Even as the world cautiously reopens, flights resume and lockdown measures begin to ease, there is a long way to go before people feel safe enough to travel again.

This is exactly why every major airline has not just ramped up cleaning protocols, but also adopted new measures onboard and across the airport, to adapt to the ’new normal’ of air travel.

So, what does this ‘new normal’ look like exactly?

Most airlines advertise their use of High Efficiency Particulate Air or HEPA filters, which eliminate approximately 99.9% of viral contaminants in recirculated air. Some have swapped cabin crew uniforms for PPEs; while others have introduced contactless check-in and boarding procedures. Passengers can expect adapted inflight food services, prolonged airport waiting times as well as the mandatory use of face masks from take-off until landing.

Still anxious about air travel? Here’s a list of all health, hygiene and safety measures that most major airlines have introduced to make sure we can all safely take to the skies once again.

Visit our live blog for the latest updates: Coronavirus news live

Air Canada

Air Canada is requiring all passengers to wear face masks during check-in, boarding and throughout the duration of their flight.

The airline is requiring passengers to bring their own face masks to ensure that the country’s crucial face mask supplies will be reserved for frontline workers – now that’s class.

Air France

In May, Air France introduced temperature check throughout its routes. The checks are carried out before departure using contactless infrared thermometers. Any passenger with a body temperature on or above 38 degrees may be denied boarding, but have the option to change their flights to a later date at no extra charge.

France’s national carrier has also made the wearing of face masks compulsory for both passengers and cabin crew. It will separate passengers, when possible, to adhere to physical distancing guidelines onboard.

American Airlines

American Airlines has introduced flexible re-seating policies, minimised inflight food and beverage services, suspended checked pet services, and temporarily closed all its Admiral Club Lounges in response to COVID-19.

The airline has said that it will not assign 50% of the main cabin seats (particularly those near flight attendants and jump seats) and will only fill middle seats when necessary. Seat changes will be implemented by gate agents to maximise physical distancing onboard low-load flights.

British Airways

British Airways has made the wearing of masks compulsory for all passengers onboard and across the customer journey. British Airways has adapted its check-in and boarding procedures to minimise contact between passengers and staff. It has also installed sanitising stations throughout the airport.

From 16 June, British Airways will be providing passengers with ‘protection packs’ that include antibacterial wipes and hand sanitiser.

It has also adapted inflight food services, which means that children’s meals and special meals are no longer available. Passengers are discouraged from using the overhead lockers and from walking around the cabin or queuing for the toilet.

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines has introduced enhanced sanitation measures across its aircrafts, check-in counters and boarding gate areas. It has installed hand sanitiser dispensers across all high-traffic zones and Delta Sky Clubs; and included hand cleansers and anti-bacterial towelettes in every inflight amenity kit. All customer-facing employees have been equipped with PPE and hand sanitiser.

Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific has made the wearing of face masks compulsory onboard. The Hong Kong-based airline is encouraging passengers to wear face masks in high-traffic areas in the airport such as security checkpoints and baggage zones.

EasyJet

EasyJet is resuming operations across 310 flights this week and has introduced several new safety measures to ensure the wellbeing of both passengers and crew. These include daily aircraft disinfection and the compulsory wearing of face masks onboard. It has introduced automated bag drop facilities and contactless check-in in select airports.

The budget airline has also teamed up with Irish Artist Will Sliney (known for his work in the Spiderman and Star Wars franchises) to provide comic-book inspired face masks for children flying on EasyJet this summer.

Etihad 

Etihad Airways has introduced multi-lingual ‘Wellness Ambassadors’ to help keep passengers informed on how the COVID-19 crisis will affect their journey.

The Wellness Ambassadors will update passengers the airline’s enhanced safety measures and guide them through safety precautions before, during and after travel. The programme also comes with a live chat feature.

JetBlue

To promote social distancing onboard, New York-based airline JetBlue will be blocking all middle seats until at least 6 July. The measure is part of the airline’s Safety from the Ground Up campaign, which includes touchless check-in and boarding, temperature monitoring and electrostatic aircraft disinfection.

KLM

KLM has made the wearing of surgical face masks compulsory onboard all its flights from 11 May to 31 August. Children under the age of ten are exempt from wearing face masks.

Passengers who are flying in from ‘high-risk’ areas also need to fill out a health declaration to ensure that they are fit to fly.

Qantas

Qantas has rolled out its Fly Well programme, which illustrates the airline’s comprehensive health and hygiene practices. The pre-flight measures include contactless check-in, hand sanitation stations, and regular disinfection across multiple touchpoints in the airport.

Customers will be provided with face masks on each flight, although are not strictly required to wear them onboard. They will be provided with sanitising wipes and be asked to ‘limit movement around the cabin’ once seated.

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways has ramped up cleaning protocols followingAir Transport Association (IATA) and World Health Organisation (WHO) approved sanitation guidelines.

The airline is sanitising all headsets and ear foams, washing all onboard linens and sanitising all major passenger touchpoints regularly. Cabin crew have been equipped with full PPE, which they will wear over their uniforms.

Qatar Airways has also deployed automated disinfection robots in Hamad International Airport which emit concentrated UV-C lights that eliminate viral contaminants and microorganisms. Similar sanitation robots have been introduced in Singapore Changi Airport and Pittsburgh International Airport.

Another major issue that deters passengers form returning to the skies is the uncertainty surrounding global travel restrictions and quarantine measures.

To help ease the minds anxious travellers, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched a free interactive map detailing each county’s travel restrictions. It is updated more than 200 times a day.

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A time-warp teenager has splashed out £10,000 trying to live like he’s in the 1940s.

Charlie Roy, 19, from Milton Keynes, says his obsession with the 40s began when he was six.

The fascination started after listening to stories his great-grandma told him about working in a powdered egg factory during the second world war.

As Charlie grew up, his interest in the era snowballed and he has now accumulated over £6,500 worth of memorabilia from the 30s, 40s, and 50s.

He has also spent a further £3,500 on tweed jackets, Oxford bag trousers, and military uniform so that he can dress like his WWII veteran great-grandfather, Ron.

Despite amassing enough memorabilia to fill a small museum, the teenager has no plans to slow down his collecting anytime soon.

The next purchase in Charlie’s sights is a classic Austin 7, which he dreams of learning to drive in.

Charlie said: ‘I’ve been into all things vintage since I was six years old.

‘My great nan Peggy used to work in a powdered egg factory in the 40s and my other great-grandma Helen worked at the Handley Page Factory in Cricklewood, building Halifax Bombers during the height of the war.

‘I was captivated by their stories from a young age.

‘The world they described seemed like a completely different world to the one I had been born into.

‘Style was so much better back then and everything was far more elegant.’

Over the years Charlie has collected hundreds of vintage items, including a bike, typewriters, gramophones, projectors, and RAF memorabilia – either buying them himself or being handed them down by family and friends.

His most valuable hand-me-down is a £500 gold pocket watch which was sent back to his family from the trenches after his great, great granddad died in the First World War.

Charlie used to get his suit jackets and Oxford bags trousers handmade by taking photos of people from the 40s into his local tailors and asking them to replicate their clothes but has recently taken to sewing his own clothes.

‘I never met my great-granddad, but I feel a connection with him through dressing as he would have,’ said Charlie.

‘It’s not so much the military aspect that interests me. I’m not bothered about how much horsepower the Spitfire has.

‘What interests me is how social conduct has changed between then and now.’

Charlie, who returned from living in Dubai for ten years last June, has plunged himself into the UK’s thriving vintage scene – winning runner up for Mr. Vintage UK at a festival in Twinwood.

Charlie added: ‘I got quite heavily bullied when I was younger, but when we moved to Dubai in 2010 that changed.

‘There are so many different nationalities there and people are more accepting of people who’re a little bit different.

‘You can get away with it more than having to dress in your tuxedo every time you pop out for a meal.’

Do you have a story?

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There are plenty of places to pop a cucumber; sliced in a jug of Pimm’s, in your water bottle to jazz up that post-workout H2O, on top of a delicious summer salad.

But not, apparently, in the fridge.

