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GOOD NEWS YOU NEED RIGHT NOW​​​​​​​ BY COUNTRY & TOWN HOUSE

We all need a little positivity, so we’re bringing you the best news stories from around the web. Stay safe, and please send any stories you think we might like to share with our readers on Twitter @countryandtown or send to intern@countryandtownhouse.co.uk. Our daily good news roundup has moved to a new weekly roundup of positive stories from around the world, landing in your inbox on a Monday morning to start your week off right.

UK COVID-19 ALERT LOWERED Chief medical officers for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have announced that the UK’s Covid-19 alert level has been reduced from four (transmission is high or rising exponentially) to three (virus in general circulation). In a joint statement, the medical officers stated: “There has been a steady decrease in cases we have seen in all four nations, and this continues.” However, they added that this “does not mean that the pandemic is over” and that “localised outbreaks are likely to occur”. They said: “We have made progress against the virus thanks to the efforts of the public and we need the public to continue to follow the guidelines carefully to ensure this progress continues.” Source: BBC

Above: Tomek Baginski on Unsplash KEEPING SOHO ALIVE The thriving hospitality scene in London’s Soho has been impacted enormously by the pandemic, but Soho Estates and Shaftesbury are leading a campaign to ensure the area remains at the centre of London’s food and drink scene. The Soho Summer Street Festival campaign is proposing to temporarily pedestrianise the area and to relax licensing measures allowing venues to expand into the streets of Soho. John James, Managing Director of Soho Estates says: “With so many brilliant independent businesses in Soho, we are at risk of losing the culture that makes the area so special. Despite the awful effects of the crisis, it has been incredibly warming to see the community come together in such a way.” Stephen Fry, Damien Hirst, Olivia Williams and Bill Nighy are amongst those who have added their names to support the campaign. savesoho.co.uk

ANONYMOUS PHONELINE LAUNCHES TO INSPIRE SHORT FILM Last week was National Loneliness Week, and with 7.4 million Brits thought to have been impacted by loneliness during lockdown, Oscar-nominated film director Liam Saint-Pierre is looking to chronicle people’s experiences in a new short film. You can call The Missing Line and share what you have or haven’t been missing, and a selection of the anonymous caller confessions will be transformed into a short documentary film charting 24 hours of lockdown life, to be named ‘Missed Calls’. themissingline.com

Above: El Palace Barcelona Rooftop Garden RONNIE WOOD SUPPORTS HOTEL CHARITY CAMPAIGN El Palace Barcelona, which is due to reopen in September, will be selling five two-night vouchers to stay in the El Palace Suite by Ronnie Wood to help raise funds to support the development of vaccines and medication against COVID-19, and its economic effects on local families. Known to surprise guests of the hotel with impromptu ‘jam sessions’ in the Bluesman Cocktail Bar, you may even bump into the legendary Rolling Stone on your visit. The hotel is donating all proceeds from the vouchers to #YoMeCorono, a research and development project focused on finding market specific solutions to combat the pandemic in the city of Barcelona and Banc dels Aliments de Barcelona, a charity that provides food to those in need. hotelpalacebarcelona.com

MAKING SUSTAINABLE SHOPPING EASIER Farfetch has launched a new fashion footprint tool aiming to equip customers with a better understanding of how their fashion choices impact the planet. Customers will be able to consider which materials reduce the environmental impact of their spending and see the green savings that opting for pre-owned purchases incur. The tool is accompanied by a report exploring the average environmental impact of fashion items including carbon, water and waste production. farfetch.com

MARCUS RASHFORD MAKES A DIFFERENCE Marcus Rashford’s campaign for the government to continue to provide children with free school meal vouchers throughout the summer holidays has been a success. The Manchester United footballer spoke to BBC Breakfast, stating that he was “grateful that the prime minister did change his decision”, following news that the government were to stop its providing of vouchers to families whose children are entitled to free meals outside of term time. Boris Johnson stated in a daily coronavirus briefing in Downing Street: “I talked to Marcus Rashford today and congratulated him on his campaign which to be honest I only became aware of very recently, today – and I thank him for what he’s done.” Source: BBC

