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Adult Learners not expected to be included in the cohort returning to on-site college delivery from 15 June – FE News

Posted: June 15, 2020 at 11:47 am

Actions for #FE colleges and providers during the coronavirus outbreak

Guidance for further education providers on maintaining education and skills training, changes to funding arrangements, data collections and assessment.

The changes include:

On 24 May the Prime Minister announced that secondary schools could provide some face-to-face contact for year 10 and year 12 students to help them prepare for exams next year, with a quarter of these students in at any one point.

For further education (FE) settings (including general further education colleges, sixth form colleges, and other providers) the equivalent approach applies andFEsettings should plan on the basis that from the week commencing 15 June, they can broaden the number of 16 to 19 learners (equivalent to year 10/year 12 in schools and sixth forms) attending on-site delivery.

Remote education should remain the predominant mode of learning during this time. To help reduce the coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission risk, the number of learners attending at any one time will be limited to a quarter of those on the first year of a 2 year 16 to 19 study programme.

This means that from the week commencing 15 June:

Further information on what this means in practice is in thechanges to delivery section.

The guidance on how to phase the return of learners in further education is underpinned by our latest understanding of coronavirus (COVID-19) (the new COVID-19 disease which was first diagnosed in China). To limit the risk of increasing the rate of transmission, scientific evidence indicates that we need to take a phased approach that limits both the number of children and young people in attendance and how much they mix with other learners and staff. This is set out in detail in ourguidance on protective measures for education settings.

We want to get all further education learners back into education settings as soon as the scientific evidence allows because it is the best place for them to learn, and because we know how important it is for their mental wellbeing to have social interactions with their peers and teachers.

Guidance onactions for education and childcare settings to prepare for wider opening from 1 June 2020was published by the department on 11 May.

Guidance forapprentices, employers, training providers and assessment organisations relating to the apprenticeships programme in response to the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19)is available.

Further information on the financial support that is available for different types of education, early years and childrens social care providers in England is available inCoronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and childrens social care. This includes information on access to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) for furloughed workers and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFAs) response to the Cabinet Offices Procurement Policy Note 02/20.

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For colleges in significant financial difficulties, the existing support arrangements remain in place including short term solvency support through emergency funding.

We are immensely grateful to providers for the vital role they are playing in supporting the national response to coronavirus (COVID-19). We recognise the significant efforts the vast majority ofFEproviders have taken to shift to delivering remote teaching and education, and know that many have stayed open to support vulnerable learners and dependants of critical workers.

From the week commencing 15 June,FEproviders should offer some face to face contact for 16 to 19 learners on the first year of a study programme, as part of a combined approach in which remote education remains the predominant form of education. This is subject to a limit of a quarter of these learners being on-site at any one time.

This will primarily impact schools and colleges, but will also include a small number of local authority providers, special post-16 institutions and independent training providers.

Our overriding principle is that the focus should be 16 to 19 year olds on the first year of a 2 year programme and that total numbers attending at any one time should not exceed a quarter of this group, allowing for learners in this group already in attendance. This is in addition to vulnerable young people and children of critical workers outside of this cohort who might already be in full-time attendance. We would not normally expect adults to be included in the cohort returning to on-site delivery, subject to the flexibilities below. The following points set out areas where there will need to be flexibility, but they are subject to that overall limit:

Colleges and otherFEsettings are already welcoming increased numbers of 16 to 19 learners in the first year of a 2 year programme back on-site from 15 June. We know thatFEsettings are keen to invite other learners under the age of 19 in for a face-to-face meeting before the end of term, where it would be beneficial. As long as this happens in line with wider protective measures guidance, and guidance on the numbers of students permitted on-site at any one time, we would encourage this where possible. This time can be used to check-in on students, and ensure they are supported before a return from September or moving into employment or the next stage of education or training.

On-site provision should continue to be offered to vulnerable young people and the children of critical workers in accordance with thepublished definitions, and this should have priority over other learning. Vulnerable learners and the dependants of critical workers in the first year of a 16 to 19 study programme who attend on-site delivery must be included when ensuring that no more than a quarter of learners in that cohort are on-site at one time. Vulnerable learners and the dependants of critical workers from other cohorts (for example those in the second year of a study programme, or older learners with an Education Health Care (EHC) plan), are the only group that is in addition to the limit meaning that if, for example, older vulnerable learners attend, it is not necessary to reduce the number of first year 16 to 19 learners attending to compensate.

Special post-16 institutions will work towards a phased return of as many young people as can be safely catered for in their setting. This should be done without specific regard to year groups (unless that is appropriate for the individual young person) or proportions of learners.

In order to determine what level of attendance is appropriate, colleges and other providers should conduct risk assessments in order to understand:

We are asking settings to implement a range ofprotective measuresincluding increased cleaning, reducing pinch points (such as at the start and end of day), and utilising outdoor space. Any additional costs arising from wider opening, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) will be funded from existing college budgets. Staff and learners, alongside everyone in the wider population, are eligible for testing if they become ill with coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, as will members of their households. A negative test will enable learners and staff to get back to their education. A positive test will ensure rapid action to protect their classmates and staff in their setting.

Those who are clinically vulnerable, clinically extremely vulnerable, or are living with someone who is, should follow ourprotective measures guidance.

In line with implementing protective measures and reducing contacts, colleges and other providers should limit the attendance of learners in the setting at any one time and keep learners in small and consistent groups. In particular, mixing between different groups of learners should be kept to a minimum. Providers should aim to practise social distancing in line with the measures the government is asking everyone to adopt in public and in workplaces, including keeping learners 2 metres apart from each other where possible.

