Good news and announcements reported during the first COVID-19 lockdown in April 2020.

1. £750 million in support for charities is announced

On 8 April 2020, the government announced a £750 million support package for frontline charities. The announcement included £360 million to be allocated through government departments and £370 million for smaller charities; the government also pledged to match donations to the BBC’s Big Night In appeal, starting with at least £20 million.

2. Blue hearts show support for the NHS

In 2020, 11-year-old Tamara McAuley from Suffolk started a campaign to display blue hearts in windows as a message of support for the NHS. The idea inspired artwork by London artist James Cochran as well as other displays.

3. Easter eggs are donated to hospital workers

Explore Buxton reported in April 2020 that Cadbury had donated 13,000 Easter eggs to University Hospitals of Derby and Burton for NHS workers.

4. Jack Dorsey pledges $1 billion in Square shares

Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey pledged $1 billion of his Square equity to his Start Small fund for COVID-19 relief in April 2020. He said the fund would later focus on girls’ health and education and universal basic income.

5. Cambridge partners set up a testing laboratory

The University of Cambridge, AstraZeneca and GSK announced a joint COVID-19 testing laboratory in April 2020. The centre was established that month and contributed to national testing capacity.

6. The NHS launches a mental-health hotline for staff

In April 2020, NHS England announced a confidential mental-health hotline for staff responding to the pandemic.

7. Businesses support local organisations

Business in the Community set up the National Business Response Network to connect businesses offering support with community groups and charities affected by COVID-19. Its 2019–20 annual report records the connections made. The original round-up reported that IT company BigChange staff had been matched with South Seacroft Friends & Neighbours to make befriending calls. The Charity Commission’s merger register records the 2019 merger of the South Seacroft and North Seacroft charities into Seacroft Friends & Neighbours.

8. Games carry public-health messages

During the first lockdown, Codemasters included stay-at-home messages in DiRT Rally 2.0 as part of a government partnership with games companies.

9. Penguin Random House sends books to communities

In April 2020, Penguin Random House UK began distributing free books through Neighbourly to communities facing hardship, including low-income families and older people facing isolation.

10. Chester Zoo offers virtual visits

Chester Zoo’s virtual zoo days brought animal footage to viewers during lockdown. The original round-up highlighted its third virtual day, which included lions, penguin chicks and Komodo dragons.