CORONAVIRUS LIFE-SAVING DRUG DISCOVERED A cheap and widely available drug, Dexamethasone can help save the lives of seriously ill coronavirus patients, signalling a major breakthrough in the fight against the virus. The low-dose steroid treatment dexamethasone is part of the world’s biggest trial testing existing treatments and cut the risk of death by a third for patients on ventilators. Chief investigator Prof Peter Horby said: “This is the only drug so far that has been shown to reduce mortality – and it reduces it significantly. It’s a major breakthrough.” Source: BBC

Above: FP Creative Ltd on Unsplash COUNTRY'S SHOPS & BOUTIQUES OPEN DOORS  Shops and boutiques across the country have opened their doors again for the first time in months, adapting the way they operate to adhere to new social distancing and safety measures. Many have met the challenge and gone even further, working on new shopping experiences and customer services to make post-lockdown shopping even more exciting. In London, Selfridges has launched personal after-hours shopping trips and new live entertainment for those having to queue, while shoppers on Sloane Street can make the most of virtual sales appointments and curb-side collection at Prada and enhanced online offerings and appointments at other boutiques. Chopard is welcoming back shoppers to its New Bond Street boutique with enhanced safety and hygiene practices, and Liberty has opened its famous doors once more. Outside the capital, those looking for a full day of retail therapy can find it at Bicester Village, which has reopened with a host of carefully-implemented social distancing measures, while smaller boutiques and businesses up and down the country are opening their doors with one common hope for their returning customers: that they’ll spend, spend, spend. If you are looking for some update inspiration for your home, how about getting down to The Design Centre to experience the patterns, colours and finishes you’ve been pouring over on screens in person? With a wealth of specialist expertise across the board and rooms full of inspiring and unique designs, a visit is sure to lift your mood (and get your creative juices flowing).

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GOOD NEWS YOU NEED RIGHT NOW​​​​​​​ BY COUNTRY & TOWN HOUSE

We all need a little positivity, so we’re bringing you the best news stories from around the web. Stay safe, and please send any stories you think we might like to share with our readers on Twitter @countryandtown or send to intern@countryandtownhouse.co.uk. This too shall pass. After this Friday 12 June, our daily good news roundup will be moving to a new weekly roundup of positive stories from around the world, which will land in your inbox on a Monday morning to start your week off right.

Above: GettyImages UK BARN OWL NUMBERS ON THE RISE UK barn owls are on the rise, and humans are to thank for the growing numbers. Up to 80% of the country’s population of the birds now nest in man-made boxes, with 20,000 boxes now set up nationwide. Lynne Flower, a volunteer for Kent Wildlife Trust, is licensed with the British Trust for Ornithology to monitor boxes in the local area. “We’ve found that a pair might become quite loyal to a box and while they’re pairing up and mating, they’ll be in the box. If a female starts laying, the male will often roost somewhere else,” she said. “Once they’ve got young he will definitely move somewhere else and he will bring in food. When the young get really big she will also roost somewhere else possibly, so all these roost sites are really important to them.” There are now an estimated 12,000 breeding pairs of the birds in the UK, up from 4,500 in 1987. Source: The Guardian

GAMERS UNITE TO RAISE MONEY FOR RACIAL JUSTICE CAUSES A community of game developers have come together to raise funds for racial justice and equality causes, posting more than 1,000 games and asset packs online at itch.io, up for grabs for a donation of $5 and up. The target is to raise $5million for the NAACP Legal Defence and Educational Fund and the Community Bail Fund, and a donation to the cause will allow you to download more than 790 games. The bundle includes games like Night In The Woods, Overland and Super Hexagon. itch.io

POR TODOS FUND RAISES $11 MILLION FOR ECUADOR'S POOREST With coronavirus putting many of the indigenous communities at risk, a new charitable fund and pool of resources is raising vital aid to help those most in need. The fund, set up by Roque Sevilla of Metropolitan Touring, has raised $11million so far to provide food and economic assistance to maintain social distancing, COVID-19 detection testing, respiratory triage centres and PPE provision to Ecuador’s most vulnerable in the Galapagos Islands, the Amazon, Cuenca, Esmeraldas, Quito and the Central Highlands. Sevilla commented, “We are eternally grateful to all those who have donated so far, and thanks to many volunteers and generous donations, have managed to stabilise the situation in the Galapagos Islands and provide a lifeline to many vulnerable communities…We know that every country has its own coronavirus issues to contend with, but we invite anyone who is able to join the fund, it is about saving everyone’s life, health and future.” portodos.ec

