NHS and social care workers, carers, key workers and hundreds of thousands of community volunteers are keeping us and our country safe in the fight against Coronavirus – the silent enemy. An enemy that does not differentiate between young or old; rich or poor; or those with power or the powerless. We have witnessed immense courage and bravery of our NHS, public sector and community spirited volunteers who are serving humanity selflessly without the fear of putting themselves at risk. Everyone is doing their little bit in saving lives, helping and supporting the most vulnerable in our communities. Doctors, nurses, care workers, teachers and bus drivers have already sacrificed their lives in the line of duty and in their attempt to save the lives of others. The appreciation and love shown up and down the country by many people through lighting up buildings, by standing on our streets to #ClapforNHS #ClapforCarers #ClapforKeyWorkers and displaying rainbows in windows is overwhelming. We now need to further show our solidarity and support to honour them appropriately. We are proud of our NHS, social care, carers, key workers and community volunteer heroes for their efforts in protecting us all now and in the future. Generations to come will look back at their contributions and sacrifices for keeping us safe.

Initially the footbridge was due to close last year around August for an inspection by Network Rail.But the work was put off untill a new application was made and the bridge closed in February this year. Once Covid-19 arrived , any work on the bridge or reopening was suspended indefinitely, leaving the bridge closed & the community facing less access to local services. It is important because the footbridge is a vital link for surrounding neighbourhoods to take their children to school, get to work and access shops. Untill Network Rail decide when they intend to start work they should reopen the footbridge instead of closing it indefinitely, leaving locals very much cut off in what are already difficult times.

The Coronavirus lockdown has seen a dramatic decline in cars using our roads, but they still get priority. With many of us across Tooting, Putney, Battersea, Clapham and Balham wanting to get out once a day to walk, run or cycle - as permitted by the government, our parks and commons are becoming crowded, and many residents don't have gardens or access to other private outdoor spaces. Paul Martin, the Chief Executive of Wandsworth Council could help to create more space for us to by making residential roads, all those with an existing 20mph limit, in the borough pedestrian priority - so we can walk, run or cycle AND maintain social distancing at the same time. This could be done by following steps that other cities have taken, for example installing temporary planters or barriers in the middle of the streets, temporary cycle lanes to be installed on busier roads with cones to help where pavements are narrow, or putting up signs to inform drivers that pedestrians and cyclists have priority. Other cities from New York, Chicago, and Berlin have already done this, and it would mean that the few cars still using the road would have to slow down for pedestrians in them, not the other way around.

On the 23rd of March 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that all UK residents must stay at home on a lockdown to protect the NHS amid the growing threat of coronavirus. No doubt this move can last six months or longer that has effected every individual within the UK financially. In this critical time of pandemic individuals and businesses have to continue paying for their vehicle insurance even though they are restricted to drive unless it’s essential. It is unfair that over 33 million policyholders have to pay insurance on vehicles that they cannot drive due to the lockdown. I urge the UK government to step in and support its citizens during this global crisis.

This is important because we are currently in an unprecedented time. Due to Covid-19 people are struggling with money, people are unsure if their jobs or businesses are safe. We don’t need the added stress of paying for a full change of uniform and PE kit when the current ones have hardly been worn.

As the coronavirus crisis continues and many of us are losing our jobs, more people than ever will be applying for housing benefits to help us get through. But unless the government increases the amount of rent it covers, thousands of people still won’t be able to afford their rent. That’s because right now housing benefits only cover the cost of the cheapest 30% of rent prices, and it can leave people hundreds of pounds short on their rent. With so many people suddenly relying on housing benefits to pay rent, and with no option to move to a cheaper flat, we’re calling on the government to increase the Local Housing Allowance to cover at least the average cost of renting and remove any caps stopping people getting the full amount. Will you sign the petition now, and help make sure that those impacted by the coronavirus crisis have the support they need.

Hundreds of thousands of people - who have lost their jobs or had their hours reduced due to Coronavirus - are now being forced to claim Universal Credit in order to feed their families and keep a roof over their head. But instead of being able to get the help they need immediately, they are forced to wait for 5 weeks before they can get any money, or take out a loan called an “advanced payment” to tide them over. It means families will have to choose between going into debt and having smaller benefits payments in the coming months, or waiting over a month for money they need to pay for food, bills and rent. It doesn’t have to be like this. In this time of national crisis, the government could choose to end the 5 week wait by making the “advance payment” for Universal Credit a grant not a loan. This would mean families get the money they need straight away, and their full universal credit payment in the following months. MPs and experts are calling on them to do exactly this. Huge public pressure could be enough to push them to do the right thing. Will you sign the petition so that people get the money they need, when they need it, without being pushed into debt?