Colleges and other providers should consider how learners travel to and from education settings, and learners should be encouraged walk, cycle or drive where possible. In preparing for an increase in the number of learners from the week commencing 15 June, colleges and other providers should consider:

Providers should ensure the use that public transport to travel to and from education settings should only be used when no other option is available, and where it is totally necessary, this should not be during peak times. Providers should introduce staggered start and end times as appropriate to achieve this. The Department for Transport has producedguidance for passengerswho need to travel during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Our guidance onimplementing protective measures in education and childcare settingscontains detailed advice for settings on:

We recognise that for some programmes, remote education will be working effectively with a high degree of learner engagement (while some families may, for example, include family members who are shielding and therefore learners are not able to physically attend). Colleges and other providers will have flexibility to decide the appropriate mix of online and face to face content for each programme, within the constraint of limiting those on-site at any one time, reflecting what will maximise learner engagement as well as supporting more vulnerable learners, and enabling the provider as a whole to minimise transmission risk.

For 16 to 19 learners eligible to return, in balancing on-site and online delivery, colleges may consider the following issues, within the constraint on overall numbers:

We are consulting with sector representatives in order to develop and promote best practice models of how inviting additional learners in the eligible cohorts back into education settings could operate.

Parents whose work is critical to the coronavirus (COVID-19) response include those who work in health and social care, in the education and children sector (including further education) and in other key sectors outlined in the list ofcritical workers who can access schools or educational settings.

We recommend you ask for simple evidence that the parent in question is a critical worker, such as their work ID badge or pay slip. It would be overly burdensome on key sectors at this critical time to ask employers to write a letter on behalf of their employees.

Vulnerable children and young people for the purposes of continued educational provision during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak are those across all year groups who:

More information, including the expectations around attendance and encouraging attendance for different groups of vulnerable young people, can be found insupporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The government has set outguidance on staying alert and safe (social distancing)to help educational settings support safe provision for everyone who attends.

Many colleges and other providers have already taken steps to support vulnerable young people, and the children of critical workers who cannot be supported elsewhere, and we are grateful to providers for the vital role they are playing in supporting the national response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Specifically, we are asking that colleges and other providers continue to provide a safe space and encourage attendance. Being in an educational setting can be an important lifeline for many vulnerable young people, particularly where their needs cannot be met safely at home or where they may be at risk of harm.

There is a continuing expectation now and throughout the period from the week commencing 15 June, that vulnerable young people regardless of year group will attend educational provision, where it is safe and appropriate for them do so.

From the week commencing 15 June, young people in returning year groups including vulnerable young people - are strongly encouraged to attend their educational setting where possible, unless they are ill, or guidance says they should not attend.

Providers are expected to follow the process set out on encouraging, enabling and monitoring attendance and following up on non-attendance, seesupporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

We appreciate that decisions on attendance will likely be based on finely balanced discussions between the education provider, the parent/carer and others, including social workers, local authorities and other relevant professionals where applicable. The decision might be taken that the learner should attend the educational setting on a full-time or part-time basis, depending on the needs of the individual. We also appreciate that circumstances do change and therefore attendance decisions should be kept under review. For young people with an education, health and care (EHC) plan, colleges and other providers should ensure that existing risk assessments are up to date.

Where vulnerable young people are already attending educational settings, they should continue to do so. Where young people are currently not attending but attendance is appropriate, we expect providers and local authorities to consider how to encourage their attendance.

If it is not possible for a vulnerable young person to attend a provider due to public transport routes being closed, then providers should speak to the local authority to consider what alternative transport arrangements could be put in place.

We are asking colleges and other providers that have been closed to work towards wider opening from the week commencing 15 June, so we expect the number of colleges and other providers that are closed to decline. However, in the meantime, if a college or another provider is closed, the provider should notify the local authority/social worker. Providers should work with the local authority to ensure that the vulnerable young people who normally attend can be found a place in another educational setting. Providers can also contact their localESFAteam to discuss wider opening and which other local providers it may be possible for them to work with.

As per the existing guidance on vulnerable children and young people, all vulnerable young people continue to be expected and encouraged to attend educational provision where it is appropriate for them to do so. Colleges and other providers which are currently closed to all learners are being asked to work towards wider opening from the week commencing 15 June.

However, where it is not safe for vulnerable learners to attend, or vulnerable learners cannot be persuaded to attend education settings, colleges and other providers should maintain regular communication with social workers, vulnerable leaners and their families to ensure they know where their vulnerable learners are and that they are safe. Colleges and other providers should continue to encourage attendance where appropriate. The frequency of contact required will depend on the individuals circumstances and needs and will be based on the assessment of risk. Social workers will remain in contact with vulnerable learners and their families, including remotely if needed.

See thetoolkit for engaging vulnerable young peoplefor a collection of examples from providers who are successfully engaging vulnerable young people. It is intended to provide an opportunity for colleges and other providers to learn from each others emerging practice and develop their approach to engaging vulnerable learners in education.

Colleges and other providers should continue to comply with thekeeping children safe in education statutory guidance. There is further information on safeguarding incoronavirus (COVID-19): safeguarding in schools, colleges and other providers.

Young people up to the age of 25 withEHCplans in colleges and other providers should, like their peers, go back to college and other providers if they are in the eligible cohorts, and where medical advice suggests they are notclinically extremely vulnerableto coronavirus (COVID-19).

For all young people withEHCplans, we would encourage colleges, other providers and local authorities to assure themselves that risk assessments remain current (seesupporting children and young people withSENDas schools and colleges prepare for wider opening guidance). Colleges and other providers should encourage any learner with anEHCplan to return to education settings if the provider judges that this would be beneficial.

We encourage colleges and other providers to pay particular attention to learners withEHCplans who are about to make a transition to another setting or to adult life, including those starting or finishing a supported internship. These learners may need some form of face to face transition, even if they are not attending their usual place of education.

We recognise that as some young people withSEND, whether they have anEHCplan or not, will need careful preparation for their return (for example, social stories to help with the transition, or routes around the college marked in Braille or with other meaningful symbols to maintain social distancing). The increase in attendance for those withEHCplans in eligible cohorts may be gradual and take place over a period of time if necessary to do so to ensure their safety and wellbeing.

Special post-16 institutions will work towards a phased return of as many young people as can be safely catered for in their setting. This should be done without specific regard to year groups of proportions of learners.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) may make it more difficult for a local authority or health commissioning body to secure or arrange all the elements of the specified special educational and health provision in anEHCplan as required by section 42 of the Children and Families Act 2014. Due to the unprecedented circumstances presented by coronavirus (COVID-19), the section 42 duty has been temporarily modified, so that local authorities and health commissioning bodies can discharge this duty by using their reasonable endeavours. We have publisheddetailed guidance on these temporary legislative changes.

