We’re back for another #ICYMI. Rather unsurprisingly, it’s been another bumper week and between debate around lockdown extensions and Donald Trump withholding contributions to the WHO, there might have been one or two pieces of news that have passed your eyes.

Here are some of the standout news pieces that we have seen.

Netflix and read

As a group of avid readers (and Netflix fans), we loved the #turnonthesubtitles campaign that was launched this week to encourage literacy while children are at home. Campaigners united to outline the value of subtitles as an “incredibly simple” way of boosting literacy, particularly among primary children. Many authors and celebrities came together signing a letter to broadcasters and internet streamers saying that subtitles are needed “as a matter of urgency” when home-learning is at its peak. A simple way to encourage learning, we’re behind this all the way! Find out more here.

Healthcare innovation in Edinburgh

A group of up to 150 researchers at the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Inflammation based at the Edinburgh BioQuarter are being re-deployed to work on a project that aims to test existing and experimental drugs to find a treatment for Covid-19. The team hopes to discover new therapies that could be implemented before a vaccine becomes widely available. STOPCOVID will focus on the inflammatory pathways that lead directly to lung injury, which is associated with the most severe aspects of Covid-19 and will repurpose medicines for other conditions that are already in clinical use or are currently being tested. We have our fingers crossed for the team that they can contribute to a solution to combat the virus. Read more here.

Springing to life

The Easter weekend brought with it some beautiful weather. While many of us might have spent time enjoying a walk in the country, coast or Scotland’s beautiful green spaces, unfortunately, this year was not meant to be. However, many places of natural beauty don’t want the public to miss out. One of those spaces is the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh which has launched a Virtual Spring to allow people to view the blossoms unfurling at four of its gardens — Edinburgh, Dawyck, Logan and Benmore. Horticulturists still tending to the gardens have been capturing the beauty that we aren’t currently able to enjoy through a series of videos and pictures. Enjoy the virtual Spring here.

And finally

Unless you’ve been hiding under a lockdown stone, it was hard to miss the touching story about 99-year old army veteran, Capt Tom Moore. He heard about the strain the NHS was under wanted to give back and raise £1,000 by completing 100 laps of his 25m garden by the time he turned 100. Well, rather unbelievably, at the time of posting, Tom — with the help of his walker — has not only completed those 100 laps but raised an astonishing £18 million! A big thank-you to Captain Tom from the Clark team for giving us all the feels — even if we’ve all had a bit of an ugly cry in the process.

We’ll be back next week with more #ICYMI. Until then…stay safe.