THE QUEEN MAKES FIRST VIDEO CALL TO SUPPORT CARE WORKERS The Queen made her first video call appearance to speak to care workers through the charity Carers Trust to mark Carers Week. The monarch was the last to join the call and the first to leave as per formal etiquette of royal engagements. Nadia Taylor, who looks after her mother who is blind and has osteoarthritis, her father who is undergoing chemotherapy for a blood disorder, her husband who has a kidney deficiency and her 16-year-old daughter who has temporomandibular disorder of her jaw joint, was on the call. She said: "The call was about 45 minutes and the Queen was on for about 20 minutes of that. She asked us all questions. We talked about how we are all coping in the current climate with Covid-19. I explained to her how much more isolated carers are at the moment. Many don’t have laptops or tablets and feel very cut off. A lot of the appointments – doctors, hospitals etc – we need have been cancelled. The Queen asked questions about how we all coped and called us extraordinary, which was very lovely. She is quite formal in the way she speaks but I have to say I was personally struck about how warm she was.” Source: Evening Standard

KATHY SULLIVAN IS FIRST PERSON TO VISIT CHALLENGER DEEP AND SPACE NASA astronaut and oceanographer Kathy Sullivan has become the first person to reach the deepest point of the ocean as well as having visited space. Sullivan reached Challenger Deep, at a depth of 10,928 metres in the western Pacific Ocean on Sunday as part of the Ring of Fire Expedition. “I know (Challenger Deep) as a bathymetric feature on a chart, a tectonic feature, and a seismic feature … but that’s all data-based understanding. To see it in person — it makes all the difference in the world,” she said. “No self-respecting marine biologist would be able to pass up an invitation!” Source: CNN

ROALD DAHL'S MARVELLOUS CHILDREN'S CHARITY LAUNCHES PHIZZ-WHIZZING WORKSHOPS Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity is set to launch a series of workshops to teach primary school children about core values to include bravery, empathy, resilience and kindness. The ‘Phizz-whizzing Workshops’ will highlight the charity’s work and encourage families to take part in fundraising activities for the charity through a competition to be judged by Jodie Whitaker and other famous faces. Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity provides specialist nurses and support to 21,000 seriously ill children across the UK. Sign up to receive more information on the workshops here: roalddahl.com

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GOOD NEWS YOU NEED RIGHT NOW​​​​​​​ BY COUNTRY & TOWN HOUSE

We all need a little positivity, so we’re bringing you the best news stories from around the web. Stay safe, and please send any stories you think we might like to share with our readers on Twitter @countryandtown or send to intern@countryandtownhouse.co.uk. This too shall pass. After this Friday 12 June, our daily good news roundup will be moving to a new weekly roundup of positive stories from around the world, which will land in your inbox on a Monday morning to start your week off right.

Above: Richard Cook on Unsplash ZOOS & DRIVE-IN CINEMAS TO REOPEN Zoos, safari parks and drive-in cinemas are amongst the attractions set to open to the public on Monday. These outdoor leisure activities will be able to resume as long as social distancing rules are followed, alongside some non-essential shops that will also reopen on Monday 15 June. “People are continuing to make huge sacrifices to reduce the spread of coronavirus and avoid a second spike, but we know it is tough and where we can safely open up more attractions, and it is supported by the science, we will do so,” said a Downing Street official. “This is by necessity a careful process, but we hope the reopening of safari parks and zoos will help provide families with more options to spend time outdoors while supporting the industry caring for these incredible animals.” Source: BBC

COUNCILS CALL FOR REMOVAL OF MONUMENTS LINKED TO SLAVERY Councils across the UK are backing demands to remove monuments of figures linked to the slave trade amidst nationwide protests. Sadiq Khan has launched a commission to make the capital’s public spaces more diverse with changes to street names, statues and monuments. He said: “The commission will advise us on [the removal of statues], but actually we don’t have enough representation of people of colour, black people, women, those from the LGBT community.” Source: iNews

TRAVEL COMPANY SHELLS OUT £115 MILLION REFUNDS As the travel industry prepares for a tentative reopening in the UK next month and hotels start reopening across the world, many companies are facing the reality of more than three months with no business. Trailfinders has informed its customers that alongside repatriating 20,000 clients, it has processed refunds for 100,000 people totalling £115million, in some cases bridging gaps between suppliers. They are currently taking bookings for 2020 and beyond.

