Ollerton business owner is fighting for those unable to reopen - and her petition has over 12,000 signatures

Rebecca Hood, who runs the Ollerton-based beauty academy RH Lash Academy, has said her and thousands of other business owners throughout the country are in a desperate situation after being told they cannot now reopen as planned because of the coronavirus restrictions.

In a statement on July 31, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that despite hoping to reopen in England a number of higher risk settings on August 1, they would now have to remain closed until August 15 at the earliest owing to a rise in coronavirus cases.

This includes casinos, bowling alleys, skating rinks and close contact service providers such as makeup artists and eyebrow and eyelash technicians.

Rebecca is now appealing for people to sign her petition to lobby the Government to support this community of people who have been denied their only stream of income, and she has already garnered over 12,000 signatures.

Rebecca said: “We are quite frankly on our knees.

“A lot of close contact business owners are parents who can no longer afford to pay the rent or put food on the table.

"We need help as soon as possible.”

Rebecca published a video on her Instagram page, in which she gave an emotionally charged appeal to the public for help, and it has been viewed over 50,000 times.

She added: “It’s a difficult time for everyone but if you can spare just a couple of minutes from your day to sign and share this petition then our voices will get heard.

“I had to throw away thousands of pounds worth of kit that had gone out of date during lockdown and reinvest in that, plus more equipment to ensure I can operate in a COVID-secure way, only to be told that we couldn’t reopen on August 1 as initially planned.

“This whole situation is soul destroying but I’m channelling my passion to drive change within the Government, and I need as much help as I can get so I’m appealing to the wider community.”

Rebecca is not only highlighting the need for financial support for those in close contact businesses, she is also supporting self employed individuals who have only been trading for 12 months or less and cannot apply for desperately-needed self employment grants to keep themselves stable.

Rebecca added: “I’m overwhelmed with the support that the petition is receiving.

"It’s heartbreaking the messages I’m seeing and I just want to do everything I can to support the industry.”

To sign the petition, visit: www.change.org/p/the-british-council-financial-support-for-close-contact-seevices.

Rebecca has also created a public Facebook group called Financial Support For Close Contact Businesses where you can follow her progress with this campaign.