An event to help Islanders cope with the financial fallout of Covid-19 has had to be cancelled due to the recent increase in the number of cases.
The organisers of ‘Winter is Coming’, due to be held on Thursday (Oct 15) have been forced to cancel it and replace it with a Facebook Live event and information given over the phone and by email. Nine local organisations were due to attend including the Isle of Wight Council, Citizens Advice, Age UK, People Matter, The Footprint Trust and the local Foodbank.
The popular annual event giving advice on how to reduce fuel bills was planned months ago when the pandemic was in retreat, and organisers wanted to make sure that this year there was extra help for those who have been badly affected by the Covid crisis.
Speaking for The Footprint Trust, Ray Harrington-Vail (pictured above) said, ‘We have endeavoured to follow the government guidance on events. We came to a conclusion that our event would be permitted and safe, due to the layout of the venue with plenty of ventilation and social distancing. However, the recent spike in Covid cases on the Isle of Wight means that we have to act in the best interests of public health. As an educational charity we have a great respect for the real experts in public health, who have often being side-lined or ignored during this growing crises. We have taken guidance from those with expertise in this matter and have decided to cancel the event”.
The good news is that at 9.30am on Thursday 15 October experts will be available via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Winteriscoming20 .