Above: Jeremy Thomas on Unsplash UAE'S MARS MISSION PREPARES FOR LAUNCH The very first Arab mission to Mars is in preparation for its 14 July launch with fuelling to get underway next week. The ‘Hope Mars Mission’ (titled Amal, meaning ‘hope’) is set to reach Mars by February 2021 and will orbit the red planet for one Martian year (687 days) collecting data. Omran Sharaf, the mission’s project manager at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre said: “This mission is not just about the UAE, it’s about the region, it’s about the Arab issue.” Sarah Al-Amiri, the UAE’s Minister of State for Advanced Sciences said: “Mars provided us with the necessary challenge to rigorously develop talent in engineering, it gave us an appetite for risk and being able to circumvent the risk and push forward with the mission for development. It allows us to start integrating and creating new opportunities for scientists within the UAE and those that are studying the natural sciences.” Source: iNews

CHELSEA WOMEN'S FOOTBALL TEAM DONATE PRIZE MONEY TO REFUGE Chelsea has donated the £100,000 prize money for winning the Women’s Super League title to domestic abuse charity Refuge. Emma Hayes, the Chelsea manager said: “It’s a charity that’s close to the hearts and minds of the women’s team, and is very important to our owner, Mr Abramovich, and everyone at the club. It makes me proud our club is supporting those less fortunate in times of need. Up until now our involvement was about supporting the campaign publicly with a call to action but we all wanted to do more than that and if donating our prize money can ease some of the concerns and worries people have, then it’s the least we can do. It’s an important message. It’s a campaign that’s really dear to us and the best way we can demonstrate our support further is by committing our prize money towards it and helping those in need.” Source: The Guardian

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GOOD NEWS YOU NEED RIGHT NOW​​​​​​​ BY COUNTRY & TOWN HOUSE

We all need a little positivity, so we’re bringing you the best news stories from around the web. Stay safe, and please send any stories you think we might like to share with our readers on Twitter @countryandtown or send to intern@countryandtownhouse.co.uk. This too shall pass.

BRITISH MAN RESCUED AFTER SIX DAYS IN BALI WELL British man Jacob Roberts has been rescued, six days after he fell into a well on the Indonesian island of Bali. The 29-year-old man broke his leg falling into the well in Pecatu village while running away from a dog, according to local sources. His cries for help were eventually heart by a local resident out looking for cattle feed in the remote area. South Kuta police chief Yusak Agustinus Sooai said “he looked thin and injured,” when he was lifted out of the well by three men, but he is reportedly well. Source: BBC

Above: Ivan Zhirnov on Unsplash $1m TREASURE FOUND IN ROCKY MOUNTAINS Art and antiquities collector Forrest Fenn said the $1million treasure he hid in the Rocky Mountain wilderness a decade ago has been found. The 89-year-old said that a treasure hunter collected the chest a few days ago but wishes to remain anonymous. Clues as to the treasure’s whereabouts had been posted online by Fenn and in his 2010 autobiography. Asked how he felt about the discovery of the chest he said: “I don’t know, I feel halfway kind of glad, halfway kind of sad because the chase is over.” Source: The Guardian

MINNEAPOLIS COUNCIL PLEDGES TO DISMANTLE POLICE Minneapolis City Council has voted by a majority to dismantle the local police department amidst global protests sparked by the death of George Floyd in police custody last month. Nine of the 13 councillors read a statement to hundreds of protesters on Sunday. City Council President Lisa Bender said: “We are here because here in Minneapolis and in cities across the United States it is clear that our existing system of policing and public safety is not keeping our communities safe. Our efforts at incremental reform have failed. Period.” Source: BBC

Above: Nathan Rogers on Unsplash ZERO NEW CORONAVIRUS CASES IN PREMIER LEAGUE As the Premier League prepares to start back up next week, a sixth round of testing across all clubs has confirmed no new coronavirus cases. A total of 1,195 players and club staff from across the 20 top-flight clubs were tested last week as part of the centralised testing programme. “The Premier League can today confirm that on Thursday 4 June and Friday 5 June, 1,195 players and club staff were tested for COVID-19,” the Premier League said in a statement on Saturday evening. “Of these, zero have tested positive. The Premier League is providing this aggregated information for the purposes of competition integrity and transparency. No specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided by the League and results will be made public after each round of testing.” Testing will be carried out twice a week. Source: Evening Standard