The duty on education settings including colleges and other providers to co-operate with the local authority in the performance of itsSENDduties remains in place. Close working and communication between all parties is a central element in ensuring that young people do receive appropriate provision.

Colleges, other providers, social workers, local authorities and other professionals will want to work together to ensure adequate and appropriate arrangements are in place to keep in touch with vulnerable young people (whether they are attending provision, or not attending for an agreed or non-agreed reason).

Local authorities have the key day-to-day responsibility for the delivery of children and young peoples social care. Social workers and Virtual School Heads (VSH) will continue to work with vulnerable young people in this difficult period.

Where vulnerable young people with a social worker do not take up their place in educational settings or discontinue attendance, the provider should notify their social worker.

If there are challenges contacting and engaging looked after children, providers should discuss concerns with their local virtual school heads (VSH) in the first instance.

Colleges and other providers are encouraged to share their lists of vulnerable young people who should be attending provision with their local authority.

It is particularly important for college and provider staff to work with and support childrens social workers and the local authorityVSHfor looked-after and previously looked-after children.

Colleges and other providers should continue to have regard to statutory safeguarding guidance on inter-agency working, set out inworking together to safeguard children. Providers should also refer tokeeping children safe in educationandcoronavirus (COVID-19): safeguarding in schools, colleges and other providers.

Many learners and staff members will be feeling uncertain and anxious and it is vital that they can still access the mental health and wellbeing support they need. Providers will need to consider their learners and staff members mental health and wellbeing and identify those who may need additional support.

All NHS mental health trusts are setting up 24/7 helplines and seeking to use digital and virtual channels to continue delivering support during the pandemic.

Social connections, alongside exercise, sleep, a healthy diet and routine, are important protective factors for mental health and wellbeing. Resources to promote and support mental wellbeing are included in the list ofonline resourceswe have published to help children and young people to learn at home.

Public Health England have also publishedmore extensive guidanceon supporting children and young peoples mental health and guidance for the public on mental health and wellbeing. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is providing 5m of additional funding for mental health charities (to support adults and young people).

Digital support includes:

Mental health is also covered in theinterim safeguarding guidance, and the principles inkeeping children safe in educationcontinue to apply. Below are some suggestions as to how providers have supported their learners with their mental health and wellbeing:

We are expecting residential further education providers to keep their residential provision open where necessary, and decisions will have to happen on a case by case basis. It is especially important that residential providers remain open to those who have particular needs that cannot be accommodated safely at home, and those who do not have suitable alternative accommodation.

In collaboration with Public Health England and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), we have producedguidance on isolation for residential educational settings, including further education providers with residential accommodation and residential special colleges. This contains advice on how to manage self-isolation in such settings in the event of a confirmed or possible case.

We recognise that the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak carries financial implications for many providers, and we are working to make changes where we can. We set out below the flexibilities we are introducing to support grant funded providers to continue to deliver learning.

To help manage the financial implications, we can confirm that the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) will continue to pay grant funded providers their scheduled monthly profiled payments for the remainder of the 2019 to 2020 funding year.

ESFAallocations for 2020 to 2021 have been confirmed, and payments will be made in line with the national profile which will be confirmed in the relevant 2020 to 2021 funding rules.

As we will use data from the 2019 to 2020 academic year to calculate 16 to 19 allocations for 2021 to 2022, theESFAmay need to apply a different approach to a number of elements within 16 to 19 funding. Where appropriate we will, therefore, use alternative data sources to calculate allocations for 2021 to 2022 to ensure as far as possible that there is not a disproportionate impact on funding.

If learners are unable to complete their study programme as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19) and are recorded as withdrawn in end-year data this could impact on the retention factor used to calculate 16 to 19 allocations for 2021 to 2022. We will, therefore, review the data we use to calculate this as the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) becomes clearer.

We currently use the profile of recruitment throughout the year to determine the lagged student numbers used in 16 to 19 allocations. For providers who recruit learners later in the year rather than purely at the beginning of the academic year, and whose enrolment of new learners in the summer term will have ceased, we will determine a way to ensure this does not have an unfairly detrimental impact on future allocations. For example, we could still apply the current approach of identifying what proportion of student numbers were recruited after we take the initial data return in the autumn but use full year data from 2018 to 2019.

Three elements within the 16 to 19 funding formula use students prior attainment in English and/or maths, namely:

We anticipate that these will continue to be calculated as now following the alternative plans that have now been published to award grades to students in the absence of GCSE exams this summer, and so providers will still be allocated additional funding for young people with low prior attainment in GCSE English or maths. As further details are published for how the replacement for exams will work, we will consider these elements in more detail.

Allocations have been made to providers who will be delivering the first wave of T levels in 2020 to 2021 based on planned T level student numbers. We have already published the approach for applying a tolerance where enrolment of T level students is below the planned number.

Due to the lagged student number approach, where the level of T level students recruited means the tolerance would be implemented, only the numbers above the tolerance would be converted to a full-time band 5 student. Read more about the tolerance andhow T levels will be funded in 2020 to 2021.

We will monitor the suitability of this approach over the coming months as we get nearer to the introduction of T levels.

The unprecedented impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) has meant that it is currently extremely difficult for providers to continue to organise and deliver industry placements through the Capacity and Delivery Fund (CDF).

Given these exceptional and unprecedented circumstances, providers will not be penalised for missing specificCDFindustry placement targets this academic year. Funding will not be clawed back if providers can demonstrate how the funding has and will continue to support your work on industry placement delivery. We want to make sure that providers are able to maximise the activity that they are able to carry out during this period to continue to support the delivery of placements, and to prepare to deliver placements in 2020 to 2021. Activities we would expect to continue to go ahead:

We will ask for evidence of this through the usual autumnCDFmonitoring process in order to minimise reporting burdens, and we will still look to claw back funding under the usual arrangements should providers fail to demonstrate they have continued to support the delivery of industry placements. Providers must avoid the risk of double funding. We will seek to claw back funding should providers furlough staff involved in these activities.