A segment on ITV’s This Morning last week showed Alice Beer talking about where best to keep different fruits and vegetables, and the public were shocked to learn that the phallic vegetable actually isn’t a vegetable at all according to the European Food Information Council – and belongs in the fruit bowl.

If you’ve noticed that your cucumbers don’t last long after you buy them, it’s not necessarily because you bought it from a bad batch.

It may instead be that you’ve kept it in the salad drawer, where the heat and moisture can make them more watery and decay faster.

According to the UC Davis’ College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, cucumbers can suffer from ‘cold injuries’ if they’re stored in at lower than 10C.

If they stay in the fridge for too long (generally any longer than three days) you may start to see pitting on the outside, and they may lose their crunch and flavour, going somewhat soggy.

So, to make your veg haul last longer, put your cucumbers somewhere at room temperature like the fruit bowl or cupboard.

Try to keep them away from ethylene-producing fruit and veg, though, such as bananas, tomatoes, and melons. Otherwise, they can transfer the gas to your cuke and make them spoil faster.

So many rules for one simple food item.

When it comes to sliced cucumbers – let’s be honest it’d be rare to eat a whole one at once – keep them in an airtight container and consume within 48 hours.

Unfortunately there’s no real magic trick to make them last any longer without going rotten, but they can go in the fridge if they’re already sliced to keep them cold before you eat.

Just try your best to buy only what you need and avoid food waste.

Do you have any great hints and tips you’d like to share?

Get in touch with us at MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk.

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The past few months have been a wild ride, and just to top it off, the government is now reportedly planning to scrap the reform of the Gender Recognition Act. 

The reform sought to change a lengthy, bureaucratic and expensive process where you required a medical diagnosis to change the gender listed on your birth certificate. In its place would be a statutory declaration, based on ‘self-identification’.

Currently, people have to ‘prove’ their gender by handing in a series of documents, including the aforementioned medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria, which will then be reviewed by a panel who has never met the person applying. They then decide whether or not this person can change their birth certificate. 

The reform would have allowed trans people to take the step of changing their ID at the start of their transition to reflect who they are.

When I first came out, I was unable to do this and had to constantly out myself to complete strangers when using my ID, even if it had nothing whatsoever to do with me being trans. It was incredibly stressful and anxiety-inducing, and would’ve been easy to avoid with a simpler process.

Yet, despite the Government’s own public consultation showing that about 70 per cent of 100,000 people are in favour of the reform, according to The Sunday Times, it still plans to scrap it. No further explanations or excuses have been given for the decision as yet.

For a country that values its democracy, this is a huge and shocking cause for concern.

If a public consultation of this size is ignored, it means that the government can do the same for any others like it. Regardless of what people think of this particular issue, it should be alarming to anyone who values responsible decision-making from its leaders.

Countries like Iceland, Malta, Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Argentina and Ireland all already have similar laws in place, and have for some time – which has been hugely beneficial for transgender people.

To add insult to injury, the British government is also planning to reaffirm provisions for the Equality Act by putting in place ‘safeguards’ to protect single-sex spaces for women. 

While this might appear as a reasonable claim, the purpose behind it is to ultimately exclude transgender people from single-sex spaces like bathrooms and locker rooms, and services they require access to, such as refuges and homeless shelters.

As a trans person living in the UK, this is really upsetting and worrying – not only for me, but also other transgender people, their families and friends.

We’ve been using single-sex spaces and services for decades already without any trouble. The thought of me being forced to use a men’s bathroom or locker room would be wholly unsafe, as I’d be prone to abuse, harassment and ridicule. The very thought of having to do this is enough to make me avoid public spaces altogether.

The fact that access to these spaces might be put into question over a fear that transgender women threaten other women’s safety is ironic, as not only is that idea based on misconception and prejudice, but it is trans people who will suffer the most by bathroom restrictions. 

Transgender women in particular fear and suffer from male violence, and do so disproportionally – on top of the discrimination and violence that they experience in their everyday lives simply for being transgender.

A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to be able to seek out services in a women’s refuge as a survivor of sexual assault. The fact that I was transgender never became a problem, nor should it have. 

The support I got there was absolutely life-saving, and the thought that I, or other survivors of abuse, might be turned away, should we need help, is devastating. 

With this move, the UK will be joining both Hungary and the US, which have both stripped back or put in place laws during this global pandemic that have a negative impact on the legal status and wellbeing of transgender people

Women’s refuges do such important work, and to exclude those who desperately need the service would go directly against those aims. Claims that trans women might make someone feel unsafe in these spaces seems ill-founded and, in my experience, having worked in that sector for several years, has never been a problem.

These concerns are on par with people who are worried about women in same-sex relationships using these services, as their abusive partners might try to enter the space. 

Exclusion of lesbians and bisexual women would never be the answer. Instead, refuges and services put into place safety measures and provisions. No one simply enters these spaces without communicating with someone who works there, and people running these services always ensure that people entering are not a risk to others.

Fortunately, service providers across the UK understand this. They have been inclusive of transgender people for a long time, and most major organisations within the Women’s Aid movement have said that the Gender Recognition Reform or transgender people’s right to seek services based on their gender identity is no cause for concern for them. 

With this move, the UK will be joining both Hungary and the US, which have both stripped back or put in place laws during this global pandemic that have a negative impact on the legal status and wellbeing of transgender people.

It goes directly against Britain’s values of wanting to create an open, fair and equal society. As someone who comes from Iceland, which has often been hailed for its progress in terms of gender equality and LGBT rights, it astounds me. 

For the past four years, I have witnessed a bitter culture war play out in the UK media and online, where transgender people are demonised and compared to perverts, sexual offenders and said to be mentally ill. The parallels to Section 28 – a law that until 2003 banned any mention or education of LGBT issues in schools due to fear of ‘influence’ – are quite apparent, when you look for it.

In Iceland, discussions about transgender rights have been entirely different.

Unlike the UK, conversations aren’t divisive and toxic, and transgender men and non-binary people, who are so rarely forgotten about, are included in these chats.

While there have certainly been challenging conversations had about transgender rights in Iceland, major human rights associations and feminist organisations supported the recent law change in the country. It introduced a simple process to change your name and gender, similar to what the GRA reform aimed to do, along with provisions about access to healthcare.

What has happened in the UK in terms of debates about transgender rights, and in England in particular, is a toxic cultural phenomenon. It goes directly against values of human rights, dignity and respect for diversity. 

But it doesn’t have to be like this.

Transgender people, like everyone else, are incredibly invested in keeping single-sex spaces safe for everyone. Transgender rights and women’s rights have always been intertwined; both fight for a society where people are not reduced down to their bodies.

In fact, both are reliant on the other.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk

Share your views in the comments below.

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The last few weeks have seen thousands take to the streets in protest.

Since the death of another unarmed Black man at the hands of police in America, protesters have marched to proclaim their outrage, to fight for justice, and to stand together against inequality and police brutality.

Here in the UK, the Black Lives Matter protests have been widespread and persistent, with activists braving the risks of a pandemic to come out and make their voices heard.

Photographer Brunel Johnson has captured the energy and passion of London’s protesters with a stunning photo series – accompanied with powerful messages from the people he snapped.

‘The protest was a mixture of emotions, one of outcry and anger towards the brutal murdering of George Floyd, the injustices of Belly Mujinga, and the overzealous policing of Black males in the UK,’ Says Brunel.

‘The other of relief that finally their voices were being heard.

‘BLM marches were a way for black people in Britain to say, “Hey! We’re here and playing key roles in society, so it’s about time you recognised us.”’ 

Estelle

‘I protest to represent and raise awareness about Black women and the Black LGBTQ+ community who are easily targeted, rarely acknowledged and respected in our society.

‘The invisible ones are claiming their power back.

‘The Black Lives Matter movement is the only opportunity for us to claim our rights to be seen, valued and heard with the intention to finally obtain equity for us to succeed.’

Joe

‘We are going to keep on struggling until we see brighter days, we are going to keep on struggling until we win your love.

‘The protests were peaceful until the police came with horses unprovoked. Why would anybody bring horses, an animal that spook easily, into a crowd of thousands of people, peaceful or not, that is just a foolish thing to do.’

