In this special episode of the Alone Together podcast, we will be celebrating the amazing work done by local heroes in their communities during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Matt Millard speaks to the Clifton Cake Fairy, an anonymous local hero, who has been secretly delivering cakes to the front doors of those nominated by family, friends and colleagues for their good deeds.

And while it may have been a lonely time for many, in particular those in care homes, Sheila Callaghan has been raising their spirits with performances of wartime songs at their windows. She tells Dan McLaughlin about her singing and fundraising.

Morven McIntyre also speaks to Ruairiadh Thompson from The Big Juicy Appreciation Society, a Facebook group usually dedicated to Tennents beer, who has launched a Christmas charity appeal, delivering food parcels to children.

Alone Together - A Coronavirus Podcast is a Laudable production from the newsrooms of Birmingham Live, the Edinburgh Evening News, and the Manchester Evening News.

It is presented by Morven McIntyre, Dan McLaughlin, and Matt Millard. And it is also edited by Matt Millard.

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The Alone Together podcast has been with you since the start of the coronavirus outbreak. Amongst all the fear, doom and gloom that has surrounded Covid-19, we’ve been here to bring you the positive stories of our local heroes, as well as sharing fact-filled interviews with experts offering tips, advice and answers to your FAQs about the pandemic.

Hosts Matt Millard, Dan McLaughlin and Morven McIntyre look back over the past two series of Alone Together and share their favourite moments.

Alone Together is a Laudable production from the newsrooms of Birmingham Live, the Edinburgh Evening News, and the Manchester Evening News.

Written and hosted by Matt Millard, Dan McLaughlin and Morven McIntyre.
Produced and edited by Matt Millard.

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On this episode we take a look at the return to universities for students. What are their concerns about the new academic year? What will lectures look like under social distancing? And what do they feel needs to be done to support them?

Matt Millard speaks with Joshua Williams, a postgraduate student at the University of Birmingham and ex-president of the students union, to get a deeper perspective on the challenges that students are facing.

Dan McLaughlin speaks with Dr Carole O’Reilly, senior lecturer in media and cultural studies at the University of Salford, who has embraced the change and wants to avoid - in her words - ‘death by PowerPoint’.

Dan and Matt also celebrate Journalism Matters Week, an annual campaign that highlights the important role that journalism plays in our society, as they discuss their favourite journalism moments of 2020 so far.

Alone Together is a Laudable production from the newsrooms of Birmingham Live, the Edinburgh Evening News, and the Manchester Evening News.

Written and hosted by Matt Millard, Dan McLaughlin and Morven McIntyre.
Produced and edited by Matt Millard.

This October, to mark Black History Month, Laudable has launched a new short-form audio series, Black Lives: Past, Present, and Future. To find out more about the project and how you can get involved, head to laudable.substack.com

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In this episode Matt and Morven discuss all things holidays, as many countries close their borders in an attempt to stop the global spread of Coronavirus, and we continue to be advised to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary, it seems 2020 has become the year of the staycation.

Morven McIntyre speaks with Senior Tourist Insights Manager for Visit Scotland, Chris Greenwood, to find out our current holiday trends, what the pandemic has meant for the UK tourist trade and where he predicts the future of the tourism industry heading.

And in our local heroes segment, Dan McLaughlin chats with Harry Taylor, who tells us about how he balanced working night shifts at the Guardian with doing voluntary shifts at the Royal Free Hospital in North West London.

Alone Together is a Laudable production, written and produced by Matt Millard, Morven McIntrye and Dan McLaughlin, and is edited by Matt Millard.

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The lockdown has seen the UK population's drinking levels soar.

This episode tackles the subject of our relationship with alcohol and how this has changed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dan McLaughlin speaks to DrinkAware’s Jennifer Walters about the increase in 'high-risk' drinkers, offering tips and support for those who are struggling with alcohol.

Matt Millard speaks to former journalist and business owner Richard Beech about his turbulent relationship with alcohol, which led him to go sober from January.

Richard discusses the ill informed stereotypes of alcoholics, and offers advice to recondition your mind against drinking.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction contact DrinkAware’s helpline at 0300 123 1110 or use the online chat service.

Alone Together is a Laudable production from the newsrooms of the Manchester Evening News, the Edinburgh Evening News, and Birmingham Live. It is presented by Morven McIntyre, Matt Millard and Dan McLaughlin, and it is produced and edited by Matt Millard.

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In this episode we explore the ways we have had to adapt to coronavirus in order to stay safe, and if these changes have helped or hindered our progress to live more sustainably.

Are we still on track in the UK for a carbon neutral future? Join us, as we speak to the experts to find out just that!

