May 2020 Newsletter

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Nearly seven weeks after the initial lockdown measures were announced, the Prime Minister published 'Our Plan to Rebuild' and new guidance on restrictive measures looking ahead.

This included:

no limit on outdoor exercise
allowing people to meet up with one person from outside their household outdoors, while social distancing
allowing households to drive to outdoor open spaces
allowing workers who cannot work from home to travel to work if the workplace is open

From June 1st there will be the:

phased return for early years settings and schools - dependent on the school
reopening of outdoor markets and car showrooms
golfers are able to play in groups of up to four while following social distancing

From June 3rd:

some National Trust parks are set to reopen

From June 8th:

dental practices in England are allowed to reopen
those arriving in the UK will have to self-isolate for 14 days, with limited exceptions

From June 15th:

all other non-essential retail can reopen, including clothes stores, toy shops, book shops and indoor markets

Looking forward, from July 4th Step Three aims to open 'at least some of the remaining businesses and premises' including 'personal care' and 'leisure facilities.' However, this is of course contingent on the rate of reproduction (R) and new infections of Covid-19.

It is only because of the incredible restraint that the British public have shown that we are seeing new cases of Covid-19 decline, and restrictive measures lifted. I urge constituents to keep abiding by the Government guidance to ensure that we can begin to kick-start our economy and get on the road to 'normality.' Despite progress, we are far from out of the woods.

More information and guidance will continue to be released throughout the coming weeks; I recommend residents continue to keep an eye out for the daily Downing Street press conference.

'Our Plan To Rebuild'

Some restrictive social measures have also been eased:

groups of 6 are now able to meet outside - both in public and private outdoor spaces. This is you and 5 others from different households.
the 2.2 million who have been shielding are now also allowed to go outdoors with one person from a different household.

Guidance On Visiting Green Spaces

The NHS Test and Trace service has now launched to contain the spread of the virus and prevent a second wave.

If you are over the age of 5 and symptomatic, with either a persistent, new cough, high temperature or loss/change to sense of smell or taste, you can get tested. All ages will be able to access a test from June 1st.

Make sure you and your household isolate in line with guidelines.

If positive, you will be contacted via email, text or phone from a contact tracer who will ask for details of who you have had close, recent contact with and where you have been.

Those identified will then be contacted themselves with details about what to do next, including guidance on isolation and testing.

Book A Covid-19 Test

Find Out More About Test And Trace

In May we have seen numerous financial and business schemes open for applications, from the Bounce Back Loan to Future Fund and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. The furlough scheme (Coronavirus Job Rentention Scheme) and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme have been extende d, giving businesses and the self-employed the necessary assurance and support as the pandemic continues to impact workplaces. Important changes have been made to the newly extended furlough scheme; find the full details here.

If you or your business are suffering from the financial repercussions of Covid-19, please do not forget there are numerous avenues of assistance you can take either as an individual or employer.

Financial Support For Businesses

Support For Individuals

Ronald Cross

Despite the ongoing pandemic, we have had much to celebrate and commemorate.

The commemorations for VE Day 75 continued in a number of innovative ways. 75 years after Victory In Europe Day, there were socially-distanced street parties in streets and front gardens across the constituency. Lee VE Day held a virtual Facebook party; I myself, in association with the Gosport Society, posted a photo a day to highlight the vital role that our peninsula played in WWII. You can see the historical photos on my Facebook page here.

Our own local WWII veteran, hero Ron Cross, is turning 100 this June. Sadly, Ron won’t be able to mark this special day in the way his family had planned, so his granddaughter is asking local residents to send birthday cards to Ron to help him commemorate this milestone - and my office have stepped in to assist! You can find out more about Ron, and where to send his birthday card here.

May saw #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek - this year highlighting how #KindnessMatters. I ran a campaign to highlight how generous gestures and thoughtful actions have made a difference to local residents during this pandemic.

You can still submit someone for their #ActOfKindness, no matter how big or small. Find out more about the campaign here.

This month I was invited to visit the great team at Acts of Kindness, this brilliant charity have been providing community support across Fareham and Gosport for the past 6 years. Recently however, they have stepped up to a whole new level, helping local people face the challenges of Covid-19 by running a huge food-bank and prescription collection service with the most amazing support from local people. It was a delight to meet some of the brilliant volunteers at their Daedalus HQ, even if it was at a social distance!

I also had the chance to say a massive thanks to Lin Gell, the mastermind of Team Scrubbers - first of all we met online and then, last week I was invited to meet her and a handful of her extraordinary ‘Scrubbers’ in person. Lin has built a team of over 200 seamstresses from across our region, between them they have made and delivered over 4000 scrubs to health and care providers in the area. They have had wonderful support from the Gosportarians, North Sails and the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership - local bikers’ clubs have also stepped up to help with collections and deliveries!

You can support their fantastic work here.

After nearly two months of intensive meetings and discussions with the Gosport Ferry, the Department for Transport and Local Authority bosses, I was delighted that a financial package to assist the Gosport Ferry has been agreed. After I arranged a meeting with Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps MP, he took a personal interest in the situation. The ferry has now secured financial support of around £90,000 from Local Authorities in addition to £5 million of Government backed loans under the Covid-19 CBILS scheme. A big thanks to the Ferry team who have kept the boats growing and transporting key-workers across the Harbour throughout the Covid crisis, I was pleased to be able to do my bit to support them.

I have reached my own personal milestone this May, I have now had the honour to represent Gosport, Hill Head, Stubbington and Lee-on-the-Solent for a decade. The 10 years since the 2010 election seem to have passed in a flash, a huge thank you to all the residents who have been a part of my journey so far - I look forward to continuing to be a strong voice for our constituency in the challenges ahead.

As ever, if you are in need of any assistance, my team and I are here to help. Please do contact me at [email protected] with any queries or questions.

Best wishes,
Caroline x

Caroline Dinenage

167 Stoke Road

Gosport, Hampshire PO12 1SE

United Kingdom

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