Jae

‘I’m sick of just talking about the daily injustices Black people have to endure.

‘I wanted to take action and be a part of the change I want to see.’

Tazira

‘I’m tired of constantly having to say RIP to so many innocent people.

‘We will not rest in peace because we want to live, be heard, and be seen as humans.’

Anonymous

‘I was at the protests because I felt it was necessary and one of the many things I could do to be a part of change, this was just the bare minimum for me.

‘I also went because I felt it was an important thing for me to document.

‘Being at the protests gave me a lot of hope that we (Black people) can actually come together, we’re stronger together than we are alone.

‘It meant a lot to me because I felt that for first time, our voices where finally being heard and hopefully listened to in this country.’

Nan

‘I was at the protest because of I’m sick of my brothers and sisters losing their lives at the hands of police.

‘Being at the protest meant I could show my anger, frustration and grief through peaceful protest and support my community obtain justice.’

Wayne

‘I was there for the next generation. Racism is still very much alive and every generation has a part to play in making change.

‘Being at the protest was a chance to stand be heard with my brothers sisters and allies.’

Dan

‘Being a new father, I cannot and will not let my son have to put up with what we’ve had to put up with over the years.

‘So, right now we have to do any means necessary to ensure a bright future for our next generation?’

Brunel

‘Although “I can’t breathe” was one of the last words said by George Floyd, it represents the decades, if not centuries of internalisation of oppression Black people have had to face.’

Morgan

‘I was at the protests because as a young Black woman, I feel that it’s important for me to put myself forward and stand up for my human rights.

‘We cannot afford to sit back any longer. It’s 2020, yet as Black people we are still not treated as equals. So I believe that it’s essential to take action.

‘The more people that unite against the oppression that people of colour have been facing, the more we can push towards positive change. It’s power in numbers.

‘It meant a lot to me protesting peacefully alongside many people from different backgrounds who understand the urgency of the situation, and coming together to join the fight for justice and equality.

‘If we really treat this as the emergency it is, we could be on the road to revolution.’

Do you have a story to share? We want to hear from you.

Get in touch: metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk.

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Lockdown has presented the perfect opportunity for people to finally get round to home improvement projects.

We’ve seen some incredible transformations, too – from the woman who revamped her dull balcony into a vibrant outdoor space to the mum who painted a moon and forest mural on her son’s wall.

But, after completing a successful DIY project, there’s nothing more soul-destroying than seeing paint on places it shouldn’t be – particularly carpet and furniture.

However, a woman on Instagram has shared a hack for getting pesky paint stains out of fabric – and it involves an unlikely household item.

Mrs D, of Instagram account @mrs.ds.cleaning.reviews, has revealed that a bottle of hand sanitiser will do the job perfectly.

In her post, she says: ‘The worst thing about painting your house is finding a few spots of paint on your carpet…or worse your clothes. Never fear all you need is hand sanitiser.’

Mrs D goes onto to explain that despite putting a sheet down while she was painting her front door, paint made it onto her hallway runner.

She says: ‘I knew exactly what to do…use hand sanitiser, but unfortunately I had to wait with hand sanitiser being in such high demand lately it was hard to get hold of.

‘But now that I finally have some I can reveal the perfect tip for removing paint.’

She continues: ‘Hand sanitiser liquid is by far the best, but gel does work exactly the same and the higher the alcohol the better.

‘Just spray the paint spots with hand sanitiser and gently massage in to the paint using a microfibre cloth…. voila the paint spots are gone.’

For those who are sceptical of the trick, Mrs D’s post features before and after shots of the hall runner.

Naturally, cleaning fans have been quick to respond to the simple-yet-effective technique.

One commented: ‘Game changer!!!’

While another said: ‘Oh wow definitely trying this, I have just decorated my daughter’s room and got some little spots on her carpet.’

Have you got a DIY story to share?

Get in touch at MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk

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Father’s day is this Sunday but if you haven’t prepared, don’t panic.

You can still order something online to be delivered this weekend (though you might need to spend more for express delivery in some cases).

With restrictions still in place, you might not be able to see your dad in person this year so ordering online means you can get something to him quickly and safely.

And if you’re not sure what to buy, food or drink treats are always a great idea.

We’ve put together a selection of food and drink gifts, from chocolate to pork crackling, to buy for your dad this year.

Fudge box from Stirrd – from £11.99

If dad has a bit of a sweet tooth, pick up this box of fudge from Stirrd. The Father’s Day special includes Rooster’s Brewing Co. beer fudge, roasted peanut brittle and gold shimmer salted caramel fudge.

It fits through the letterbox so although your dad is probably at home right now, you don’t have to worry about him hearing the doorbell.

The box costs £11.99 but if you are feeling generous, you can sign him up to a three or six month subscription and he’ll get different flavours to try every month.

Chocolate brownies – £19.95 plus shipping

Order some freshly made squishy chocolate brownies for your dad to enjoy. The Chocolate Dino Company will make up a box and ship it straight to your dad.

Sadly, the Magnificent Six box is sold out but you can still get the box that features three Salted Dino brownies and three of the Father’s Day special – Salted Biscoff Spread Blondie with white chocolate and Lotus Biscuits.

All boxes will be shipped on Thursday 18 June so get your orders in now.

Beer box from Beer Hawk – £20

If dad is missing a pint down the pub, get him this mixed box of craft beer from Beer Hawk.

It includes five beers, a glass and a snack for £20. You have until Thursday 18 June at 1pm to get your orders in for delivery before Sunday.

Whisky tasting set from Master of Malt – £19.95

This set five 30ml drams of delicious whisky. There’s an array of styles so hopefully your dad will find one he really loves.

Master of Malt suggests buying one for you and one for him to do a virtual whisky tasting online.

Letterbox chilli plant from Bloom and Wild – £29

If your dad is a keen gardener (or chilli fan), this plant is perfect. It comes in letterbox friendly packaging so is again perfect if you’re worried about it coming while he’s out for some exercise.

It comes a little and green to ripen at home and then just needs watering once a week and lots of natural light for it to keep producing chillis.

Cheese box from Pong – £39.95

A cheese box is a great gift for a dad who loves the smelly stuff.

This one from Pong includes a Taleggio DOP, a Cropwell Bishop Stilton, a Wookey Hole Cave Aged Cheddar, a Banon AOC and a selection of biscuits for cheese. That’s over a kilogram of cheesy goodness.

Cadbury chocolate hamper – £10

Treating dad but on a bit of a budget? This hamper includes a selection of Cadbury goodies for just £10.

You get Heroes, five standard size bars of chocolate and a bigger No 1. Dad Dairy Milk, enclosed in a Cadbury box with a No. 1 Dad sleeve.

Personalised retro sweets – £8.99

For dads who love a bit of nostalgia, this retro sweet hamper from Swizzels is perfect.

It includes a range of Rainbow Drops, Refershers, Drumsticks, Love Hearts and more, in a gift box with a personalised message.

Personalised brown sauce – £12.99

For brown sauce loving dads, get him his own personalised bottle.

It comes in a a gift box so it looks a little more special than the stuff you just lift off the shelf.

Getting Personal orders are dispatched within two working days so you might need to pay for express shipping with this one.

Coffee box – £19.99

Has your dad been working from home and making do with instant coffee?

This set features two bags of lovely ground coffee, a cafetiere to make it up in some chocolate chunk biscotti to enjoy on the side.

Express delivery is available to get it there on time.

Biscuit card – £10.95

Take your card a step further and make it edible. Biscuiteers offer these letterbox biscuits with a message to tell your dad how much you care.

You get six hand-iced vanilla biscuits in an illustrated gift box.

Wine box from M&S – £25

Get your dad a box with two bottles of wine to enjoy from M&S.

The supermarket offers a range of food and drink hampers for any occasion.

This one features a Bordeaux Merlot and Bordeux Sauvignon B Blanc.

Vegan friendly treats – £27.95

Another letterbox friendly gift, but this time for vegan dads. This hamper includes a cookie, nuts, vegan sweets, dark chocolate and cashew and date bites, all free from animal products.