GAMER GRANDMA REVEALS MOTIVATION IN LIFE A 90-year-old Japanese pensioner known as the ‘Gamer Grandma’ has revealed that gaming is a ‘motivation in life’ for her. Hamako Mori appears in the Guinness World Record books for being the world’s oldest gaming YouTuber and she spends three or more hours every day gaming and streaming on her YouTube channel. “It’s fun being watched by a lot of people, rather than playing alone,” she said. “I won’t put it down just because it’s difficult … It’s better than doing nothing! I want to play well no matter how old I am.” Source: iNews

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GOOD NEWS YOU NEED RIGHT NOW​​​​​​​ BY COUNTRY & TOWN HOUSE

We all need a little positivity, so we’re bringing you the best news stories from around the web. Stay safe, and please send any stories you think we might like to share with our readers on Twitter @countryandtown or send to intern@countryandtownhouse.co.uk. This too shall pass.

BANKSY UNVEILS BLACK LIVES MATTER ARTWORK Artist Banksy has unveiled an artwork to show his support for the Black Lives Matter movement. The street artist posted a picture of the painting on his Instagram account alongside a call for change to the systematic oppression of black people across the world. He said: “At first I thought I should just shut up and listen to black people about this issue. But why would I do that? It’s not their problem, it’s mine. People of colour are being failed by the system. The white system. Like a broken pipe flooding the apartment of the people living downstairs. The faulty system is making their life a misery, but it’s not their job to fix it. They can’t, no one will let them in the apartment upstairs. This is a white problem. And if white people don’t fix it, someone will have to come upstairs and kick the door in.” Source: Instagram

Above: GettyImages NO NEW COVID-19 DEATHS IN SCOTLAND FOR 24 HOURS Scotland recorded zero coronavirus deaths for 24 hours this weekend for the first time since near the start of the breakout. Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “We are not in the business of rushing out announcements on the back of albeit a piece of positive news, but a one-off piece of positive news in the context of the weekend when we know the number of registered deaths are lower than in a week day. I want to be here on many more days where either I or the first minister are giving those kinds of numbers, but for us to get there we need to stick with the measures that are in place.” Source: BBC

HUGE BLACK LIVES MATTER MURAL PAINTED NEAR WHITE HOUSE The city of Washington has painted a huge, yellow Black Lives Matter mural on the street leading up to the White House in the midst of the ongoing protests against police brutality in the US. Mayor Muriel Bowser said the painting by city workers and local artists is there to send a message of support for the movement. “We know what’s going on in our country. There is a lot of anger. There is a lot of distrust of police and the government,” she said. “There are people who are craving to be heard and to be seen and to have their humanity recognised. We had the opportunity to send that message loud and clear on a very important street in our city.” However, the local chapter of Black Lives Matter said it did not support painting the street and instead called for active support for calls to defund police and increased investment in the community. Meanwhile, protests continue around the world in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign. You can keep up with the efforts and get involved at blacklivesmatter.com. Source: AP News

Above: Simon Rae on Unsplash TREE MAPPING SITE GETS 50 TIMES MORE VISITS A walking app to help local walkers identify trees close to them has seen record traffic during lockdown. TreeTalk is an online mapping tool featuring the location and species of more than 700,000 trees in London, and the increase in people taking walks in their areas and getting to know their local parks has seemingly led to an increased hunger for knowledge about the trees they are passing by each day. Co-founder of TreeTalk Paul Wood said: “The wonder of nature is a cliche but trees are a truth at a time when there is a lot of uncertainty. There is a conceptual mystery to the way they manage to burst into life every spring despite everything we throw at them – the vans and buses going by, the extreme weather, the pollution.” Source: The Guardian

CEASEFIRE ON THE TABLE AFTER ALMOST A DECADE OF LIBYA WAR Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has announced an initiative to end the cival war in Libya, which includes peace talks in Geneva. The initiative is backed by rebel general Khalifa Haftar. The ceasefire will begin today and the President said it will pave the way for elections. “There can be no stability in Libya unless peaceful means to end the crisis are found, that include the unity and integrity of the national institutions,” he said. Source: The Guardian

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GOOD NEWS YOU NEED RIGHT NOW​​​​​​​ BY COUNTRY & TOWN HOUSE

We all need a little positivity, so we’re bringing you the best news stories from around the web. Stay safe, and please send any stories you think we might like to share with our readers on Twitter @countryandtown or send to intern@countryandtownhouse.co.uk. This too shall pass.

