Opinion - Stand tall and if you can help step forward

Barry James, right, chats to Giuseppe Cino of the Trattoria Domenico Italian Restaurant online.

Last week’s political shenanigans left me feeling let down by a government that put so much effort into persuading us it had our best interests at heart.

Angry and bitter about Dominic Cummings? A bit, but it also shows again that we are only useful to politicians up to a point and party or personal imperatives come first - if they calculate they can get away with it.

A slap in the face then, but one that reminds us that ultimately we are the ones responsible for ourselves.

The week has ended with the focus shifting to the next steps in easing lockdown.

It helps the government to move on from the scandal but it also needs to get the economy going.

It has the difficult task of balancing the risk between personal and economic health. People dying versus businesses, and the country, going bust.

And, armed with our new found independent thinking, it’s up to us to decide if we agree.

We should look at the death rates, the ‘R’ number, the science and our own situations and then make up our own minds about what we’re prepared to do.

Looking out for ourselves doesn’t mean just family, but our NHS, our city and our business community.

Sheffield finance expert Barry James has launched a project that allows bosses of locked down business take control.

His crowdfunding scheme helps them raise money from loyal customers prepared to pay now for a service they get later.

Aimed at High Street independents, from hairdressers to pubs and restaurants, it is the perfect project for our times.

Barry also welcomes companies that have done very well out of the pandemic to give something back, by paying the fee for another firm.

Others are helping in other ways. Sheffield digital company Tribepad paid for 800 copies of The Star which have been distributed free to food banks and care homes. The business also created a website for Voluntary Action Sheffield to handle a wave of volunteers.

Boss Dan Kirkland believes strongly in being public spirited.

He said: “I would ask anyone in a fortunate situation to look at what they can do to help individuals and organisations.”

So don’t let the government get you down, or worse still, make you disengage.

Stand tall, and if you can help, step forward.