It comes wrapped in brown paper, twine and with stamps to make it feel special.

Crackling gift box – £29.99

For dads who prefer savoury over sweet, this gift box features crackling in different forms.

You can choose what flavour of crackling he might want and pay to upgrade the packaging to a hamper tray or pine box.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch at metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk.

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Now more than ever, we’ve been going out of our way to show appreciation for the nation’s unsung heroes. 

From giant billboards to national fundraising, the great big grand gestures have united us all in saying a special thank you to the bin collectors, supermarket workers, cleaners and carers.

Even the smallest acts deserve a special shout out right now. After all, it’s these demonstrations of resilience and positivity that have kept our nation strong throughout the crisis.

That’s why Actimel has chosen to shine a light on our Everyday Heroes with a nationwide search for the champions that walk among us.

Whether it’s your mum, dad, friend, neighbour or co-worker, everyone knows someone who deserves to be celebrated for their commitment, kindness and bravery during these uncertain times.

Like Steph, from Gateshead, a fulltime Healthcare Assistant on a Covid-19 ward who was nominated to be an Everyday Hero by her friend Andrew who thinks she’s ‘the definition of compassion and heroism’.

In her spare time, Steph has been organising collections of toiletries and other nice things to help improve the quality of life for patients who aren’t allowed visitors during the outbreak.

After finding out she was one of Actimel’s Everyday Hero winners, Steph said: ‘I’m so happy to have been recognised for the work I have been doing during this difficult time and am so grateful for the nomination.’

And while Actimel’s competition may be over, you still have the chance to nominate the person who inspires you and celebrate them.

Every single person will be featured in the nationwide Everyday Hero Tracker, joining thousands already recognised for their resilience in these tough times.

It could be a local teacher who’s kept key worker children safe and occupied throughout the lockdown or a volunteer who’s joined in with the relief efforts just to help out.

Postal worker Clifford, from Middlesex, was nominated by his daughter Phoebe, who said: ‘He is my father, best friend and the local postman who’s been delivering through all of this madness, ensuring everyone’s parcels and letters arrive safely.

‘He’s friendly, reliable, amazing and I love him.’

In the north east of England, Andrew nominated ‘kind, caring and hardworking’ healthcare worker Cheryl, who has been looking after elderly and vulnerable residents in County Durham.

He says: ‘Cheryl keeps their spirits high when their families can’t visit them, risking her own health, but doing what she loves best. She’s an inspiration and I’m so proud of her.’

Celebrate your #everydayheroes by simply clicking here and in no more than 50 words tell us why they are your Everyday Hero**.

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Teachers in UK schools must commit to improving their ‘racial literacy’ to enable them to teach in a way that promotes anti-racism, according to a new report.

The research, carried out by Dr Remi Joseph-Salisbury and published by Runnymede, too a close look at the issues of race and racism in secondary schools, and found that the teaching workforce was an are that could be improved.

Not only do schools need more teachers from BAME backgrounds, all teachers also need to be thoroughly trained to improve their own understanding of racism, so that they can effectively teach the subject in classrooms.

‘Racial literacy and a commitment to anti-racism should be considered a key competency for entering the teaching profession,’ says Dr Remi.

‘This racial literacy should involve teachers understanding racism as structural and institutional, as well as interpersonal.

‘As part of this, white teachers should engage with concepts of white privilege, white power, white complicity and white supremacy, in order to reflect on their own racialised positions.’

Dr Remi explains that while it is important to get more Black people and people of colour into teaching, schools also need to make sure that all teachers are prepared to teach from an anti-racist perspective. 

The teaching workforce in the UK is still overwhelmingly white, but improving diversity is only the first step towards actually improving the ability of schools to communicate effectively about issues of race – according to the study.

‘By their own admission, many teachers are ill prepared to teach in ways that promote anti-racism, and this can include BME teachers,’ explains Dr Remi.

‘Racial literacy therefore needs to be placed at the centre of teachers’ role and teacher training. It is important that all teachers take responsibility for teaching in ways that promote anti-racism.’

Beyond the teaching workforce, the study also looked at the presence of police in schools, the need to tranfsorm the curriculum and the need for clearer anti-racism policies in schools.

Dr Remi argues that the presence of police in schools can be ‘detrimental to all students’, but the negative effects will be ‘felt most harshly by BME and working-class students – both of which groups are already over-policed.’

He adds that seemingly neutral school policies – like hair and uniform policies – should be reviewed from an anti-racist persepective to make sure Black and minority ethnic students are not disadvantaged.

He adds that school curricula often ‘fail to reflect the diversity of contemporary society’, and he says that the school curricula should have more ‘engagement with the colonial legacies – or racist underpinnings – of contemporary Britain.’

The report suggests that race and racism should be at the forefront of education in this country.

‘Teachers need to be willing and able to talk about race and racism, and to teach in ways that promote anti-racism,’ Dr Remi tells Metro.co.uk.

‘This needs to be reflected across all teacher training, with a commitment to anti-racism being a key part of a teacher’s role. 

‘The Black Lives Matter protests of recent weeks have shown that society need to do much more to confront the way racism shapes lives, schools and the teacher workforce can and should be central to this process.’

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Life confined to our rented gardenless flats has given many of us a new obsession with property porn in lockdown.

We’ve grown bored of our walls, fed up of the lack of a home office (is working on the sofa wrecking everyone else’s back and shoulders?), and we’re dreaming of finally being able to live somewhere new… even though that’s not an option for the majority.

And so there’s been a bump in the time Brits are spending lusting over properties for sale on Zoopla.

But which homes are we obsessing over? As you likely expect, it’s not the reasonably priced but teeny-tiny studio flats catching our fancy, but mega-mansions and posh features.

In amongst those homes on the list of the most viewed properties, though, are places priced at £300,000 or less, with affordability still a major attraction.

Zoopla took a look at the homes for sale that have received the most views since the markets reopened on 13 May – take a look below.

1. 10-bedroom property, Godalming, offers over £30million

A modern mansion at the head of a long drive across parkland, with views over the open countryside.

Inside are ten bedrooms, six reception rooms and wine cellars, a party room, a bowling alley, and a home cinema. Oh, and an indoor pool of course.

Outside you’ve got another swimming pool, a barbecue area, chef’s kitchen, and tennis courts.

2. Three-bedroom detached house, Salford, offers over £230,000

Three bedrooms, one bathroom, with a drive. A perfect family home up north.

3. Three-bedroom semi-detached house, Birmingham, £25,000

A semi-detached property with three bedrooms and one bathroom, up for sale by auction.

4. Four-bedroom semi-detached house, Hinckley, offers over £260,000

This home has had a recent two-storey extension, allowing for an extra bedroom, ensuite, and a large study – ideal for anyone still working from home.

5. Five-bedroom detached house, Huddersfield, £2.5million

A Grade II listed home that’s had a lovely renovation, right in the middle of loads of countryside.

As well as five bedrooms and four bathrooms, this property has its own lake and waterfalls.

6. Five-bedroom detached house, Chigwell, Essex

Five bedrooms, six bathrooms, weathered oak details and rosemary roof tiles – the dreamiest home.

Each bedroom has its own walk-in wardrobe and ensuite bathroom, so you could easily share this with a load of pals without driving each other mad.

There’s also a spa area with a swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, and steam room, plus an equestrian centre complete with an Olympic-sized riding area.

7. Four-bedroom detached house, Oldbury, £99,000

Londoners, don’t look at the price of this one unless you feel like crying.

8. Four-bedroom detached house, Chorley, £474, 995

A barn conversion in the heart of Euxton village, this has lovely oak wood features inside, along with a log burger, traditional stone walls, and a fireplace.

The ultimate cosy family pad.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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There’s a good chance that many in the UK will be looking for ways to spend their holiday days at home rather than abroad amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The uncertainty surrounding the future and the 14-day quarantine currently in place – meaning that anyone arriving to the UK must spend two weeks in isolation – have combined to make travelling to other countries seem a bit less appealing.

With that in mind, it’s little wonder that many people in the UK are thinking about how and when they might be able to take a trip on their home turf…

Can I go on holiday within the UK?

