Get the party started this Father's Day

ON Sunday 20 June 2021, Dads across the UK will be showered in:- socks, golf tees, sweets and other traditional gifts as children thank them for all the hard work and love they have given. To celebrate the amazing work these role models do, Gabriella Egleton, Brand Marketing Manager, Bebeto sweets has looked across the world and compiled some customs that other countries do to observe Father's Day. Did you know...?

► Uruguay - If you visit this country on Father's Day you might think your trip has coincided with Halloween as they celebrate the event by hanging skeletons outside their houses as a mark of respect for the male role models in their lives. These symbols are called:- 'padre esqueleto,' which translates as:- 'skeleton father.'

► Thailand - Here, Father's Day is celebrated on the 5 December, as it is the birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. To commemorate both occasions, people wear yellow, and present canna flowers of the same colour to their fathers.

► Germany - In Germany, Dads get 2 days off for Father's Day. This is because on the actual day it is usual for men to go out drinking beer together, allowing for a 2nd day to recover.

► France - Across the channel, Father's Day was originally created by a company that manufactured lighters, so it is no surprise that historically this is what dad would have received as a present. Today, they typically receive more mainstream items like homemade cards and sweets.

► South Africa - Although gifting here is very similar to the UK, it is normal for families on Father's Day to go fishing and take a picnic. It is also common to come together for a special meal on this day, either at home or at a restaurant.

Gabriella Egleton said:- "It doesn 't matter how different countries celebrate national days; what matters is the meaning. Gifts don 't have to be elaborate; it is about the gesture to show appreciation. Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!"
 

Liverpool City Region Leaders Call on Government for Vaccine Surge

METRO Mayor Steve Rotheram, the Mayor of Liverpool and the Leaders of:- Halton, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral Councils have issued a joint call on the Government to accelerate Covid19 vaccination across the Liverpool City Region.

In a letter to:- Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi, on Friday, 11 June 2021, the political leaders say that rising rates in the areas surrounding the Liverpool City Region increases the likelihood of higher infection rates locally; as was seen over Christmas and the New Year.

The Leaders write to the Vaccines Minister, on 21 May 2021, but have not yet received a response. Since then, the situation has continued to deteriorate in neighbouring areas, meaning that there is an urgent need to act now to achieve maximum vaccine coverage amongst vulnerable communities.

The Liverpool City Region has been hit harder than other areas during the Pandemic and in autumn last year was the first to be put into Tier 3 measures. It is already challenged by deep rooted health inequalities, which have been exacerbated during the Pandemic.

In a joint statement, the Metro Mayor, City Mayor and Leaders said:- "Today we have called on the Health Secretary and Vaccines Minister to urgently provide our City Region with the supplies of the vaccine and the flexibility of approach which we need to get our most vulnerable communities vaccinated as soon as possible. We know from previous experience that it is inevitable that this wave of infections will hit us in next couple of weeks. Coupled with the potential further relaxation measures and increased social mixing, this will create a larger wave with deeper impacts, exactly as we have seen in previous waves across the North West. We need to heed the lessons from previous waves and not simply repeat the approaches taken previously. We wrote to the Vaccines Minister, on 21 May 2021, and have yet to receive a response. The situation is now urgent and we need extra vaccines and the flexibility and resources to use them to achieve maximum vaccine coverage across our vulnerable communities and also to accelerate the vaccination to provide wider population coverage. It is vital that we do this now to get ahead of the situation and minimise the impact of this new wave of infections."