Local Democracy Reporting Service

Medical students in Norwich have been providing free childcare to NHS medics who are busy trying to tackle the spread of coronavirus.

Image source, PA

Trainee doctors, nurses and therapists at the University of East Anglia (UEA) have had their courses put on hold due to the national lockdown.

They have offered free childcare for key workers, external so staff can continue working despite school and nursery closures.

The group Helping Hands East Anglia is part of a national movement to bring together medical students and families of healthcare workers.

Volunteers have been given exemptions from the lockdown.

Student Tanya Ta said: "We’re just trying to help those who are providing so much help for others in the most effective way we can."

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

A town in Norfolk has set up a "kindness help hub" to support local residents in need.

The project in Harleston is being supported by the local church and town and South Norfolk councillors.

The team of volunteers is prepared to help vulnerable and elderly people with shopping, prescriptions, friendly contact groups, phone calls and dog walks.

The group has also set up a dry food store and will distribute supplies to those most in need.

A woman is due to appear in court accused of repeatedly ignoring officers' requests to return home under new police powers brought in over the coronavirus crisis.

The woman, in her 40s, will be the first person in the county to be prosecuted since the policing measures were brought in on Thursday.

The force said a woman was asked to return home three times in Great Yarmouth on Monday, and will now be summonsed to attend magistrates' court.

Police have been given powers to fine people who are outside without "reasonable excuse" as part of the government's Covid-19 containment strategy.

Chief Constable Simon Bailey said: "Our communities are looking out for each other and listening to the government's message to stay at home, and I thank them for that."

Meanwhile, he also warned that anyone deliberately spitting or coughing on others would be dealt with "robustly".

The pet bird, called Oreo, flew out of a house in Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk, on Friday.

Christiane Hewiston, 72, says it is "amazing" to see her husband wearing his ring again.

Joe Skipper said with only one exercise outing a day allowed, he "better make it count".

A Norfolk and Suffolk college has donated thousands of items of personal protection equipment to its local hospital and police.

East Coast College, which is based in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft, dropped off masks, disposable aprons and gloves to the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston and Norfolk Police.

It said the items would have been used by students on a variety of courses.

"We will continue to support our local community during these unprecedented times," it tweeted.

Image source, Google

A stall which was used by volunteer groups handing out food to homeless people has been removed.

Norwich City Council said it had taken down the covered stall on the Haymarket opposite Primark, following advice on social distancing during the Coronavirus outbreak.

"We’re not planning to bring our stall back," it added.

"The expert medical guidance on social distancing has highlighted the importance of best practice around food provision for the most vulnerable.

"This is about making sure we get food to people safely, rather than bringing people to food, and we are working positively with a number of groups involved in providing food in this way."

It said it was working with organisations to engage with rough sleepers, secure temporary accommodation and deliver food to people directly.

Some volunteer groups criticised the decision on social media, as reported in the Eastern Daily Press, external.

Image source, The People's Picnic

Here's how the newspapers are reporting the coronavirus pandemic...

• The Norwich Evening News reports, external that OPEN, a Norwich charity supporting thousands of vulnerable young people, is fighting for survival after losing funding
• One of Norfolk’s oldest auction houses has cancelled auctions for the first time in more than 150 years, according to the Eastern Daily Press, external
• While the Great Yarmouth Mercury, external reports that a family has offered a four-pack of toilet roll as a reward for find their missing cockatiel

Image source, Residents' photos

A "thoughtful" garden centre worker has been thanked by his neighbours for leaving flowers on their doorstep.

David Barton, who works at Sprowston Garden Centre near Norwich, saved pot plants from going to waste while the business was closed during lockdown.

Last week, he put them outside front doors on his cul-de-sac in Sprowston, and was thanked on a community Facebook page.

"I can’t thank [in person] the lovely man who just delivered this beautiful flower to my door," said one neighbour.

"Such a kind gesture in these tough times."

"It has certainly put a smile on my face," said another.

Mr Barton said: "With the situation at the moment there would not have been adequate staff to care for the houseplants.

"We decided to distribute to the local community so people could enjoy them while they were looking their best and spread some happiness in this uncertain time."

Pete Cooper
BBC News

It is hoped a couple from south Norfolk will be able to get refuge in the US after four people died of suspected coronavirus on their cruise ship.

David and Heather Haycox from Brooke were transferred from the contaminated vessel Zaandam close to Panama over the weekend.

It is hoped their new liner will be allowed to dock in America, after numerous countries turned away their original cruise ship.

Image source, Reuters

The couple's daughter, Sami Haycox, said: "The next big thing is to be lobbying America to let the boat dock so they can come home from there but we don't know if that will happen."

Norwich City manager Daniel Farke has posted a message on Twitter to Canaries fans.

In he says "the sun will shine again" and asks supports to "look after each other and stay healthy".

James Paget University Hospital has announced that a patient with coronvirus died on Sunday.

It said the man, in his 80s, had underlying health conditions.

His family had been informed, said a spokesman for the hospital, which is in Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk.

Normally thousands of people all ages are playing football matches at the weekend.

Covid-19 has put a stop to that, so how do you keep the young footballers’ team spirit alive?

Norfolk youth side Stoke United FC came up with the idea of a video, featuring a Stormzy soundtrack, to keep the team practising.

Chairman and coach Rob Ward said: "We wanted to do something for their well-being, to make sure they’re still connected, and they were still playing the game which they obviously miss.

"Whilst it’s not the same, we thought it was probably the next best thing."

Stoke United FC, based in Stoke Holy Cross near Norwich, is an under-eleven side in the Norfolk Combined Youth Football League, external.

Julian of Norwich, who spent her life isolated in prayer, is more relevant than ever, a historian says.

Adam Williams
BBC England

Image source, Brad Damms

A photographer is sharing his images on social media in a bid to help those self-isolating "see the beauty of the countryside".

Brad Damms, from Norfolk, has been posting, external landscape and wildlife images daily.

He says he hopes that, for people who can't leave the house, his photos will "lift spirits and take their mind off our current situation".

See a selection of his images here.

What plants and animals can we expect to see at the moment? And how can we help everything flourish?

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A Norwich charity supporting thousands of vulnerable young people is fighting for survival after losing funding due to the spread of the coronavirus.

OPEN Norwich, external has postponed all events at its Bank Plain venue, meaning the organisation’s Youth Trust could lose its funding from next month.

Image source, Google

Chief executive Laura Rycroft has warned OPEN could soon face the "difficult decision" to close the service for good.

Its lottery funding runs out at the end of April, and Mrs Rycroft said the timing "couldn’t be any worse".

The youth service costs OPEN about £25,000 a month to run and offers support to about 3,000 vulnerable young people a year.

Mrs Rycroft said although the government has offered support for business, charities risked falling through the cracks.

The Treasury has been approached for comment.