At the time of writing, no overnight stays outside of your household are allowed under current lockdown rules.

Visit our live blog for the latest updates: Coronavirus news live

Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston wrote on Twitter last month: ‘You and your household can head outdoors for your physical and mental wellbeing in England.

‘But be respectful to local people and communities. You must adopt social distancing at all times. Then return to your primary home – no overnight stays, including second homes and holiday homes.’

The only people who can stay the night outside their own homes are those in two-household support bubbles.

People who are part of a support bubble can spend time and/or the night at each other’s homes and don’t have to follow social distancing measures – as if they are one household.

To form a support bubble, at least one household of the two must be a single-person or single-parent household (with children under 18).

However, even those in support bubbles must stay at each other’s homes – stays somewhere other than each other’s households are not currently allowed.

Campsites and caravan parks are still closed in the UK along with a great many hotels, and it’s understood that they will be opening no sooner than July 4 – the same date as much of the rest of the hospitality sector according to the Government’s 50-page Covid-19 Recovery strategy document.

While many hotels and Airbnbs are currently taking non-essential bookings after 4 July, it’s important to note that this date may be subject to change depending on the coronavirus situation, with the move to reopen the sector depending on ‘detailed scientific evidence provided closer to the time on how far we can go.’

Even though they’re not taking bookings from the general public, hotel chains are staying open for key workers to make bookings, and Airbnb is allowing ‘only essential UK stays’.

For example, Travelodge has more than 50 of their hotels ‘currently open to support key workers including NHS staff and selected groups identified by the Government,’ while The Premier Inn has ‘selected hotels open exclusively to support critical and key workers.’

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Each and every time a writer publishes an article with the term ‘white privilege’ on Metro.co.uk, I know to expect the same comments.

‘How dare you suggest I have white privilege,’ it will typically say. ‘I’ve been discriminated against in so many ways. I’m Irish/gay/disabled/lower class/mentally ill.’

These comments – often nestled in among abuse towards my Black and Asian colleagues, which, for the record, is absolutely unacceptable – reveal a basic misunderstanding of what white privilege is.

And because the idea of white privilege is so contentious, so able to trigger defensiveness, those who don’t understand it won’t listen to the careful explanations from people of colour, instantly dismissing them as anti-white.

So I’m here, as a white person, to explain why white privilege is a thing that we must acknowledge we have, why it doesn’t mean that your life has been smooth sailing, and what white people should do once they’ve realised they are indeed a privileged person.

Is it ridiculous and depressing that I know this needs to come from a white person for the majority of people to listen? Yes. It’s endlessly maddening to see people I deeply respect being dismissed and ignored because of the colour of their skin. I’m tired of watching it happen – imagine how tired they are.

So, let’s break down what white privilege is.

Privilege is the way certain attributes and experiences benefit the way you move through the world. There are all sorts of types.

White privilege is the basic fact that being white allows you to more easily live in our current world. It means that you are less likely to be discriminated against because of your skin.

This can impact your life in all sorts of ways – BAME people are likely to earn less money than their white counterparts, so having white privilege could not only mean you’re more likely to make it through an interview process, you might then also earn more money.

If you’re a white woman, you’re more likely to survive child birth, while Black women are five times as likely as white women to die in labour.

Black children have the highest suicide rate. Simply being born white instead of Black could be the difference between living into adulthood.

A white person is more likely to get a right swipe on Tinder, to live after getting coronavirus, and to survive an interaction with the police.

White people don’t have to live their everyday lives with the weight of systemic or institutional racism – prejudice against their skin in covert ways in every part of society – and the immense emotional burden of facing racism in small and large ways in everyday life, from having to overcome racist stereotypes to dealing with the stress of microaggressions.

If you are white, you have white privilege.

But that doesn’t mean you are an immensely privileged person, that you have never faced any type of discrimination, and that your life has been plain sailing. You can have privilege and still have had a tough time. You might still struggle to get work, to earn money, to be happy and healthy – but it won’t be because you are white.

I’ll use myself as an example. I have a number of different types of privilege that have made it less challenging to get to where I currently am – living and working in London, in a happy longterm relationship, and existing without the constant burden of fearing for my life.

I’m not physically disabled, meaning the world at large is accessible to me. I’m cisgender, meaning I’ve never had to struggle to figure out my gender identity or had to face transphobic prejudice from other people. My parents both worked as teachers and raised me in North London, allowing me to have a comfortable childhood where I was looked after. I was able to get an education. My parents supported me financially by paying for the majority of my rent during university, allowing me to get a degree, which in turn helped me get a job. I am also white.

These are all ways in which I have privilege. But is my life totally stress-free? Nope.

I’m a woman, which means I can fall foul to all the sexism of our society. I’m bisexual, which brings judgement. I have depression and OCD, both of which have made it challenging to continue in education, find work, and push myself to my full potential (and just get out of bed and be a human person, on some days).

I don’t have massive familial wealth, so haven’t been able to take on unpaid opportunities that could have progressed my career, and buying a home in London is a pipedream, leaving me with the lingering stress of unstable living situations and desperately saving money while paying absurd rent prices.

All of that is difficult, absolutely, and I completely get the desire to go ‘hey, I’m not privileged, look at all this sh*t I’m dealing with’. But the fact of the matter is that all of these challenges can coexist with white privilege, and all the other types of privilege I mentioned. Every challenge I’ve faced has not had the added burden of racism, and that has made it easier in ways that I may never fully understand.

If you’re reading this, you probably have a very similar running list of challenges that have made your life difficult. But I’d urge you to make a list of the privileges you have, too – and to understand that these do not erase your difficulties, but must be acknowledged.

Understanding and accepting our privilege, especially white privilege, is hugely important because denying it – getting defensive and hurt – erases the racism people of colour have faced and continue to face.

We cannot tackle racism if we pretend it doesn’t exist, and if we shout about all the difficulties we’ve faced when discussions of white privilege come up, we’re denying the basic truth that being white means we do not face discrimination because of our race.

Again, that doesn’t erase or deny all the other struggles you’ve faced. Accepting that you have white privilege simply means agreeing that as a white person, you have never been held back because of racism.

Once you acknowledge that… then what?

The good news is that by simply accepting that yes, you have white privilege, and taking this not as an insult or a personal judgement but a simple fact, you’re on the right track. You are already doing so much better in the ‘decent person’ stakes than the guy in the comments section ranting and raving at someone for talking about racism.

The next step is using your knowledge of your white privilege for good.

Knowing that you are less likely to be a victim of police brutality, you can stand at the front of a protest. Being aware that you’re not going to receive racist abuse – at least not to the same level a Black person would – for speaking about race, you can share articles, encourage people to sign petitions and donate, and challenge people you know on their racist views.

You don’t have to believe that you got your job because you are white, but you can acknowledge that getting to the same position may have been harder if you were Black. And you can deal with that white privilege by pushing for diverse hiring choices, by standing up for your colleagues when they talk about race, and by analysing how your company’s hiring processes might be influenced by racism and privilege.

You can look at your own life under the lens of privilege and look at how another person might not have had those same benefits. You can acknowledge your own struggles while understanding that someone else’s may have involved racism, and that’s not something you’ve ever faced.

When the topic of privilege is raised, know that your difficulties are not being erased – they just might not be relevant to the exact conversation that’s being had, whether that’s about police brutality or racial discrimination in healthcare.

Question yourself and the society in which you live. Listen without judgement. Analyse how you have benefited from a racist system, but know that that doesn’t mean you’re a terrible person or undeserving of what you’ve achieved.

Accept that you have a privilege that non-white people do not, that you have lived life without the one specific burden of racism – and ask what you can do to lift that burden for those who have to carry it.

And please, drop the defensive reactions and knee-jerk response of ‘but my life is hard too!’. Prove me wrong when I say I can already predict the reams of comments that will trickle in below from people claiming they don’t have white privilege because they don’t earn much money or were bullied in school.

Instead, take a moment, pause, and understand that saying you have white privilege is just a simple statement, not an accusation.

Do you have a story that you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing claie.wilson@metro.co.uk

Share your views in the comments below.