We expect further education institutions to continue to support students who are eligible for, and usually receive free meals in further education, or are newly eligible, whether they are continuing to attend the provider or are studying remotely due to coronavirus (COVID-19) related issues. Read further guidance onfree meals in further education funded institutions for 2019 to 2020.

Colleges and other providers will continue to receive from theESFAallocations of high needs place funding (at 6,000 per place per annum) for the remainder of the academic year 2019 to 2020.

Local authorities will also continue to receive their high needs funding for the financial year beginning April 2020 and should continue to pay high needs top-up funding to colleges, special post-16 institutions and other providers at the rates they have determined. This will ensure that the institutions employment and payment of staff supporting students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can continue. If placements for the summer term, and top-up funding, were anticipated but have not yet been agreed, the local authority should consider funding the institution on the basis of previous patterns of placements and commissioning, so as to make sure that the staff can remain in employment and be available for when the special provision is needed. Staff in institutions who support vulnerable students should also be available for redeployment if their services are needed elsewhere, or they can provide support in different ways. Co-ordination between institutions, and with local authorities, will be important in arranging this.

For providers funded through a contract for service forAEBand Advanced Learner Loans Bursary, we will remove the financial year controls set out in thefunding and performance management rules for 2019 to 2020.

This means we will pay any over delivery in the August 2019 to March 2020 period by utilising the April 2020 to August 2020 period funding, up to the full 12 month contract value. The commitment to fund delivery up to 103% of adult skills and 110% of traineeships contract values will still apply over the full funding year.

The 2019 to 2020funding claims guidancerequires providers with the allocations listed below to complete a year-end forecast funding claim:

As part of theESFAs coronavirus (COVID-19) response, theESFAwill now not require your organisation to complete a year-end claims forecast due in June 2020.

For 2019 to 2020 only, theESFAwill not carry out the final reconciliation for grant funded providers in receipt ofESFAfundedAEB(adult skills, community learning, learner and learning support and 19 to 24 traineeships) and the advanced learner loans bursary fund. These providers will be funded in line with the current agreement schedule with no clawback.

Providers must:

Where it is not possible to deliver online, for example where learning requires physical access to specialist equipment or materials, providers should keep and provide records of where this applies and keep evidence of efforts made to remain in contact with learners and prepare them for a return to learning in the future.

Excerpt from:
Adult Learners not expected to be included in the cohort returning to on-site college delivery from 15 June - FE News

Trans and in prison during a pandemic: a rare glimpse behind bars – The Conversation UK

Posted: June 15, 2020 at 11:46 am

Overcrowded, confined spaces are a nightmare for the spread of coronavirus. This makes prisons a potential hotspot for the disease.

Despite this, most researchers who study prisons have been locked out of them at this crucial time. In the UK, the prison and probation service has halted primary research in prisons, giving us scant information about how prisoners have been affected by the pandemic.

But our team obtained permission to continue existing research exploring the experiences of England and Wales transgender and non-binary prisoners some of the most vulnerable people in any prison. This was on the basis that the methodology placed minimal burden on staff, and the continuation of correspondence was within Her Majestys Prison and Probation Service policy of encouraging letter-writing during lockdown.

When the pandemic struck, we wrote two letters to our participants: one to reassure them that the project will continue, and another with a series of questions regarding their experience of the lockdown. To date, we have received 12 letters, excerpts from which are included below. Through them, we can provide a rare glimpse into the lives of trans and non-binary prisoners in the shadow of COVID-19, in their own words.

Transgender and non-conforming gender people are a vulnerable minority that suffer widespread discrimination in society. However there is little academic research that has focused on transgender and non-conforming gender prisoners and their experiences of prison life. This article reports preliminary findings from what we believe is the first national academic study of this prison population in England and Wales.

The UKs lockdown policies apply to prisons as well as the general community. This means prisoners are currently locked in their cells for 23 to 23.5-hours per day and only allowed out for exercise in the yard, to collect their food and take it back to their cells, and to take a shower (in those prisons that do not have showers in the cells).

One study participant wrote:

I still get up around 7am, but instead of getting unlocked at 8am to go work, gym, etc we are only let out to pick up our food, twice a day, and have 30 minutes exercise outside. We are normally out of our cells from 8am to 8.15pm week days and 8.45am to 5.15pm on weekends. Now we get 30 minutes outside in the yard. The other 23 hours are behind our doors.

Just as essential workers need to keep going to work in the outside world, so do their prison equivalents.

Many of our correspondents continue with jobs that are essential for prison maintenance and to stop COVID. One wrote:

Our first job was putting up perspex screens at the meds hatches to help protect everyone. Ive also emptied the COVID PPE [personal protective equipment] store after bio bags were isolated for 72 hours. A bonus of being an essential worker is daily showers and a 10 a week bonus. The other essential workers are laundry workers, canteen pickers and tea packers (these make our tea bag, milk, sugar, packs that we get daily).

Prisons run a complex roster to manage the 30-60 minute window of out-of-cell time, letting prisoners out in small groups in order to maintain social distancing. However, many of our respondents are sceptical about the feasibility of keeping prisoners and prison staff two metres apart:

Social distancing in prison is just a joke. I wonder how inmates in shared cells can keep 2m distance from each other? Most of the corridors and none of the stairs in this prison are even 2m wide. This is simply ridiculous and officers agree with me.

Work, education, chapel and the gym have been cancelled, and libraries are closed. Yet, some prisons have managed to move the services closer to the prisoners. In one prison, the chaplaincy have started individual visits to the wings; in another, the library has sent a box of books and DVDs to each wing that gets updated every couple of weeks, a prisoner writes. Instead of going to the gym, prisoners are developing their own in-cell exercise routines.

To alleviate boredom, some prisons have started providing distraction packs including drawing, colouring, origami and crossword puzzles. Some are even running weekly quizzes and sudoku, poems or jokes competitions, for prizes of phone and canteen credits.