Morven McIntyre speaks to Beth Gardiner, an environmental journalist and author of bestselling book ‘Choked: The Age of Air Pollution and the Fight for a Cleaner Future’, about the lessons that can be learned from the Covid-19 outbreak, to ensure we don’t take a backwards step when it comes to carbon emissions and sustainable living.

And Matt Millard speaks with transport expert Tom Millard, a senior consultant and lead for Economics at PJA - an integrated transport, engineering and placemaking consultancy based in Birmingham. Tom explains how the pandemic has impacted travel demand, what the risks are if we all jump into our cars to avoid public transport and what positive things are now being done to help try and reduce the environmental impact of our new, more socially distanced journeys.

Alone Together is a Laudable production from the newsrooms of the Manchester Evening News, the Edinburgh Evening News, and Birmingham Live. It is presented by Morven McIntyre, Matt Millard and Dan McLaughlin, and it is produced and edited by Matt Millard.

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The music industry, like many other industries, is under threat due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Live music supports 200,000 jobs in the UK - but 60% of those are now under threat.

On this episode of Alone Together, Dan McLaughlin and Matt Millard look at the challenges that music is facing - and what can be done to resolve them.

London-based singer-songwriter and recording artist Aymee Weir chats to Matt about her experiences as a musician in lockdown - and what her plans are for the future.

Michael Webster, who runs record label Bread Records, which promotes and releases music from unsigned and local artists in Manchester, talks to Dan about the challenges facing grassroots music - and what needs to be done to protect it.

Dan also chats to Imogen Storey and James Duckworth, members of alt-rock band Novustory, about how they refurbished the Esche Haus Recording Studio in Blackburn during lockdown. Imogen and James, who mentor aspiring musicians at Esche Haus, also share their tips on how to succeed in the industry.

Alone Together is a Laudable production from the newsrooms of the Manchester Evening News, the Edinburgh Evening News, and Birmingham Live. It is presented by Morven McIntyre, Matt Millard and Dan McLaughlin, and it is edited by Matt Millard.

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Face masks are on the mind - and on your faces (we hope) - on today's episode of Alone Together.

Morven McIntyre speaks to Dr Simon Kolstoe from the University of Portsmouth about the importance of wearing face masks. The academic explains the research behind coverings and discusses the communication about their effectiveness.

And in our Local Heroes segment, Dan McLaughlin speaks to Anna Simmons, associate assistant headteacher at Buile Hill Academy in Salford, about the support and food packages they have been providing families.

Presented and produced by Morven McIntyre, Dan McLaughlin, and Matt Millard. Edited by Matt Millard.

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The arts and entertainment industries are in the spotlight on this episode of Alone Together after they were forced to switch off their spotlights under the coronavirus restrictions.

Theatres, arts centres, comedy clubs, music venues, and other places of entertainment had to shut their doors in March – and for many, they have remained shut; and for some, they may sadly never open again.

Last month, when announcing the £1.57 billion rescue package, prime minister Boris Johnson called the arts the 'beating heart of the country'. On this episode, we ask those working in the industry what needs to be done by the government to keep this beating heart ticking.

Gayle Knight from the Civic Arts Centre and Theatre in Oswaldtwistle describes the challenges faced by small, grassroots theatres - and what support they need.

Stand-up comedian Jack Gleadow chats about the importance of comedy clubs and Edinburgh Fringe. He also discusses how comics have been coping without paid gigs in lockdown.

And in our Local Heroes segment, we chat to restaurant owner Layla Gassabi, who is delivering hot meals to those most in need in Edinburgh.

Alone Together is a Laudable production from the newsrooms of the Manchester Evening News, the Edinburgh Evening News, and Birmingham Live. It is presented by Morven McIntyre, Matt Millard and Dan McLaughlin, and it is edited by Matt Millard.

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Many parents have had to juggle the responsibilities of work with home-schooling during the Covid-19 pandemic.

With lockdown restrictions easing, the pressure could soon be taken off them.

Some schools have seen some children return already, whilst the majority of kids are expected to attend from September.

On this episode, we get different parenting perspectives of children returning to school after the summer holidays.

Lemon-Aid newsletter founder Lynda Moyo and WorkingMamas.com co-founder Shelina Begum join Matt Millard to chat about the positives and negatives of parenting under the coronavirus restrictions, and how parents really feel about sending their children back to school.

Alone Together's Dan McLaughlin also speaks with EDS Foundation’s Samantha Smith about her experience shielding with her children during lockdown - and why she is reluctant for kids to return to the classrooms in September.

Alone Together is a Laudable production from the newsrooms of the Manchester Evening News, the Edinburgh Evening News, and Birmingham Live. It is presented by Morven McIntyre, Matt Millard and Dan McLaughlin, and it is edited by Matt Millard.

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