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Earlier this month, Dishoom announced it had reopened for delivery only.

The move means people can (finally) get their hands on a number of the restaurant’s signature dishes, including the vada pau, chilli chicken, keema pau, biryanis, chicken ruby, mattar paneer and the house black daal.

But foodies have noticed the revised delivery menu is missing one standout dish – bacon naan.

The reason the popular item is absent from the reduced menu is due to the fact that the dish doesn’t travel well. 

Thankfully, Dishoom has come up with a brilliant way around the problem – by creating its own DIY bacon naan kits for people to make at home.

From tomorrow, Thursday 18 June, people will be able to order a £16 kit which contains ingredients for two bacon naans.

Each pack will feature smoked streaky bacon from Ramsay of Carluke, three naan dough balls (with an additional one thrown in for ‘experimentation’), Dishoom’s tomato-chilli jam, fresh coriander and cream cheese. 

There will also be some loose-leaf Darjeeling tea and chai spices for a cup of Masala Chai to go with it.

A handy instruction manual will be provided in the kit – but there’s also a video for first-time chefs on YouTube.

The DIY kits will be available to those who live near the King’s Cross, Kensington and Shoreditch restaurants. Orders can be made via the Dishoom website and a limited number will be released for same-day delivery at 3pm.

Those looking for more culinary treats can attend the The Great Feast of London on the first weekend of July – a virtual festival which will see some of capital’s top restaurants deliver food to homes, parks and gardens.

Patty & Bun, Dumpling Shack, Kricket and Eggslut are just a few names on the festival line-up.

Do you have a food story to share?

Get in touch at MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk.

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In November 1995, model and Ph.D. student Claire Freeman from New Zealand was in the car with her mum Barbara and sister Beth.

During the two-hour drive, Barbara, now 70, fell asleep at the wheel.

Disastrously, the car veered off the road and rolled down a cliff crashing it on impact.

Claire sustained a severe spinal cord injury at the C5/6 level, which is the type of injury that can result in loss of sensation or function of everything in the body.

Claire was flown to Auckland Base Hospital by helicopter where she was placed in an induced coma for two weeks.

She had to spend a year in and out of hospital and was given less than a 10% chance of survival.

Despite doubts, she made it through the three surgeries and subsequently became quadriplegic, paralysed from the neck down.

Since then, Claire has been using a wheelchair and taken up a modelling job.

In February 2018, she was approached by an Italian modelling agency Iulia Barton and has since been on the catwalk in Milan for Fashion Week.

Though she is now thriving, growing up with a disability has been difficult and she has experienced PTSD from the accident.

The trauma she felt caused her to attempt suicide four times within a five-year period.

While she recovered, Claire also started her design degree in Wellington and became reluctant to move back to her hometown of Whangarei.

She said: ‘I never returned home to the far north after the accident, I was too humiliated and didn’t want anyone to see me using a wheelchair.

‘I felt like a total freak; I didn’t know anyone who was disabled, and I hated the fact I couldn’t walk. I despised my new broken body and would wear black baggy clothes and hide when I could.

‘Growing up after the accident was extremely difficult. The university campus was totally inaccessible, and I spent the first three years not talking to a single student due to being extremely shy, depressed, and embarrassed about having to use a wheelchair.’

In the years since the accident, Claire had to have other surgeries including one to connect her bladder to an external bag.

But after they used the wrong tubing, Claire went into a coma.

Claire spent years feeling insecure about her disability and would hide away, until one day she decided to put herself out there by setting up an Instagram account.

She said: ‘I connected online using Instagram, where I amassed a fairly substantial following. I connected with others with the same injury and for the first time, felt happy and had a sense of purpose.

‘I hid from people, ashamed of using a wheelchair, yet now, I call myself a survivor and I only feel pride in who I am and where I’ve been.

‘My body doesn’t end at my flesh, I consider my wheelchair a part of who I am, much like an amputee feels like their prosthesis is a part of their body.’

Claire also has a very close relationship with her mum, who moved to Wellington to be with her.

‘I have lived the most spectacular life in many respects,’ added Claire.

‘It has had its dark moments, but they have taught me so much.

‘I feel I am a better person having had this injury. I’m not saying it’s easy, it’s not, but it is rewarding and through studying, I have realised how much work needs to be done regarding society’s perceptions of those with disabilities.’

Do you have a story?

Email metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk to tell us more.

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Lockdown has given many of us a fresh appreciation for our old grooming habits.

We long for a decent trim – one that hasn’t been inflicted by our poor stressed-out housemates as we force them to watch yet another YouTube tutorial on how to cut layers.

While some of our usual treatments have been replaced by DIY at-home versions, there are others we’ve simply had to make do without – making us confront versions of our faces we may not be too pleased to see.

If you’re used to regularly getting fillers, facials, and injections of Botox, for example, lockdown will likely have put you in a bit of a funk, suddenly unable to get the tweakments that make you feel good about the way you look.

In the case of Botox, we have an important message: while continuing to watch your skin sag and wrinkles emerge in lockdown is stressful, you don’t need to panic about the longterm consequences.

And you definitely shouldn’t deal with that discomfort by attempting DIY treatments.

Dr Jane Leonard, who has nine years of experience in aesthetic treatments, explains that going without your regularly scheduled Botox for a few months will mean wrinkles reappear – but these can easily be smoothed again once lockdown is over.

‘Botox lasts typically between three to six months,’ Dr Leonard tells Metro.co.uk. ‘The length of treatment is dependent on the dose of Botox used and how strong the facial muscles are.

‘To maintain smooth skin and keep lines and wrinkles at bay it is recommended you have Botox injections every three to four months but this varies from person to person.

‘If you don’t keep up the Botox injections the wrinkle-freezing action will gradually wear off and the lines and wrinkles will return.

‘[But] there are no damaging effects to you or your skin by not keeping up the injections or long gaps between treatments. All that happens is that wrinkles come back! But this can easily be reversed once the treatment is recommenced.’

It’s essential that in desperation and discomfort you don’t try to find secret lockdown-breaking treatments or attempt your own Botox at home.

Having any cosmetic treatment done by someone who isn’t a reputable professional, and outside a proper medical environment, puts you at risk of severe infection – along with dodgy results.

‘Botox is a prescription ONLY medication and should not be administered by anyone who is not a medical practitioner who has not had the required training and experience,’ Dr Leonard explains. ‘Botox is a neurotoxin and can be dangerous to your health when in the wrong hands. Please treat Botox with respect!

‘And put your health and your face first. Never let anyone take a Botox needle to your face unless they are in medical and suitably trained. It certainly should never be a home DIY job!’

In the meantime, as we wait for lockdown measures to be lifted and professional Botox treatments to be possible once more, there are easy, safe things you can do at home to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and take care of your skin in lockdown.

Dr Leonard recommends using this as a time to sort out your skincare routine and try new products. The handy thing about lockdown is that you can go ahead and do acid peels and masks that bring out pimples, because you don’t have to worry about going outside and having everyone see your skin as it’s adjusting to a new treatment.

‘It’s a great time to use new products which require a bit of down time while your skin adapts, like retinol,’ says Dr Leonard. ‘And inner health leads to outer beauty! So means get your diet right, at least 2 litres of water daily, get your five a day.

‘Look into supplements. Supplements such as omega 3 have great benefits to your hair, skin and nails. 98% of people are deficient in omega 3 so it’s a good reason to invest in a good supplement to reach your daily recommended dose.’

And most importantly, go easy on yourself. We’re living through a pandemic – a wrinkle here or there really isn’t a big deal, but it’s also totally normal to feel a little freaked out about your appearance not being the way you want.

Look after yourself, remember that this will pass, and take comfort in knowing that once lockdown ends you can head straight back to your doctor to resume your tweakments once more, with no terrible effects from the lockdown pause.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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You can buy boozy ice pops and lollies in certain places now, but nothing beats a homemade treat.

With the weather set to get warmer over the weekend and next week, we have just the thing for you to pop in your freezer ready for you to grab when you want.