Access to the usual in-cell distraction, TV, has also improved: some prisons no longer charge the weekly TV fee; some have introduced more channels, including a new TV channel prisoners can watch to receive information.

Prisoners are also doing what they can in the fight against COVID-19 beyond the prison walls. Some prisons have provided an opportunity to donate to the NHS; some have started to use their workshops to produce PPE:

I told wing officer that I can set up a production of face masks in textiles workshop a month later together with one more prisoner we designed and made few different styles of face masks, basic protective clothes and uniform bags.

Despite being in a high-risk environment, most of our correspondents are not particularly worried about COVID-19. Since they have little control over their environment, they have adopted a rather fatalistic attitude. Im not concerned about my health, no point worrying until I have it, one writes.

Others prefer life under lockdown. I love this lockdown, no one upsets me as dont see many people at all, says another.

The main issue for our correspondents is that the lockdown has reduced access to medical services, including mental health care and support for their transition. Those who have already been prescribed hormone-replacement therapy are receiving their medication in prison. Yet, continuing prescription requires blood tests that have been on hold, and so medication such as testosterone blockers have been administered by injection. Appointments at gender identity clinics are also on hold.

I was meant to start on T-blockers, but that hasnt happened yet, a participant writes. I guess as its not critical it goes on the back burner. Its not good for my mental state, but Ive waited eight years so a little longer wont hurt

Generally, the people who are part of this research believe that their prisons are managing well, all things considered. Some prisoners mentioned how prison staff and governors had been going above and beyond to support prisoners and alleviate their hardships.

Despite COVID-19 changes leading to long periods locked up in their cells, our participants thus far have not experienced this in a negative way, and many have positive experiences of lockdown.

This shows two things: first, it says that our participants are resilient to testing circumstances; second, it hints at the social isolation that some of our participants already experience in prison.

This is clear in one particular account of life during COVID-19 compared to life before it:

Im used to being isolated so this lockdown doesnt bother me I normally retreat and isolate myself in my cell to manage stress and anxiety so being locked up 23 hours a day is fine for me. My cell is my only safe space.

This is important to understand because while the restrictions and social isolation for most prisoners will ease as the pandemic progresses, the isolation that our participants experience will not disappear unless wider structural changes are made to ensure that prisons become a more inclusive environment for transgender and non-binary people.

The research team would like to acknowledge and thank the participants, whose letters were used to prepare this article: Jerika Ramone, Hotaru, Rachel, Winter Rose, Wildgoose, Sharron, Brittany, Jess Kelly, and Amelia (all pseudonyms).

Read more:
Trans and in prison during a pandemic: a rare glimpse behind bars - The Conversation UK

There is no perfect diet that works for every metabolism or body type – New Scientist News

Posted: June 15, 2020 at 11:45 am

By Graham Lawton

Aaron Amat / Alamy

There is no such thing as a healthy diet that will work for everyone. People respond to food in such idiosyncratic ways that everybody needs a personalised eating plan, according to results from a study that looked at the effects of genetics, the microbiome and lifestyle factors on metabolism.

The study fed 1102 healthy people identical meals for two weeks and measured their metabolic responses. These varied wildly, with up to tenfold differences, meaning that a healthy diet for one person could be unhealthy for another. Everyone reacts differently to identical foods, says Tim Spector at Kings College London.

He and his colleagues measured levels of glucose, insulin and triglyceride fats in the volunteers blood. High levels of all three after eating are a risk factor for obesity, while people who show glucose and triglyceride spikes after eating are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

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The team also tracked the volunteers sleep, exercise and hunger levels, and took stool samples to assay their gut microbes. Spector, a geneticist, says he expected to find a strong genetic component to the metabolic responses, but actually saw very little. The volunteers included several pairs of identical twins and even they showed very different responses to the same meal.

That told us straight away that genes dont play a major part, says Spector. How we respond to a fatty meal has virtually no genetic component at all, for example. His team found that only about 30 per cent of glucose response is genetic.

Other factors such as gut microbes, circadian rhythms and sleep and exercise are more important, says Spector. The timing of meals also matters. Some people metabolise food better in the morning while others saw no difference in their ability to metabolise food throughout the day.

This suggests that it would be more effective to design a tailored heathy-eating programme for individuals rather than recommending a one-size-fits-all diet.

The results can be surprising, says Spector. He says he ate tuna and sweetcorn sandwiches for years thinking they were good for him, but recently found out that his metabolism responds very badly to them.

Spector and his team have also developed an AI tool to predict peoples responses to food, based on their genes, gut microbes, exercise and sleep patterns and metabolic responses to food. A UK-based company called Zoe has turned this into a consumer test and smartphone app that will be rolled out in the US next month and the UK later this year.

Its a very exciting study, says Bernadette Moore at the University of Leeds, UK. The really significant factor for me is that they did it in twins, so they had a really powerful design to examine the genetics. However, there is still more work to be done to fully understand individual responses to food, she says.

The study findings are impressive, says Yiannis Mavrommatis at St Marys University, London. Its initial findings will shape the future of nutrition science.

Journal reference: Nature Medicine, DOI: 10.1038/s41591-020-0934-0

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There is no perfect diet that works for every metabolism or body type - New Scientist News

6 natural appetite suppressants that you must include in your diet to avoid binge eating – Times of India

Posted: June 15, 2020 at 11:45 am

Due to high caffeine content, coffee is not considered good for health. But when we talk about weight loss it can be quite beneficial. Coffee decreases your appetite, increases calorie burn and fat breakdown. All of these things can be beneficial when trying to shed kilos. But by coffee, we mean black coffee, not the regular one laden with sugar and milk.

How to have it: Have 200-250 ml of coffee twice daily.Due to high caffeine content, coffee is not considered good for health. But when we talk about weight loss it can be quite beneficial. Coffee decreases your appetite, increases calorie burn and fat breakdown. All of these things can be beneficial when trying to shed kilos. But by coffee, we mean black coffee, not the regular one laden with sugar and milk.

How to have it: Have 200-250 ml of coffee twice daily.

