Demon FM prepares for lockdown re-launch

February 2, 2021 by Leave a Comment

By Thomas Carter

De Montfort University’s student radio station Demon FM is set to launch a brand new series of content to be released over the course of lockdown.

With national restrictions preventing students from returning to campus, the team Demon FM, like many societies at DMU, is trying to continue providing activities for its members.

Instead of weekly shows live from the studio, presenters will produce the programmes from their homes, seeing the radio station move towards a podcast format.

Mike Kennedy, programme director at Demon FM, said: “The world might be in a state of uncertainty but at Demon FM we want to provide great content for people to access.

“It’s important to have an escape from the world around us, and Demon’s new way of programming will help keep the spirits of ‘demonites’ [society members] up.”

Demon FM will continue to produce content over the course of lockdown

Content being produced over lockdown includes political debate on InFocus, a brand new Sports Show, and the return of the ‘Weekly Wonder’ podcast, a previous staple of Demon FM.

The shows will be released on a weekly basis and shared across the Demon FM social media pages, with listeners being able to interact with the products via Facebook and Twitter.

Additionally, the broadcasts will be available as podcasts, meaning they can be downloaded and listened to on demand.

For those able to access the studio facilities, the station is fully Covid-compliant, with presenters wearing masks and equipment being sanitised after every use.

More information on how to listen or get involved with the Demon Media group can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/DemonMedia

Filed Under: Demon Media, Second Year, Today's Top Story

Loughborough charity calls for laptop donations for children home-schooling during lockdown

February 2, 2021 by Leave a Comment

By Luke Williamson

Loughborough charity Equality Action is calling for people to donate their old electronic devices to children who need them to complete their schoolwork at home during lockdown.

The charity, established in 1969, has started the ‘Tech for Schools’ scheme, to help more children get the technology they need to learn from home during this lockdown period.

Harvinder Poonian, the Beyond Lockdown Project Officer, said: “We decided to do this because we have spoken to parents and schools and found that they need help.

“We give the devices to the schools who wipe any data from them and then give them out to the children that need them.

Some of the devices collected by Equality Action in their Tech for Schools campaign. PICTURE: Equality Action

“We are urging more schools in the area to get involved because we have families from other schools that aren’t involved asking for our help,” she said.

So far, Equality Action has donated 56 devices to six schools in Loughborough and the surrounding area, but wants more people to get involved to help their pupils with their home-schooling.

Schools in England closed on Tuesday, January, 5, after England went into lockdown.

As of January 12, the Department for Education has provided more than 1.3 million laptops to children who need them, but more are needed to support every child that needs one.

Miss Poonian said: “The Government has provided some, but they are not good enough, so we have had to step up.

“We all have a laptop we do not need any more lying around somewhere.

“I found one in the back of my cupboard from three years ago and so did a few others here, so we decided to open the scheme,” she said.

The charity has made an Amazon Wishlist for people to see what devices they could donate, but they can donate what they can.

People can donate by filling out the form available on its website https://www.equalityaction.org.uk/tech-for-local-schools?fbclid=IwAR2De4huW5LBdjKrolX915xtV8pCnQiq3hvYMjnPRIxUgR6OeP_GMYrmvsk

Filed Under: COVID-19, Second Year

Redevelopment begins on Leicester Bus Station

February 2, 2021 by Leave a Comment

by Abigail Beresford

St Margaret’s Bus Station, Leicester’s main bus station in Leicester was demolished this week to mark the commencement of a £13.5m plan to redevelop it.

The bus station was officially closed off from the public on Thursday December 31, to prepare for the demolition and begin work.

The Government’s Getting Building Fund company contributed £10.5m to pay for the development and bring Leicester’s bus station back to life.

The bus station first opened its services to the public in 1985 – at the time designed to be a new modern way of travel, where people could efficiently travel up and down the country.

St Margaret’s is now preparing itself for a new transformation, 36-years later.

It will bring a new, modern bus station in the works, there are hopes of an increase in tourism, and a creation of various new job opportunities to the people of Leicestershire.

“I think it’s the perfect time for the redevelopment of the station to begin,” said Lily Hughes, 18.

“Luckily, I don’t travel as much at the moment because of the lockdown, so it’s not that much of a problem for me.”

On the buses! Buses coming to and from Leicester [Abigail Beresford]

The nationwide lockdown restrictions that were put in place on January 4, and people to only use public transport if they are an essential worker, unable to work from home with no other mode of transport to get to and from work, for other urgent needs.

St Margaret’s Bus Station is set to reopen in early 2022.

Temporary bus stops have been put in place since with the recent closure.

Changes to bus schedules can be found at https://www.leicester.gov.uk/transport-and-streets/travelling-by-bus/

Filed Under: Latest, Second Year

Power cut leaves Loughborough supermarket in the dark

February 2, 2021 by Leave a Comment

By Luke Williamson

A Loughborough supermarket was plunged into darkness after power-cuts hit the town on Sunday(JAN31).

Morrisons in the Gorse Covert Shopping Centre suffered the outage in the afternoon, and B&M in Willowbrook Park was also hit.

Western Power Distribution said the power cut happened at around 3.15pm.

Residents living around the shops reported power cuts in Knightthorpe Road and Windsor Road, but others said their power flicked on and off, or that their broadband cut out briefly.

Western Power apologised for the disruption on Twitter and had the services back up and running by 5pm.

Filed Under: Latest, Second Year

Hinckley area foodbanks still helping the needy

February 2, 2021 by Leave a Comment

By Shantelle Gondo

Hinckley foodbanks are still helping meet the needs of those struggling during the Covid-19 winter pandemic.

The foodbank centres in the town are still aiming to support those who need help, including people who are furloughed or who have lost their jobs.

People need to get a foodbank voucher before attending the session and will be referred from an agency to get an appointment at the foodbanks.

Filed Under: Latest, Second Year
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