A TikTok video made by Australian vlogger Naomi Hansen has given us a nifty trick to alcoholify our ice poles, and oddly but interestlingly, it involves using hair straighteners.

The trick is simple, buy and thaw ice poles (the ones that come in a plastic tube) and cut them open at the top.

Pour a small bit of the liquid out of the ice pop adding in around a shot or so of vodka instead, and making sure there’s some room at the top.

Then, take your hair straighteners and clamp them onto the plastic (make sure it doesn’t touch the liquid) to seal them shut.

Freeze for a little longer than you normally would – as the vodka can add to the time it takes due to the lower freezing point of alcohol.

As you’ll know if you’ve stuck a bottle of spirits in the freezer in the past, it stays liquid. However, as there’s only a small amount of alcohol in these and they’re mixed with water, you should be fine.

You could also switch to other forms of alcohol, as we see some Cointreau, Midori, and pink gin in the back of Naomi’s video.

It’s now been watched over 294,000 times, which proves that plenty of people are ready to try the little hack.

As with any TikTok or social media hack, though, we’d always advise you to try at your own risk. We wouldn’t want you ruining your expensive GHDs for the sake of some frozen bevvies.

Do you have a brilliant tip you’d like to share?

Get in touch with us at MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk.

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Coronavirus changed everything very quickly and for those who were thinking of buying a house this year, it’s made it more difficult.

Maybe you’ve been saving up for a while or you’ve realised you have a little more money because you’ve been saving on travel costs and going out.

But sadly, the current situation means that getting a mortgage is more difficult.

When lockdown was initially introduced the mortgage market was temporarily shut down because of three things – a cut in interest rates by the Bank of England, a reduced workforce due to social distancing and an increase in current customers asking for help like mortgage holidays, which meant staff were redeployed elsewhere.

Many banks cut the number of products they were offering and stopped new applications. A lot of these products were high loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages, which many first-time buyers use to get a foot on the property ladder.

Before lockdown, some places would give you a 95% LTV mortgage, meaning you needed to find 5% of the property value as a deposit. 90% LTV mortgages were also possible.

These mortgages were particularly useful for those buying Help to Buy properties as the idea behind the scheme is that you save up at 5% deposit, the Government gives you a 40% loan and the bank gives you the remaining 55% as a mortgage.

Without these on offer, people need to put up a much higher deposit it get a mortgage (or buy a much cheaper house).

Nationwide reduced the LTV mortgages to 75%, while Barclays, Halifax, Virgin Money and others reduced it to 65% and Santander and Skipton Building Society reduced it to 60%.

The housing market is slowly starting to open up again and mortgage lenders are offering a few more options, but not the high LTV mortgages.

There’s still a huge amount of uncertainty about what will happen with the economy (and consequently, the housing market) in the months to come as restrictions ease and banks continue to be cautious.

So if you wanted to buy a house soon, what can you do?

Realistically, you might need to save for longer to get a bigger deposit. There is a possibility that more of the higher LTV deals will be available soon but focusing on saving means you will have better options, even if they do.

Mortgage expert Will Rhind, from Habito, the free online mortgage broker, gives his four key tips on how would-be home buyers can help themselves get mortgage-ready at this time:

1. Aim for 15% deposit – The issue is that many banks still haven’t brought their deals back. This means that many currently available mortgages require a minimum 15% deposit.
   
   As lockdown lifts, if you’ve been fortunate to be able to save money during this time, continue to avoid any shopping splurges and keep growing your deposit fund, aiming for 15% or more. The bigger deposit you have, the more choice of deal you have, so more deposit will always help – even when 10% deals do return.

2. Know some mortgage-jargon – while many estate agents previously asked prospective buyers for a ‘mortgage in principle’ (an MIP) – now, we’re seeing this becoming a must-have, to do an in-person home tour.
   
   An MIP is a document says that the bank believes you could get a mortgage for a property worth £x, based on the information you’ve told them.
   
   It gives the agent and seller more confidence that you’re a serious buyer. Get prepped early and ask for an MIP from a mortgage broker or bank.

3. If you’re a key worker, you might get special rates Check out Kensington’s ‘Hero’ mortgages for teachers, armed forces, NHS, police or firefighters. Or if you’re a newly qualified professional in another field, Clydesdale Bank offers mortgages worth 5.5 times your salary to qualified accountants, architects, pharmacists, solicitors, vets, and others, which can help you get a larger mortgage than you’d otherwise be able to.

4. Look after your credit score. If lockdown has given you more time to get on top of your finances – don’t forget to also get on top of your credit score.
   
   Checking your score is free, can be done from three credit reference agencies and a good score can help you access better interest rates.
   
   Alternatively, if you have a bad score, it can make you more likely to be rejected for a mortgage. But you can improve your score, and if your file shows you defaulted on a bill or payment, but you think that’s a mistake – you can challenge it and get it fixed. 

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch at metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk.

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On 16 April, just weeks after the UK went into lockdown in the midst of a global pandemic, I was told my five-year-old son, Jago, had an inoperable, non-curative brain tumour.

It is almost impossible to explain what it felt like to hear those words, but I remember I just went numb. 

Like most children his age, Jago was usually really active, running everywhere and climbing trees with his twin sister, Imogen. However, just before Easter this year, I noticed he was a bit clumsy.

At first I put it down to the fact that he did everything at 100 miles per hour. But then Jago started squinting and angling his head rather than looking at me face-on. Assuming there was something wrong with his vision, I tried to book an appointment to get his eyes tested – but of the few opticians still open during lockdown, none had the necessary PPE. 

Thankfully, one took the time to listen to me on the phone and arranged an appointment at the emergency eye clinic in our local hospital.

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They quickly ascertained that there was nothing wrong with Jago’s eyes, but a subsequent MRI scan picked up a lesion on the pons area of his brain, revealing the presence of a tumour known as DIPG. 

It’s the most fatal of children’s brain cancers, with only approximately two per cent of children surviving five years. The average life expectancy from the time of diagnosis is eight months.

I remember feeling grateful, in a strange way. You hear so many stories of children who have symptoms of illness for months but by the time they’re diagnosed, it’s too late. People rarely think ‘brain tumour’ when it comes to little ones, so I am indebted to the optician who suspected something. 

Very quickly, my days were filled with appointments with various medical staff. Maybe it’s all in my head, but I felt like they were trying to keep me busy so I couldn’t think too much about the reality of Jago’s diagnosis. 

Lockdown meant that all of the paediatric wards at our local hospital were closed, so we were rapidly transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and at 4am one morning, Jago was admitted to the neurosurgery ward with me and Imogen by his side.

With strict restrictions on travelling and hospital visitors it was made very clear that our being there as a family was an exception, but there was no other option: I’m a single mum and there was no one else available to look after my daughter.

We were allowed to stay with Jago for the next two nights, then Imogen and I were given a room in hospital accommodation that was mercifully still open.

We had never been apart as a family before. I remember one night trying to get Jago to take his medication at 10pm so that I could take Imogen back, finally getting her into bed at midnight. Those fews days were horrific.

Jago started two and a half weeks of radiotherapy on 27 April, initially in hospital then as an outpatient after a week. Things were complicated by the fact that the ward at GOSH was being run by a team from University College Hospital (UCH) as the beds there had all been given over to Covid-19 patients.

The staff were brilliant though and agreed that Imogen could stay at GOSH too, as they felt it was so important for us to be together. They also arranged hospital transport, and while this wasn’t ideal, it was far better than taking my sick little boy on the tube, which was unthinkable. 

Initially, my mum had to stay away as she is high risk and lives in Austria, so coronavirus made it impossible for her to travel. It was so hard not having her around for emotional support but thankfully she was finally able to come over when Jago finished radiotherapy, two days before the twins’ fifth birthday. They were so thrilled to see her, yelling her name and trying to vie for attention.

Mum has been staying with us ever since which has been a godsend, but I know she will have to go home eventually and I’ll be back to dealing with this alone.

We are still waiting to see what, if any, difference the radiotherapy has made. The treatment makes the tumour and surrounding tissue swell so it can’t be scanned until the swelling goes down. 

