An innovative online social hub has been launched to connect a North West business community during the coronavirus lockdown - complete with daily celebrity messages from stars of sport, music and television.
HeathLive is the interactive website connecting firms based at The Heath Business and Technical Park in Runcorn in the Liverpool City Region, aiming to entertain viewers as well as keep them connected "at a time when many are feeling isolated and lonely".
It's the brainchild of John Lewis MBE, owner and managing director of SOG, who own and operate the business and technical park. The park is home to over 100 companies from over 20 sectors.
While scientific research into combating Covid-19 is being undertaken by some of the companies based at The Heath, staff at numerous others are having to work from home or have been furloughed. Meanwhile all The Heath’s many daily events and leisure activities, which usually attract hundreds of local people to the site, have been cancelled as a result of the lockdown.
HeathLive is hosted by Mr Lewis’ son Ryan, who works at The Heath and is a member of Merseyside band The Hummingbirds. The website was constructed and is managed by consultant Simon Lewis.
In February, SOG revealed at The Heath Business and Technical Park
In a filmed message on HeathLive, Mr Lewis said: “Just because you can’t get to The Heath because of the Government lockdown doesn’t mean to say that The Heath community can’t come to you, through HeathLive. HeathLive is a great initiative and congratulations to Simon Lewis, to Ryan Lewis and all the team for pulling this all together so quickly, brilliant!
“It’s a great platform for us all to keep in touch. This is very important at the moment, so I would encourage everybody to log on every day. Like any community you only get out what you put in, so get involved and log on. Engage, participate, and speak to your friends and, through the Chat Room, meet new friends and acquaintances.”
Since it was officially opened by Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram on April 7, the site has posted a host of daily celebrity messages from stars including England Cricket Captain Joe Root, TV personalities Dame Esther Rantzen, Ricky Tomlinson and Claire Sweeney and Merseyside musicians Gary Christian and Ian Prowse.
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There are also films of the late Sir Ken Dodd’s widow, Lady Anne, playing the piano, Tony Blair’s former communications director Alastair Campbell, playing the bagpipes from his bathroom with his own special tribute to the NHS, and a singing performance from Mr Lewis.
As well as the celebrity Soapbox, the site also has a section where leading musicians can post their music along with a comedy area where HeathLive has linked up with NextUp Comedy, a comedy filming and distribution platform, where stand-up comedians perform online.
There’s also an arts and craft section for children hosted by former headteacher Alison Albion, a cookery section and exercise classes posted by The Heath’s Gym including special exercise programmes for the ‘Nifty Fifties’.
Mr Lewis also used the HeathLive platform to recognise the ‘fantastic and courageous’ work of NHS staff.
He called on the Government to introduce a new national medal, styled on the George Cross from the war, for “those members of staff who have gone completely beyond the call of duty to keep people alive, those very people who are our friends and our family".