‘If bin lorry drivers want the same as HGV drivers they should do that job’

I BELIEVE the bin drivers are on strike for more money as they want the same pay grade as HGV drivers who work through the night with sleepovers in roadside lay-bys and drive all over to different countries, being apart from their families for weeks and even months at a time.

I am sure if the drivers of the waste collection vehicles who have the luxury of finishing on time not spending hours at a time loading or unloading the vehicles, go home on time and have the weekend off as well unless they want the overtime!

The country needs more HGV so I suggest that the waste disposal drivers instead of going on strike and making people suffer why not apply for the HGV jobs going?

I am sure you will get a very well paid job for inhospitable long days and hours and sleepovers on the roadside.

I wonder how many would apply…..

Malcolm James

‘Labour council will always give in to the unions in the end’

IF THE bin lorry drivers feel they can get a better job with someone else, why are they not doing it?

It’s because they know the Labour council will always give in to their paymasters – the unions – in the end.

Ratepayer

Coventry

Coventry schools encouraged to get involved with NSPCC Number Day

The NSPCC is encouraging schools in Coventry to take part in ‘Number Day’ on Friday, February 4.

‘Number Day’ is a maths-inspired fund-raising day for children in nursery right through to secondary school, with free curriculum-based downloadable activities to liven up their lessons.

Since it launched in 2000, over 4,000 schools have got involved with Number Day and raised over £2.5 million.

It is an annual event where teachers and pupils raise vital funds for the NSPCC so it can continue its important work to protect children from abuse and support them with any issues they may face.

This includes the charity’s Childline counselling service which has been a lifeline for thousands of children since the coronavirus pandemic began in March 2020.

It is free for any school to sign up to Number Day and there’s still time to get involved.

Once a school is registered, the NSPCC will send it everything it needs to make its Number Day a success.

This will include resources that can be used in the classroom, including games and activities such as Buddy’s Key Challenge.

This features the NSPCC mascot Buddy the speech bubble, which pupils may recognise from the charity’s Speak Out. Stay Safe assembly – for this challenge, pupils complete maths puzzles to create a key which can unlock a door so the charity’s mascot Buddy can visit their school.

They will also be sent tips and ideas on how to fund-raise, resources to help promote Number Day and teachers will have access to a wide range of games and tasks.

This includes information on keeping children safe from harm and supporting their school’s safeguarding, as well online safety quizzes that can be used with pupils of all ages.

To sign up to take part in Number Day, all you need to do is visit the NSPCC’s website and search for Number Day and fill in your school’s details using the registration form.

Caroline Morgan

Supporter fund-raising manager for the Midlands

Important to talk about mental health

AS WE approach two years since the start of the pandemic, it’s never been more important to talk about our mental health.

The last two years have affected us all and we know that talking about it can help us feel less alone, more able to cope and encouraged to seek support if we need to.

We are running Time to Talk Day on February 3 and we want to see more communities than ever getting involved this year.

However you do it, have a conversation about mental health this Time to Talk Day.

Paul Farmer, Chief Executive, Mind

Mark Winstanley, Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness

Rebecca Birkbeck, Director of Community and Shared Value, Co-op Group

TV licence should be axed as BBC is no longer dominant force

I believe the TV licence should be axed as there is so much competition these days and the BBC are not as dominant as they used to be.

The likes of Netflix can be paid for £5.99 per month with no contract.

Which is the same for Disney, now TV etc.

There is so much choice that I could do without it now.

I would be happy if they followed ITV and had adverts.

Most people don’t watch live TV anyway.

Tim Baxter

EDITOR’S COMMENT

IT IS absolutely shocking that three quarters of the £5.8billion fraudulently claimed from Covid assistant schemes will just be ‘written off’.

The Government was, rightly, praised for the assistance it gave to people and firms through furlough and other funding schemes, but those who deliberately stole from them should not be keeping their ill-gotten gains.

Whilst schemes had to be set up quickly, clearly not enough time, thought or diligence was used to properly assess people’s needs against their applications.