In the immediate aftermath of Jago’s diagnosis, I was quite happy to follow what the doctors at GOSH said without questioning it. But a week or so later, I found myself waiting until the kids were asleep and scouring the internet for an alternative treatment.

I came across roughly 70 that were being trialed but even with my limited medical knowledge, I could discount some immediately because Jago didn’t meet the inclusion criteria. At the beginning of May, I took the remaining trials to one of Jago’s doctors. He was very supportive but told me that some were too early, and others didn’t have enough of a scientific backing.

I also spoke to numerous doctors in the US. One pointed me in the direction of a Swiss trial taking place at the Children’s Hospital in Zurich, researching a new type of medication that looks promising in a laboratory environment and is much more potent than its predecessor.

I got in touch and they requested Jago’s medical records, which the hospital sent through. He has been accepted, pending the results of his MRI. 

At this stage, the aim is simply to extend Jago’s life. We recently received a visit from the Palliative Care team but I hate that phrase – I can’t bear it. They discussed things like children’s hospices, which I just wasn’t ready to hear about. 

I’ve been told about a second trial that’s creating real excitement in the medical community and sounds very promising. It starts this year, so by going to Switzerland, I am basically buying time to get Jago on that one. 

I have never been one to compartmentalise thoughts and feelings but since his diagnosis, I have managed somehow to do it – maybe just out of necessity. I am quite a critical thinker; in my previous job, no two days were ever the same and I had to prioritise and make decisions on limited information.

I have found myself slipping back into that mode, almost stepping out of ‘mummy’ role and looking at the situation dispassionately.

Of course, there is huge emotion within me but I have tried to park it. If not, I think my heart would meltdown. If I wasn’t a single mum with two five-year-olds to look after, I would just be weeping all the time.

The money to fund Jago’s place on the trial was always in the back of my mind. The medication itself is free but we have to pay for things such as brain biopsies, MRIs, blood work, anaesthetists and hospital stays. 

I waited to set up a fundraising page until we knew whether the trials could actually benefit Jago but it was still scary when the time came to set it live. I worried what people would think. I am quite a private person and very used to being independent but at the moment, we are looking at very poor diagnosis so I had to swallow my pride and ask for help.

People have been amazing. The positivity has been overwhelming and I have been blown away by the kindness of complete strangers. 

I haven’t entertained the possibility that we won’t raise the £450,000 required. It’s a lot, but if everyone who hears Jago’s story donates five pounds, we’ll get there.

The coronavirus crisis barely registers with me anymore. When it started I followed the updates and death count in horror just like everyone else. Then after we found out about the tumour, I just stopped. It was such a surreal situation to have my poor little boy get a horrendous diagnosis while this huge pandemic swirled around us.

So many cancer treatments for adults were put on hold but I am so, so grateful the paediatric teams went on regardless.

Our next few weeks will be spent making memories, taking day trips and playing outside in the garden. I haven’t told Jago or his sister about the diagnosis – all they know is that he is getting treatment that makes him feel better, and so far, they’ve accepted this explanation. 

Jago isn’t sad exactly, but he is a shadow of his former self. 

He has been on huge doses of steroids that had nasty side effects and made him put on weight. He is being weaned off them now but still, he can’t bear to look at photos of himself from earlier this year when he was slim and full of energy. 

We just have to live in the moment rather than focus on what might be down the road. I still have the blessings of how good each day is.

To donate to Jago’s fundraising page, visit gofundme.com

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing rosy.edwards@metro.co.uk

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In 2019, Alyssa Mendoza lost her father to chronic kidney disease.

But before he died, dad Bing had left a surprise for Alyssa and her mother Joji.

Last month, Alyssa, from Manila in the Philippines, was shocked to see an email from her dad in her inbox, 10 months after he died.

The doting dad had planned a huge anniversary party for his beloved wife, leaving instructions for Alyssa to follow.

Bing even organised a flower delivery a year in advance, to honour his silver wedding anniversary.

And not only that, Alyssa learned in the email that her dad planned for flowers to be delivered to his wife on her birthday, their anniversary and Valentine’s Day for the next ten years.

After reading the emotional email, Alyssa had to get to work as she had a lot to do to surprise her mum in time.

‘The prep took six hours, I started at 11 pm and finished 5:30 am in time for my mum’s morning alarm,’ Alyssa told Metro.co.uk.

‘I was initially scared to see the email because he passed away 10 months ago so I got confused as to why I received an email from him.

‘But after the initial shock, I opened his e-mail and as I was reading, my heart dropped because it showed me again how much love my dad had for my mum. He may not be here anymore but he still found a way to make my mum feel his love.’

Alyssa shared all the emotions she felt as she read the sweet letter from her dad and her Facebook post about it immediately went viral.

She wrote: ‘Two days after I saw the notification, I decided to open the email and couldn’t believe what I was reading. My dad’s love for my mum IS definitely immeasurable.

‘The e-mail contained instructions for me for their anniversary celebration this year.

‘Apparently, before my dad passed away 10 months ago, he planned everything.

‘The email also contained a letter that he wrote for my mum which had all the words she needed to hear from him to be okay.

‘He literally thought of everything to make his great love feel all his love. They were supposed to celebrate their 25th silver wedding anniversary together today but God had other plans.

‘But even if they’re not physically together, even though he’s no longer here, he was still able to surprise and make my mum happy.’

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch at metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk.

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When lockdown hit, British trampolinist Bryony Page was forced to get creative.

No longer having a gymnasium at her disposal, the Olympic silver medallist had to come up with different ways to continue her training at home.

Bryony has been using household furniture to recreate gym equipment for her daily training sessions – with successful results.

‘It’s been quite interesting to have to be more creative with the workouts, like working my body in a different way,’ Bryony tells Metro.co.uk.

‘So, in some ways, I actually feel stronger in certain areas than I would have if I had just continued trampolining.’

Bryony has made a training area in her garden with a trampette and a futon – which acts as a crash mat.

She adds: ‘Obviously we don’t have the leg press of the squat racks and the right gym equipment, so I’ve just been using makeshift things.

‘For my leg press, I just use my partner, Jake, as the weight – so I’m just lying on my back and using him.

‘To add weights to the bar progressively, I add backpacks on the end of it.

‘I’ve got my dumbbells so I can put them inside the backpacks, rather than have them balance on certain things.

‘My stairs have become different jumping platforms – it’s been quite interesting trying out new things.’

But, of course, Bryony has stuck to the basics and has taken cautious steps not to put herself at risk of injury

She says: ‘I asked my partner to spot me for the first few attempts of the somersaults, just in case, but it was absolutely fine and I was definitely within my comfort zone with the trampoline stuff.’

Bryony adds that training at home has meant she can push her body in different ways – particularly in regards to fatigue. 

She says: ‘The one thing about trampolining is that you need to be able to do what you want to do with good quality.

‘We have to be as fresh as possible – so if we are fatigued it has a big impact on our performance and obviously the risk of injury is higher if we are fatigued.’

Working out at home – without a gymnasium trampoline – means the risks are a lot lower, so Bryony can continue training even if she feels a little achy and tired.

The 29-year-old says returning to training is likely to be a slow process – not only to stop the spread of coronavirus but also to prevent any back-to-work injuries putting additional strain on the NHS.

She says: ‘We’ve got to be really careful returning to training, it’s going to be really controlled – at least to start off with.

‘The normality will be a little bit different. It’s more when I get back to doing the skills that I was doing before lockdown in training – like reaching heights, spinning and pushing myself again – I think that will be the interesting part because it will be a different scenario having the coach with his mask on and gloves, throwing in the mat – it’ll be a bit strange.’

Of course, the coronavirus pandemic has brought sporting events to a halt and the decision to postpone the 2020 Olympics is one that Bryony supports.

She says: ‘I think it was the right decision for it to be postponed and not for it to have gone ahead at this time – I wouldn’t have felt comfortable and I know so many other athletes who wouldn’t have either.

‘I think it’s a gift really for me. I was going to continue after the games anyway – I wasn’t thinking of retirement.

‘I had two years out due to injury at the start of this Olympic cycle, so it’s almost getting one of those years back and it gives me more time to prepare for it.’

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