Month: Nov 2020

Let’s Explore Leicester – Estate Agents Edition

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Written by Alice Warburton It’s that time of the year again: students rush out in great panic, signing contracts here there and everywhere to secure their dream home for the next year. How do you know who the best estate agents are? Where they operate? If they’re trustworthy? I’m going to list three main agencies below to help get your search started, along with some top tips – contact details will be listed at the end. Please do remember though that every student experience will be different, and so you should go for the one that you feel most comfortable with. Westmanor Student Living Available on London Road and Grange Lane, this estate agent is one to remember due to the variety of properties they offer both in the city centre and near the university. Last year they received 99% positive feedback on all their properties and housed one thousand eight hundred students. Popular properties from them include the brand-new build Queen Elizabeth Apartments on Queens Road, and Lillie House, above Tesco Supermarket next to …

Victory for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris

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Written by Sabirah Mohammed After a prolonged and gruelling wait, the results of the American Presidential Election were finally announced on the 7th November 2020. For some Americans, it was a day of momentous celebration and triumph, whilst for others, a dismal retreat. Crowds of ecstatic Biden supporters took to the streets of America cheering from all corners of the White House, welcoming the President-Elect of America. “He is honest, he is straightforward, and he has the experience to lead this country out of this very dark period,” said former White House Advisor, Omaraso Manigault, interviewed in Washington. The presidential election turnout this year recorded the highest turnout in 120 years at 66.9%. The key states were significant in securing votes for the candidates, particularly in Pennsylvania, where the most electoral votes are located. It was announced on the day Biden won the presidential ticket that he had secured 20 electoral votes in Pennsylvania, essentially earning him his victory. Trump tweets to ‘STOP THE COUNT!’ When more votes were counted and it was clear that …

The Walk for Peace

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Written by Laura May Bailey Last Sunday at 11 o’clock, as people across the UK and Commonwealth grew silent, they also gathered in distanced groups at the Arch of Remembrance in Victoria Park to pay tribute and remember all those who have lost their lives in war.  The 11th of November 2020 marked 102 years since the end of the First World War, a milestone that felt even more poignant this year. Many of the men and women who lived through the Second World War are forced to stay at home, and perhaps, not even see family or friends, for their own safety. With many Armistice Day events migrating online, people feel more disconnected than ever. Looking to the past can provide comfort and inspiration.  The History of Victoria Park Before it was the large open park we know today, Victoria Park was a racecourse, a football field, and even one of the first roller skating rinks in Britain. During the Second World War, the park was a vital war resource, used for allotments by …

Why our children need our help, with word from Jonathan Ashworth MP

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“The system isn’t built for families like mine to succeed” – Marcus Rashford, MBE   In 2019 alone, 1.9 million school children claimed free school meals in England, accounting for 15% of state school pupils in the country. The scheme is accessible for students in nursery through to sixth form/college and is allocated depending on the Household’s yearly income. It is available for those in England, Scotland and Wales with a household income of less than £7,400, and in Northern Ireland, is accessible for those with a household income of less than £14,000. Since national lockdown began in March, free school meals have cost the Government £129 million, as they funded the scheme in half term and over the Easter holidays. The issue of funding arose in the lead up to the summer holidays this year. The Government rejected the possibility of continuing the scheme throughout the holiday, which caused a national outcry. The possibility of being able to provide food for children in the midst of a global pandemic for some was a task they …