4
The decision to move Portugal from the Green to the Amber travel list has produced much comment in the media. There is no doubt that it will be a big blow to those who had booked holidays, or those currently on holiday there, finding that they will now have to isolate for 10 days on their return – with implications for work, childcare, support for older relations etc. The media love to talk about holidays – especially foreign holidays. But have we heard them comment much on those who cannot afford to go on holiday – those who lost jobs or businesses during the pandemic, those who had to resort to foodbanks and applying for Universal Credit, those who had to move in with family or friends, those whose children didn’t engage much with schools during lockdown? What is being done to support them over the summer, to help them to make the most of the good weather and/or time off school? What can we do to help them?
Lord, we have long understood that people cannot work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We need time for rest and recreation. For some the financial cost of going places or doing things to find that rest and recreation is just too much. Yet they may be people who, because of other issues, particularly need it. Help us to consider carefully whether there are things that we can do
PS we are prepainge some online material for the summer holidays, thinking particularly of families who are staying in and around Dumbarton over the summer
