Having been pressed for action for some time, the Government finally announced support for charities and the voluntary sector.

I was also pleased to learn that Victoria Park will reopen on Saturday, although opening hours are shorter than usual – the park will close each day at 4pm.

Although it’s due to be sunny and warm this weekend, please keep following the lock down advice. We may be nearing the peak of the pandemic, and it is essential that everyone does their bit by staying home as much as possible.

Too many people are falling through the gaps and missing out on Government support during this public health emergency.

If you’ve written in, thank you! I’ve been feeding in your personal experiences to press the Government to step up its support. Please bear with me and my team as I write back to you all.

This week I've been pressing the Government on:

✅ Time limits for the Coronavirus Bill
✅ Support for start-ups, small businesses and the self-employed
✅ Homes for overcrowded and homeless families

The coronavirus pandemic means people are losing their jobs but some are banned from accessing public money, like Universal Credit.

I’ve written to the Home Secretary asking for a clear commitment and today Diane Abbott also raised this issue. People need reassurance now.

I know too many families struggle living in severely overcrowded accommodation. Already children are forced to share beds with parents and some vulnerable families are crammed into single flats with other families. Many live in a single-room hostels. The closure of schools, self-isolation, and family quarantine will make an already unbearable situation impossible.  

We can do better than this. Other European countries have stepped up to the challenge – Norway is supporting freelancers/self-employed workers by providing 80% of their average salary over the last 3 years.

The Government needs to announce a proper plan.

Self-isolation for families in overcrowded accommodation and single-room hostels is hard.

We need a better solution than this – what about empty new build homes being provided for people in desperate need? 

It’s a worrying time but we can help each other by not panic buying. There are families in Hackney who can’t afford a weekly shop let alone stockpiling.

For further info and advice on coronavirus see: https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response