Care Workers are the lowest paid in society but are one of the most important workers - caring for the most vulnerable. They are front-line workers and therefore are one of the most at risk workers during this Corona Virus pandemic. We cannot allow poverty pay to put citizens at risk! Respect the work that they do and ensure their well-being.

The recent impacts of Covid-19 have been particularly hard-hitting on University students during their Higher Education. Many students have been unable to continue with their work at the same standard they were able to prior to this disruption to their education, due to the immediate health concerns they and those close around them now face. Staffordshire University has given students a blanket extension of 10 days on all of their current assessments, however what other University's have also started to implement is a 'No detriments' policy for students. This means that as long as students submit and pass all of their remaining assessments, they will receive no less than the average grade they had achieved in this academic year assessments up to this point. However, if students pass their exams with a higher grade than their average, this is the grade they will receive for the academic year. So their grade can be higher than what they've already achieved, but not lower. Essentially, it's a safety net for students. Sign this petition to encourage Staffordshire University to implement this policy to help support students during this uncertain and extremely stressful period. Thank you.

Randox received £23 million in public funds through Invest NI in 2018, and benefited from a research partnership with our two universities QUB and UU. Now they are selling at an extortionate price (£120 per test) at a time when people are worried about food and job security and how they'll keep a roof over their heads. Meanwhile our NHS is struggling as they don't have enough tests so that key healthcare professionals can continue to do their vital work on the frontline of the fight against this global pandemic. Demand that Randox releases the Covid-19 tests free of charge to the NHS and stops profiteering from this crisis.

We the undersigned request a response to the issues detailed below. At present we have received information (very slowly) regarding our current TMA, allowing extensions whilst simultaneously being told no extensions to the EMA as it would present difficulties to the exam board. Whilst we appreciate that these are unprecedented times and acknowledge the efforts of the OU thus far, we do not believe it fair for the largest part of our module to be affected, with the only options to defer the module for another year or to hand in substandard work due to circumstances out of our control. We request for those who need it a deferral of the EMA (or a significantly longer time period for completion) or a cancellation of the EMA instead using TMA averages to determine our end of module result. The use of said course marks is in line with what universities and schools (for example GCSE and A results having been determined by the course marks). By extending TMA allowance, without provision for the EMA, you are failing to recognise multiple extraneous variables that will impede the ability to produce an accurate representation of what can be produced, thus resulting in making everyone rush or defer. There are various circumstances, beyond our control, that would severely impact our ability to produce an EMA due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the people who are at the open university chose to use this form of university over other universities due to its online nature, since many have children to support and therefore work. The fact that many people on the course work has led to them having to fulfil the duties given to key workers of extra, longer hours, giving them less time available to delegate towards university and thus an EMA. Some students who are also public sector workers have been seconded by furlough to voluntary work, meaning even less time is able to be found to write an EMA. The mental and physical health of students is also in question due to the EMA still going forward. A pandemic of this magnitude has not been witnessed in our lifetime and is quite rightfully terrifying the nation, especially those at high risk. The proportion of high-risk people at the OU is greater than at most universities; if these people happen to catch the virus, they are at high risk of being unable to breathe, move or even think to the capacity needed to write an EMA. The severity of the virus has also led schools, nurseries and playgroups to shut down, thus causing all children to be at home all day with their parents. This kind of distraction cannot be helped and although children can temporarily be occupied, they do not understand the importance nor value of the work that is being done by us students in order to try and complete such a time-consuming and mentally draining task of writing an EMA. Having to juggle looking after children and writing the EMA is something that is very difficult – the number of hours needed to delegate to both likely surpass those in a day, leading to mental and physical exhaustion. In some non-UK countries, the measures for lockdown are causing particular distress. Alongside the mental and physical exhaustion comes frustration due to a lack of facilities to study, broadband issues, open university site issues and the lack of availability of a computer in a household (many only have one computer that has to be shared amongst the household between workers and students). A lack of resources, space and time means that an EMA cannot be provided of exemplary standard, to the best of every student’s ability, leading to an inaccurate representation of the skill set of each student. The course material done up to now therefore provides a much more well-rounded, accurate representation due to the many extraneous variables listed above having been absent or not as amplified as in current circumstances. The lack of face to face support available, given tutorials have been cancelled, also leads to this inaccurate representation, as well as the difficulty getting in touch with the open university. It takes 5 days for the university to respond to a singular email, with no telephone help available, severely impacting time management and ability to work. We hope that given the many factors listed above for why deferring or cancelling the EMA would be beneficial to both the university and the students you follow suit of the other universities and cancel or defer the EMA at no additional cost to students.

Dominic Raab In these troubled times we need to be at home for the sake of our families and their peace of mind .