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6 natural appetite suppressants that you must include in your diet to avoid binge eating - Times of India

Most diet plans cause weight loss and lower blood pressure, but effects disappear after a year – Drew Reports News

Posted: June 15, 2020 at 11:45 am

And differences between popular diet plan programs are usually small to insignificant.

Reasonably good evidence suggests that the majority of diets lead to comparable modest weight-loss and enhancements in cardiovascular risk aspects over a duration of six months, compared to a typical diet, finds a research study published by The BMJ today.

Weight decrease at the 12 month follow-up diminished, and improvements in cardiovascular risk aspects mainly vanished, except in association with the Mediterranean diet plan, which saw a small however crucial reduction in bad LDL cholesterol.

As such, at least for short-term benefits, the researchers suggest that people must select the diet plan they choose without issue about the size of benefits.

Weight problems has nearly tripled worldwide considering that 1975, prompting a variety of dietary suggestions for weight management and cardiovascular threat decrease.

However so far, there has been no detailed analysis comparing the relative impact of various diet plans for weight-loss and enhancing cardiovascular risk elements, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

To resolve this, a group of global scientists set out to identify the relative efficiency of dietary patterns and popular named diets among obese or overweight adults.

Their findings are based on the results of 121 randomised trials with 21,942 patients (average age 49) who followed a popular named diet plan or an alternative control diet and reported weight loss, and modifications in cardiovascular risk elements.

The studies were designed differently, and were of differing quality, however the scientists had the ability to permit that in their analysis.

They grouped diets by macronutrient patterns (low carb, low fat, and moderate macronutrient similar to low fat, but slightly more fat and slightly less carb) and according to 14 popular named dietary programmes (Atkins, DASH, Mediteranean, etc).

Compared with a typical diet, low carbohydrate and low fat diets resulted in a similar modest reduction in weight (in between 4 and 5 kg) and decreases in high blood pressure at six months. Moderate macronutrient diet plans led to slightly less weight-loss and high blood pressure reductions.

Amongst popular so called diets, Atkins, DASH, and Zone had the largest impact on weight reduction (in between 3.5 and 5.5 kg) and high blood pressure compared to a normal diet at 6 months. No diet plans significantly enhanced levels of good HDL cholesterol or C reactive protein (a chemical associated with inflammation) at six months.

In general, weight reduction lessened at 12 months amongst all dietary patterns and popular called diet plans, while the advantages for cardiovascular danger aspects of all diet plans, except the Mediterranean diet, basically vanished.

The researchers point to some study constraints that could have impacted the accuracy of their price quotes. But state their comprehensive search and comprehensive analyses supports the effectiveness of the results.

As such, they say moderate certainty evidence reveals that a lot of macronutrient diets lead to modest weight-loss and considerable enhancements in cardiovascular threat elements, especially high blood pressure, at six however not 12 months.

Differences between diets are, however, usually insignificant to little, indicating that for short-term cardiovascular advantage people can choose the diet they choose from amongst a lot of the readily available diets without concern about the magnitude of advantages, they conclude.

The substantial series of popular diet plans analysed provides a myriad of option however no clear winner, state scientists at Monash University, Australia in a linked editorial.

As such, they suggest discussions should shift away from particular option of diet, and focus instead on how finest to keep any weight-loss attained.

As nationwide dietary guidelines stop working to resonate with the general public, taking a food-based technique with people and encouraging them to consume more vegetables, legumes, and entire grains and less sugar, salt and alcohol is sound advice, they include.

If we are to alter the weight trajectory of whole populations, we may discover more from understanding how industrial diet plan business engage and retain their clients, and equate that understanding into more reliable health promo campaigns, they conclude.

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Most diet plans cause weight loss and lower blood pressure, but effects disappear after a year - Drew Reports News

To Your Good Health: Diet and exercise are first prescription to try for prediabetes – Arizona Daily Star

Posted: June 15, 2020 at 11:45 am

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband is a 50-year-old prediabetic who has recently experienced burning feet. He refuses to think its his high-carb diet (bread three times a day, chips, ice cream) and instead thinks he just needs some vitamins for foot pain. Could you please explain why and how what he eats affects everything hes experiencing? Anonymous

ANSWER: Diabetic neuropathy is a condition found in people who have had diabetes for years. It causes different symptoms in different people, but pain (often burning in character) and numbness are most common. The underlying cause is uncertain, but seems to be a combination of factors leading to nerve damage.

Prediabetes, often along with the other components of metabolic syndrome including high blood pressure, excess abdominal fat and high cholesterol or triglycerides may also bring on a neuropathy with very similar symptoms. Other causes, especially vitamin B12 deficiency, are appropriate to evaluate before determining the condition is most likely due to diabetes or prediabetes.

There are no specific treatments for the neuropathy, although there are medications to ease symptoms. Treatment of the underlying metabolic syndrome is therefore of the utmost importance, and the two most important treatments are diet and exercise. Avoiding simple carbohydrates, such as found in bread and chips, or the sugars in ice cream, is paramount. Regular exercise has an independent effect that adds to the effectiveness of the dietary changes.

Your husband is at risk, and the fact that the symptoms are recent means he should look at this as a wake-up call. Changing his lifestyle dramatically now can lead not only to improvement in symptoms (or at least they wont get worse), but it will also reduce his risk of heart attack and stroke.

There are many places to get help: His doctor, a registered dietitian nutritionist and a diabetes nurse educator all are excellent potential sources of information, but he has to make the decision to start the lifestyle change. Vitamins do not help diabetic neuropathy. If he can start making the changes, I hope he will find, as most people have, that his quality of life and sense of well-being are so much better that he will not want to stop his healthier lifestyle. Medications may be helpful, but the primary treatment is diet and exercise.

DEAR DR. ROACH: My wife smoked for many years and finally quit with the help of nicotine gum that is 4 milligrams each. Since quitting almost 20 years ago, she continues to use about 12 pieces of nicotine gum per day. Does ingesting this much nicotine in this manner put her at risk for developing some type of cancer from the nicotine? T.D.

