Kimberworth-born football legend, David Seaman has recorded a special video message urging Rotherham residents to support each other by sticking to the Covid-19 restrictions.

David said: “I’ve got a lot of great memories in Rotherham. It’s a place I know is really friendly and people all love to go out. But trust me, this is going to be a long winter and we all need to get through this together so stick to the rules.”

The video has been broadcast on the sides of giant digital display van touring streets and shopping centre car parks over the last few days to promote new key messages in light of the Very High COVID Alert level that came into force for South Yorkshire on Saturday.

Watch the video on our YouTube Channel

Read more about why David has joined the campaign to Reduce the Risk in Rotherham.

Applications for funding are now open for businesses forced to close as a result of the new Covid-19 Alert Level Very High restrictions, which came into force on 24th October.

The Local Restrictions Support Grant of between £1,334 and £3,000 per month is available to businesses based on their rateable value.

Businesses in South Yorkshire which have had to close as a result of the new restrictions are:

• Pubs and bars that do not serve substantial meals
• Casinos
• Adult gaming centres (amusement arcades)
• Betting shops
• Soft play centres

Eligibility criteria for the scheme is set nationally by Government and payments are being administered by Rotherham Council.

Visit our website for further details and to make a claim.

The Council is also working with Sheffield City Region to develop a package of support to help more local businesses, including those that have not been forced to close by the regulations but are being severely affected.

Arrangements for funding free school meals for eligible children during half-term are now being rolled out.

Local schools are distributing voucher codes to families of more than 10,000 children eligible for free school meals in the borough.

The £15 supermarket food voucher per eligible child equates to the typical cost of providing a meal for a child in school per week.

Parents are being asked not to contact schools so that they are not overwhelmed, but to wait until the school makes contact with them with their voucher code details.

Inspired by Marcus Rashford’s campaign to end child food poverty and in light of the Government’s decision not to fund free school meals during the October half term, the Council decided to implement a local support package which will benefit more than 6,000 local families.

Councillor Gordon Watson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services at Rotherham Council said: “This is a time of great uncertainty for many families across our borough and with the new tier three restrictions coming into force, we know that this will lead to greater financial hardship for some of the borough’s poorest families.

“The pandemic has been especially tough on schools, who have shown tremendous resilience and innovation throughout the last seven months in dealing with everything that has been thrown at them and we are immensely grateful for their continued goodwill and support in helping us get this much-needed support to local families.”

Read more on the Council website.