In her latest column, the mayor of Macclesfield Cllr Sarah Bennett-Wake urges people to keep others safe by wearing masks while also supporting local enterprises.

Keeping Everyone Safe and Happy

One of our Golden Rules at school is 'keeping everyone safe and happy', a sensible instruction used to explain to children why they should not lean back on a chair or play wrestling games on the field!

We can apply this rule to adults too, Covid-19 directives such as wearing a mask, keeping your distance and hand washing are intended to keep everyone safe and happy. Many people are feeling anxious and at risk as Covid cases rise again. Please be kind and wear a mask, remember to sanitise your hands, and keep your distance.

I know in these uncertain times new rules can cause confusion and resentment but please do your best to keep everyone safe and happy, especially the older and more vulnerable members of our community. Remember those working in our hospitals, they still need our support to combat the virus.

Keeping in Touch

Finally, my mum can make video calls! Since, I am unable to visit because she lives in a tier 3 area this has been a valuable way of keeping in touch. It's great to see Mum's face even it is close up at times. This reminds me of a book I've been reading with the Year 1 Kittens called While we Can't Hug by Eoin McLaughlin.

The book explores or the different ways friends Hedgehog and Tortoise can keep in touch, demonstrating their love for one another whilst they can't hug. Good old-fashioned letter writing is one way they keep in touch. Perhaps, if your loved ones are not able to use video calling why not send them a letter?

Disposable Masks

Year 6 children have been writing persuasive letters this week to encourage people to wear fabric face coverings rather than disposable masks. Disposable masks litter our streets, potentially spreading disease. They end up in our canals, rivers and oceans causing harm to wildlife and the environment. It is estimated at the current rate of use there will be more masks in the Mediterranean than jellyfish!

Quite rightly, a year 6 pupil has challenged me for occasionally wearing disposable masks in school, when my fabric masks are still drying. So off I went to Scoop and Scales at the weekend and bought some more to last the whole week. Artspace also sell fabric face coverings as do many other outlets.

A new cottage industry emerged during lockdown, with an army of seamstresses whizzing out face coverings to raise funds for Cheshire East Hospice. Why not invest in a few fabric face coverings and support a local business or charity?