
The task that Bishop Guli, who is patron of homelessness charity One Roof Leicester, has been given is to lead @leicslive
LAND HOLDINGS CONSIDERED
an executive team which will look at how recommendations within the report can be implemented.
She said: “The work of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission on Housing, Church and Community is inspirational.
“I’m delighted to be joining others in working to ensure the aspirations become reality and the hopes are translated into concrete change.
“It will be a privilege to be part of this.”
The report concluded the pandemic has “exposed” the scale of the housing crisis and called it “a national scandal”.
The commission called for a “bold, coherent, long-term housing strategy” from the government, while arguing the Church should use its land assets to “promote more truly affordable homes”.
According to the report, the Church Commissioners manage £8.7 billion of assets, with roughly 15 per cent in various land holdings.
About 3 per cent of the portfolio – 6,000 acres – is held as “strategic land” suitable for housing.