HEALTHCARE MUM REUNITED WITH DAUGHTERS AFTER 9 WEEKS An NHS healthcare worker who spent more than two months away from her daughters as she joined the fight against coronavirus has finally been reunited with her family. Suzie Vaughan, 43, from King’s Lynn, Norfolk, surprised her two daughters Hettie, seven, and Bella, nine, after two months apart. “We had said it was only going to be for a maximum of a month, but nobody knew at the beginning of this how it was going to go,” she said. “It was amazing to see them again, I missed the girls terribly. When they started crying I felt so bad but so relieved I was back with them. Now they won’t let me out of their sight. When I put them to bed they said, ‘Am I dreaming mummy?’” Source: ITV

Above: GettyImages DUBAI BUILDING TRANSFORMED INTO WORLD'S TALLEST DONATION BOX Dubai’s Burj Khalifa was transformed into the ‘World’s Tallest Donation Box’, being illuminated bit-by-bit to represent donations coming in to fund coronavirus-hit communities. The fund reached its target of securing funding for 1.2 million meals for low-income families and individuals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic within one week of its launch. All further donations will fund the ‘10 million meals’ campaign. visitdubai.com/en

KENYAN BOY, 9, PRAISED BY PRESIDENT FOR HAND-WASHING MACHINE A nine-year-old Kenyan boy has been recognised by the country’s president for building a unique hand-washing machine to help fight the spread of Covid-19. President Uhuru Kenyatta recognised Stephen Wamukota with a prestigious state commendation for his work alongside 67 others who have contributed to the country’s anti-Covid efforts. The machine is equipped with a pedal-like foot lever to allow hand-washing with zero hand contact. “I had the idea of developing this machine and after I started, I ran out of materials and approached my father who assisted me complete it,” said Wamukota. Source: CGTN

Above: Austin Kirk on Unsplash JAMAICA RETRAINS TOURISM WORKERS With global travel grinding to a halt because of the Covid-19 pandemic, up to 75% of Jamaica’s tourism sector have lost their jobs. To tackle the unemployment across the country, Jamaica has announced the launch of a free online training programme for those affected. Over 6,500 users have registered since the programme launched with courses including: Laundry Attendant, Guest Room Attendant, Kitchen Steward Porter, ServSafe Training in Food Safety, Certified Hospitality Supervisor, Introduction to Spanish, Public Area Sanitation, Hospitality Team Leader, Certified Banquet Server, Certified Restaurant Server, and DJ Certification. It is hoped that most will be reemployed within the next few months with a greater skillset. tef.gov.jm

'GEORGE FLOYD'S LIFE MATTERED': DUCHESS OF SUSSEX The Duchess of Sussex addressed students graduating from her former school in LA, Immaculate Heart, and gave a heartfelt message following the death of George Floyd. In a video for the graduating class she said she: “realised the only wrong thing to say is nothing because George Floyd’s life mattered”. She said: “I know that this is not the graduation that you envisioned […] but I also know that there is a way to reframe this for you, and to not see this as the end of something. But instead to see this as the beginning of you harnessing all of the work, all of the values, all of the skills that you have embodied over the last four years. Now all of that work gets activated, now you get to be part of rebuilding. We are going to rebuild and rebuild and rebuild until it is rebuilt, because when the foundation is broken, so are we.” Source: Essence

CELEBRITY RAFFLE TO SUPPORT BIG ISSUE VENDORS Celebrities have pulled together to support Big Issue vendors impacted by the coronavirus lockdown with a raffle. Editor, Paul McNamee, said: “Since the end of March we’ve been going all-out to completely change, and save, the Big Issue during the Covid-19 crisis. We’ve come so far, with the generous support of the public. But the battle is not over, nor is it won. We have one more big idea.” The Big Raffle has a host of prizes donated by celebrities including a personalised message from Ray Winstone, a backstage tour and breakfast date with Lorraine Kelly and a virtual chat with Joanna Lumley. Source: Guardian

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