Coronavirus: In This Together podcast with Sarah-Jane Mee

What a strange and unsettling time we are living in. Like so many people up and down the country in lockdown, I am staying home trying to work, trying to home-school and in general just trying to keep it together.

At times, watching the coronavirus crisis as it changes lives across the globe can be overwhelming. It’s been described as the “crisis that will change everything”.

Maybe it will, maybe it won’t, but one thing that has given me great hope and lifted me at times – when I’ve desperately needed it – is the sheer brilliance of people to lift each other up and keep going.

:: Listen to Coronavirus: In This Together on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Spreaker

So I decided we should dedicate a platform to celebrate the good news coming out of all this, which is why I’m launching a brand new podcast – Coronavirus: In This Together. Because, let’s face it, we all need a bit of good news right now.

Helped by our Sky News users, we are bringing you a round-up of the week’s positive news; the uplifting moments, the inspirational stories and the ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

Every week, we’ll bring you tales from across the globe and from closer to home, with Sky News users sharing their stories of people or organisations in their neighbourhoods who are going the extra mile to help others, raise money or simply raise a smile.

People like 27-year-old Olivia Strong from Edinburgh, who had the idea while on her daily run to invite her friends to use their daily outdoor exercise allowance to run, walk or cycle 5km – whilst maintaining a safe distance from others – and donate £5.

Her aim was to raise – what else? – £5,000, but after the idea went viral on social media Run For Heroes is now on course to top £2m.

Superheroes like the Spider-Man in Stockport taking to the streets to entertain children staying home to save lives.

Kids like 12-year-old Seth Charles, from Sheffield, who missed out on a trip to climb Scafell Pike because of the lockdown so decided to climb the equivalent distance on his stairs at home. He ended up scaling the equivalent of Mount Everest – in 24 hours.

The big names doing their bit, such as Queen guitarist Brian May, with his feel-good charity single, and opera star Andrea Bocelli, whose Music For Hope show on the deserted streets of Milan was watched by more than 31m worldwide.

We want to celebrate the great and the good of this crisis, because we are all in this together.

To get involved, get in touch on social media @skysarahjane using #InThisTogether

(c) Sky News 2020: Coronavirus: In This Together podcast with Sarah-Jane Mee