ANSWER: No, nicotine is not carcinogenic, that is to say cancer-causing. In large doses, it is dangerous, but the doses she is taking are not at least, for a person used to them. Early signs of nicotine toxicity are excess salivation, nausea and vomiting.

There are many toxic substances in tobacco, some of which are cancer-causing. The tobacco does not need to be burned; chewing tobacco and snuff increase the risk of oral cancer. About half of all people who smoke will die because of smoking-related illness. Even one cigarette a day has significant long-term health risks.

Although its not ideal that she continues to use nicotine gum (and its not cheap), there is no doubt that the gum is much, much safer for her than continuing to smoke.

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To Your Good Health: Diet and exercise are first prescription to try for prediabetes - Arizona Daily Star

Great white shark diet surprises scientists – News – The University of Sydney

Posted: June 15, 2020 at 11:45 am

GoPro image of a great white shark taken off the coast at Evans Head, NSW. Photo: Richard Grainger

Dr Vic Peddemorsa co-author from the NSW Department of Primary Industries (Fisheries), said: We discovered that although mid-water fish, especially eastern Australian salmon, were the predominant prey for juvenile white sharks in NSW, stomach contents highlighted that these sharks also feed at or near the seabed.

Mr Grainger said: This evidence matches data we have from tagging white sharks that shows them spending a lot of time many metres below the surface.

The study examined the stomach contents of 40 juvenile white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) caught in theNSW Shark Meshing Program. The scientists compared this with published data elsewhere in the world, mainly South Africa, to establish a nutritional framework for the species.

Understanding the nutritional goals of these cryptic predators and how these relate to migration patterns will give insights into what drives human-shark conflict and how we can best protect this species, saidDr Gabriel Machovsky-Capuska, an adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the Charles Perkins Centre and a co-author of the study.

Mr Grainger said: White sharks have a varied diet. As well as east Australian salmon, we found evidence of other bony fish including eels, whiting, mullet and wrasses. We found that rays were also an important dietary component, including small bottom-dwelling stingrays and electric rays.

Eagle rays are also hunted, although this can be difficult for the sharks given how fast the rays can swim.

The study found that based on abundance, the sharks diet relied mostly on:

The remainder was unidentified fish or less abundant prey. Mr Grainger said that marine mammals, other sharks and cephalopods (squid and cuttlefish) were eaten less frequently.

The hunting of bigger prey, including other sharks and marine mammals such as dolphin, is not likely to happen until the sharks reach about 2.2 metres in length, Mr Grainger said.

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Great white shark diet surprises scientists - News - The University of Sydney

Men’s Health Week: 5 Heart-Healthy Foods to Incorporate Into Your Diet – FemaleFirst.co.uk

Posted: June 15, 2020 at 11:45 am

15 June 2020

As men get older, heart health becomes a major priority. Not only are heart disease and stroke the leading causes of death globally, but experts say that they're more likely to affect men than women too.

Mens Health Week: 5 heart-healthy foods to incorporate into your diet

"The average human heart pumps around 9,000 litres of blood around the body every day. It's a relentless job, and one that needs our support," says Dr. Earim Chaudry, medical director at men's health platform Manual.

"If you're a man, taking care of your heart is doubly important quite literally, as studies have shown men are twice as likely to have a heart attack as women."

Earim says that medical professionals aren't sure what causes this difference. "Some believe it's a result of men being more likely to partake in damaging lifestyle choices, whereas other studies have linked it to protective qualities in oestrogen, meaning women are less exposed until they are post-menopausal."

He adds: "Men also tend to experience heart problems at a younger age than women, making them susceptible for a larger portion of their lives. In the US, for example, the average age for a first heart attack is 65 in men, compared with 72 in women."

The fact stands that if you're a man, it pays to start thinking about heart health sooner rather than later.

Quitting smoking, exercising daily and limiting alcohol are some important things you can do to reduce your risk of heart issues later down the line, but making smart food choices is also key.

As today marks the start of Men's Health Week, we've found a handful of heart-healthy foods to load onto your plate more often.

1. Berries

When it comes to keeping your heart healthy, berries are nutritional powerhouses that all men could benefit from eating more of.

Common varieties like strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries are packed with anthocyanins a type of flavonoid that's responsible for giving berries, as well as other fruit and veg, their red, purple or blue colour.

Anthocyanins are good for us as they can protect the body against the oxidative stress that can contribute to health problems like heart disease.

Try sprinkling a berry mix onto breakfast porridge or simply wash and plate them up as a healthy afternoon snack.

2. Fatty fish

The essential fatty acids in fish like tuna, salmon and mackerel are vital for maintaining men's heart health, especially as they age. This is because fatty fish is packed with Omega-3, a type unsaturated fatty acid that's long been studied for its anti-inflammatory effects.

In fact, a 2009 study found that eating salmon three times a week, over the course of two months could significantly decrease blood pressure in some adults.

Experts recommend eating at least one portion of oily fish a week to reap the health benefits.

3. Seeds and nuts

Research has found that people who are in danger of a heart attack can cut their risk by including more nuts into their diet.

A 2014 study found that eating walnuts, in particular, can reduce 'bad' LDL cholesterol in the body, which can play a key role in the build up of deposits in your arteries.

Other nutrient-dense nuts to add into salads and snacking include almonds, pistachios and cashews, which are also good sources of dietary fibre and protein.

4. Olive oil

Olive oil is a key staple of the Mediterranean diet, which has been linked with overall good health, including a healthier heart.

The diet incorporates many of the eating habits of countries that border the Mediterranean Sea, with an emphasis on plant-based foods and fish, rather than meat and dairy.

A 2014 study of 7,216 adults also found that those who included olive oil in their diet had a 35% lower risk of developing heart disease, and that the extra-virgin variety gave extra protection.

5. Leafy greens

Leafy greens such as kale and spinach are not only low in calories but are packed with disease-fighting vitamins, minerals and fibre.

Notably, they're a great source of vitamin K, which is vital for proper blood clotting in the body, and could help protect against osteoporosis and inflammatory disease.

Green leafy vegetables are also jam-packed with nitrates, which a 2015 study suggested can reduce blood pressure.

