During the latest lockdown, if pupils cannot get access to the internet due to lack of broadband or not enough data, phone companies are offering data boosts.

You can find out more here.

I posted recently that I was having problems with my council number.

This now seems to be working again.

Here are the various ways to contact me.

Phone and online methods are the fastest methods, as always.

Work will be starting this year to bring fibre broadband to Gloucester.

Some residents in Gloucester will already have had letters through their door about this.

You can also go to www.cityfibre.com/your-street and register your interest.

During lockdown it can still be possible to improve your fitness. I definitely intend to!

Here is a list of online workouts you can do for free. I hope you find it useful.

As many parents go back to homeschooling during lockdown, there are various sources of advice and resources online.

Here are some tips on homeschooling from the BBC.

There was also this helpful announcement recently from BBC TV:

Starting on Monday 11 January, each weekday on CBBC will see a three-hour block of primary school programming from 9am, including BBC Live Lessons and BBC Bitesize Daily, as well as other educational programming such as Our School and Celebrity Supply Teacher and much loved titles such as Horrible Histories, Art Ninja and Operation Ouch.

BBC Two will cater for secondary students with programming to support the GCSE curriculum, with a least two hours of content each weekday.

Full story here.

This latest lockdown will hit some people harder, coming after a tough 2020 and in a month when people are normally thinking about new beginnings, resolutions etc.

It’s a really good idea to reach out to your family, friends and neighbours to check in on them and let them know that people are there if they need.

I will definitely be doing the above in my community. Why don’t you give one or all of the five pledges a try. #GloucesterCan

The chancellor has just announced £4.6billion of new grants to support businesses during the new lockdown.

You can find the details of these here.

Please get in touch if you need help in accessing these.

Gloucester City Council have begun the process of setting the budget for 2021/2022, which will be approved in February.

Gloucester residents now have an opportunity to have their say on which council services they consider to be a priority.

Do fill in the budget survey here.

At the moment we are in a difficult place with coronavirus infection rates. The vaccinations are being administered to people now, which is good news, but until the majority of the population have received them we will still be in danger.

It’s important that we keep observing the rules and maintain standards of hand washing, wearing face coverings and observing 2M social distancing as often as possible. This is the best way to ensure we stay safe and the NHS can weather the storm.

There is a problem with my council phone number which I’ve reported to city council officers, but it is unlikely to be fixed until next week.

In the meantime I can still be reached via email at Sebastian.Field@Gloucester.gov.uk, or via my Facebook page.