Istanbul – Bill on the hook

A campaign based on the system of ‘askida fatura’ or ‘suspended bill’ has raised over €2 million, which is enough to help more than 124,500 households pay their water and gas bills. Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality matches people who cannot afford to pay their bills with those willing to cover the cost of these bills out of an act of solidarity in difficult times. Read more here

Contact: Raci Karaca

Glasgow – Virtual outdoor education

The team at the Glasgow City Council’s Blairvadach Outdoor Education Centre in Rhu have produced an online workbook which could help parents and children to learn about outdoor education during lockdown.

The centre normally hosts a five day outdoor education residential for pupils from across the city, providing outdoor learning opportunities for young people using activities including hillwalking, canoeing, rock climbing and more. Katie Mackay an Outdoor Education Instructor from Blairvadach said: “Because of Covid-19 and lockdown many schools are missing out on their planned trip which is a big disappointment for the pupils

Contact: Joe Brady

Glasgow – Science centre at home

As the weeks go on children and adults are looking for ways to stay entertained at home. The Glasgow Science Centre is continuing to share an exciting programme of lessons online. 

Each day the team from #GSCAtHome are sharing a video with an experiment or task. This week includes ‘The Monty Hall’ problem, making oboes from straws and using coat hangers to learn more about soundwaves! In 2020, as our world becomes more and more invested in digital technology, we need more than ever to crack codes and to write them.

Contact: Joe Brady

Sultanbeyli – Playing safe

‘’Fast and Clean’’ is the game that Sultanbeyli Municipality has designed for the families to play at home while educating their kids on safe habits during the pandemic. Games will be delivered to the first 1000 families who participate in the campaign to be held on corporate social media channels. Read more here (in Turkish)

Contact: Ferzan Aşik

Katowice – Adapted fees for nurseries

The city will be paying the full amount of the subsidy for non-public nurseries, and asks of them to reduce to a minimum the fixed fees charged to parents. This measure will affect a total of 1,267 places in 31 non-public nurseries. Public nurseries will also be adapting their fees to support parents. Read more here (in Polish)

Contact: Judyta Etmanska

Ghent – Financial aid

Ghent’s Public Centre of Social Welfare will be able to pay out additional financial aid to any person who comes into financial difficulties, regardless of his or her status. In addition, 1,000 families received 60 euros in crisis support. The extra money is meant to absorb additional costs families are facing because the children do not go to school. The city also has organised specific funds to purchase food, material aid, and protective equipment. Read more here

Contact: Thomas Maeseele

Edinburgh – Get stuck in when you’re stuck at home

From ‘Mummy Bubble’ to ‘Cosmic Kids Yoga’ – a series of fun and free online activities to keep residents of all ages active and busy during the coronavirus lockdown has been devised by one of Edinburgh’s Schools and Lifelong Learning officers. Callum Mcleod and colleagues came up with the idea of putting together activity packs for children, young people and families to use at home to keep them physically and mentally active during the lockdown. Read more here

Contact: Karen Lloyd

Osmangazi – Food distribution

Following the confinement rules established in Osmangazi, Turkey, people above 65 years and below 20 years old are prohibited to go out, apart from emergencies. To provide people at home with food and other essential items, the municipality offers a delivery service. More than 30,000 families have ordered goods via email or telephone, while the authorities have proactively delivered basic goods to over 130,000 families. Read more here (in Turkish)

Contact: Şenol Dülger

Cardiff – Pre-school support for families

The Cardiff based organisation Flying Start has gone online to continue delivering services to pre-school children and their parents. Appointments, group parenting as well as health and therapy services have all been moved online. While ‘Stay and Play’ sessions have been replaced by a range of fun activities to do with children shared on social media. Read more here

Contact: Beverley Watson