If you don't love the taste of fresh greens in a salad or nourish bowl, you could try whizzing them up in a morning smoothie with some fresh fruit to sweeten the bitter taste.

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Men's Health Week: 5 Heart-Healthy Foods to Incorporate Into Your Diet - FemaleFirst.co.uk

Keto diet: Expert warns that the low-carb diet could pose surprising health risks – Express

Posted: June 15, 2020 at 11:45 am

The keto diet involves eating as little as 20 grams of carbohydrates a day, which is less than a tenth of the recommended daily intake for women.

But unlike other low-carb diets such as the Atkins and paleo plans which put an emphasis on protein, the keto plan focuses on increasing your fat intake.

With carbs usually being the main source of your bodys energy, a diet that doesnt include enough will lead to the body finding energy elsewhere, by using up stores in the liver and even the muscles.

But doing this on an ongoing basis can lead to ketosis, where the body uses fat and protein to create ketone bodies in the liver; this is often seen as the goal for those following the diet, but its incredibly hard to maintain and not without its side effects.

READ MORE:Keto diet: Best snacks to help lose weight fast

Though some studies have suggested the keto diet plan can be good for heart health, this could simply be down to the resulting weight loss that can ease some of the strain on the heart.

In fact, Consultant Dietitian Maeve Hanan believes the keto diet could have a negative effect on your health.

The expert, who has written extensively on health for The Food Medic website as well as in her own book, Your No-Nonsense Guide to Eating Well (out this month)has warned of the potential downsides of the keto plan.

As well as worrying that the restrictive diet could lead to an unhealthy relationship with food, Hanan cautioned that the high fat, low-carb nature of the plan could pose a health risk for some people.

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A low intake of wholegrains, a more restricted intake of fruit and vegetables and a higher intake of saturated fat may lead to a higher risk of constipation, bowel cancer and heart disease over time, Maeve explained.

Higher-carb vegetables such as potatoes, squashes and carrots are all out of bounds on the diet plan, which prioritises low-carb options such as broccoli, kale, spinach and mushrooms.

Grains and foods such as pasta and couscous are also off limits in the restrictive plan, as well as beans, peas, lentils and chickpeas.

Even fruit is discouraged, with food such as butter, oils, avocados, chicken, eggs and cheese on the menu instead, in order to up your fat intake.

Maeve also warns that the diet can have a serious effect on your energy levels - which may affect your workouts.

Carbs are the main fuel for our brain and body, and a keto diet can lead to a very low energy intake which could lead to burning muscle for energy and reduced exercise performance, explained Maeve.

Theres even a condition thats known as "keto flu", caused by the restrictive nature of the high fat plan.

The phenomenon can cause symptoms such as tiredness, headaches, diarrhoea, cramps, and weakness.

But Maeve is especially wary of the keto plan when it comes to women who are looking to lose weight, as it could have much wider health implications.

It can contribute to triggering a type of 'starvation mode' called relative energy deficiency in sports (RED-S), Maeve noted, which is most likely to occur in active women who don't consume enough calories - this can lead to issues with fertility, the immune system, bone health and more.

Similarly, there is research emerging that a very low carbohydrate intake (such as the keto diet) may disrupt hormonal function for pre-menopausal women.

Any new diet that involves cutting out food groups or significantly reducing calories should be talked through with a professional first to ensure its right for you, and that it's not going to interfere with any medical conditions or health worries.

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Keto diet: Expert warns that the low-carb diet could pose surprising health risks - Express

Diets have to change for world to experience benefits of increased cycling, new research suggests – Cycling Weekly

Posted: June 15, 2020 at 11:45 am

While many are hailing the coronavirus pandemic for, at least momentarily, getting cars off the road and encouraging people to cycle more in the future, researchers have said that cyclists needing to eat more could also be bad for the environment.

A paper published in the international journal, Scientific Reports, says that more people switching from driving to walking or cycling will lead to an increase in food-production related emissions.

This takes away from the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions caused by so-called passive modes of transport, such as driving.

Therefore, lead researcher Dr. Anja Mizdrak from the University of Otago in New Zealand says people need to be encouraged to take low-carbon dietary options for the necessary extra calories, meaning less meat, dairy and processed food, and more food grown locally and seasonally.

>>> Meet the man cycling 100km a day for 100 days

We have a conundrum but a solvable one. To maximise the benefit on greenhouse gas emissions achieved by increasing active transport, we need to also address dietary patterns. Emissions associated with active transport will be lower if walking and cycling are powered by low-carbon dietary options, Mizdrak said.

The study, the first of its kind to estimate greenhouse gas emissions caused by food intake due to active transport, says the extra food consumption caused by travel would raise greenhouse gas emissions by 0.26 kilograms CO2-equivalents per kilometre for walking and 0.14 kilograms CO2-equivalents per kilometre for cycling, at least in economically developed countries.

To maximise the effect on greenhouse gas emissions achieved by increasing active transport, we need to address dietary patterns too. Emissions associated with active transport will be lower if walking and cycling are powered by low-carbon dietary options, Mizdrak says, urging people to shift away from meat consumption and towards more vegetables, whole grains and fruits.

Given emissions associated with different food groups range widely from 0.02 for vegetables to 5.6 grams CO2-equivalents per kilocalorie for beef and lamb in one global study, consumers switching to foods with lower emissions could reduce overall dietary emissions by up to 80 per cent, adds Dr Cristina Cleghorn.

Of course, health benefits would come around not just from the change in diet added to more people taking up walking and cycling, but more active transport would reduce air pollution and improve the quality of life in urban environments.

In the UK, Greater Manchesters Cycling and Walking Commissioner, the former Olympian Chris Boardman, says the Governments planned 2bn investment in cycling is unprecedented and will help solve short-term issues and will hopefully pave the way for longer-term problems to also be dealt with.

More important than cash, the government has given cycling as a mode of transport a new status, not for ideological reasons but for practical ones, its the most logical solution to short-term problems and then, if we choose, itll help us tackle long-term ones, Boardman told Cycling Weekly.

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Diets have to change for world to experience benefits of increased cycling, new research suggests - Cycling Weekly


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