A partnership between conservation charity the John Muir Trust, the Langholm Initiative community development trust, rural development charity Southern Uplands Partnership and the economic development agency South of Scotland Enterprise aims to discover how technology can help landowners better understand the potential for carbon storage on their land and so inform land-use decisions.

They have put the challenge out to tender through the Scottish Government’s CivTech programme, which exists to invite entrepreneurs and start-ups to help solve challenges faced by public sector organisations.

Although data on the potential for carbon storage on different habitats does exist in various forms – for example in satellite data – it often cannot be accessed or processed in a meaningful way by land managers.

The successful candidates will then be placed into a tech accelerator programme to explore promising ideas that will be piloted on the new 5,200-acre Tarras Valley Nature Reserve on Langholm Moor in Dumfries and Galloway. Successful trials at Langholm could inform wider adoption of the technology across Scotland and beyond. The resulting products and services will be revealed in March 2022.

The vast nature recovery area at Langholm was created in March 2021, after one of the most ambitious community fundraising campaigns ever seen – supported by the John Muir Trust, South of Scotland Enterprise and others – led to the South of Scotland’s largest community buyout.

The reserve has a diversity of habitats including globally important peatlands and native woodlands, which each have different carbon capture and storage potential, biodiversity importance and economic opportunities.

New technology could, for example, more accurately assess how to ensure the right native trees are in the right place through either planting or natural regeneration, or inform decisions around actions such as peatland restoration or conservation grazing.

“With the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve land owned by the community for the first time in its history, we want it to be an inspiring case study for tackling the nature and climate crises while supporting community regeneration. This exciting tech challenge could see the South of Scotland lead the way in pioneering innovative carbon capture breakthroughs,” says Langholm Initiative Trustee Kevin Cumming.

A winning solution to the challenge would empower landowners and managers to promote and implement nature-based solutions to the climate crisis that would also support livelihoods and the economy.

For the John Muir Trust, who in early 2021 promoted the concept of a ‘natural land carbon tax’ to help incentivise and fund more nature-based solutions to the climate crisis across Scotland, this is a big step.

“Scotland has won praise worldwide for its ambitious climate change targets. In this year of COP26, it can once again show global leadership by bold action to bring about progressive land use for the benefit of climate, communities and nature,” says Mike Daniels, Head of Policy and Land for the John Muir Trust.

Indeed, the South of Scotland is well placed to take the lead in setting ambitious targets for green recovery and a greener economy.

Jane Morrison-Ross, Chief Executive of South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) said: “SOSE is delighted to be part of the CivTech 6 programme and support the goal of bringing technological innovation to the South of Scotland.

“We look forward to working with the Langholm Initiative, John Muir Trust and Southern Uplands Partnership on the Challenge to look at how technology can help landowners measure the potential for carbon storage on their land, and also better inform land-use decisions. Natural Capital is hugely important to the South of Scotland.

“The tender marks the start of this exciting programme and offers a fantastic opportunity for tech companies to secure a grant to explore innovative and groundbreaking ideas.”

CivTech is embedded in the Digital Directive of the Scottish Government, and operates by offering a series of funded tendered annual ‘challenges’ to industry to solve problems through a competitive process. Challenge 6 is for 2021/22 and launched on 14 June 2021. Tech companies are invited to tender, and can do so by going to the CivTech website civtechalliance.org/civtech-6.

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“If you are lucky enough to have a few pairs of grey partridge on your land, now is the time when you might have the privilege of spotting new broods of chicks: peak hatching usually coincides with Royal Ascot, around mid-June,” said Neville Kingdom, PCS co-ordinator at the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, which runs the scheme. “By joining the Partridge Count Scheme, you can help us by carrying out some simple monitoring of your own grey partridges and learn how to support this wonderful bird. A few hours of your time could make a real difference.”

Since 1933 the scheme has relied on volunteers who are interested in conserving wild grey partridges to record bird numbers twice a year and submit them to a national database. The count takes a few hours each spring and autumn. Volunteers will receive instructions and after the count will be sent site-specific feedback on how ‘their’ partridges are faring and what they can do to help them.

GWCT research has shown that the grey partridge’s decline has much to do with the drive for food production. At the end of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, grey partridges were so numerous that they were the most popular sporting quarry. Yet after the Second World War, the numbers of grey partridges dropped by 80% in 40 years. The widespread use of herbicides and insecticides has eliminated both the arable weeds that provide food for the insects that grey partridge chicks feed on, and the insects themselves. The drive to maximise the area under production and the removal of hedges caused the loss of nesting habitat. Fewer winter stubble fields have removed a vital food supply at the harshest time of year and a reduction in predation control has resulted in more hen and nest losses. These factors combined have seen the grey partridge added to the red list of birds of conservation concern.

However, there is much that land managers can do to support the greys they have and increase future numbers, according to Neville: “Even if you only have a few pairs, if you aim to double their numbers and other land managers across the country do the same, then we can make a real difference to the future of this iconic species. Please consider joining the Partridge Count Scheme.

“Counts are best carried out just after dawn or at dusk when the birds are out of cover and feeding. Using the findings of your count, we will send you results which can help to identify factors which might be limiting partridges on your land and inform habitat management decisions that could benefit grey partridges, as well as other wildlife. Subsequent counts will then help to track the success of those measures, hopefully encouraging you to keep working to conserve this treasured bird.”

The grey partridge is a ‘barometer’ species of wider farmland biodiversity: where they are doing well due to successful management, so will many other species. The Partridge Count Scheme provides vital data to scientists and policymakers on long-term trends and the effect that positive game and habitat management can have on grey partridges, as well as providing practical guidance to farmers and game managers on supporting grey partridge stocks.

Landowners, managers and gamekeepers can find more information and join the scheme at www.gwct.org.uk/partridge

Notes to Editors

The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust – providing research-led conservation for a thriving countryside. The GWCT is an independent wildlife conservation charity which has carried out scientific research into Britain’s game and wildlife since the 1930s. We advise farmers and landowners on improving wildlife habitats. We employ 22 post-doctoral scientists and 50 other research staff with expertise in areas such as birds, insects, mammals, farming, fish and statistics. We undertake our own research as well as projects funded by contract and grant-aid from Government and private bodies. The Trust is also responsible for several Government Biodiversity Action Plan species and is lead partner for grey partridge and joint lead partner for brown hare and black grouse.

ISDN radio broadcast line – at our Fordingbridge HQ we have an ISDN radio broadcast line, allowing us to conduct interviews remotely.

Charlotte Bradley, from Walker in Newcastle, is a finalist in the Royal Sapphire Pageant and part of her duty is to provide support to charities. Since joining the pageant in 2019, Charlotte has chosen to support The Sick Children’s Trust which gives families with a seriously ill child in hospital a place to stay. In Newcastle it runs two ‘Homes from Home’ Crawford House located at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and Scott House located at Freeman Hospital.

Despite a global pandemic bringing the world to a halt, Charlotte’s determination to fundraise for The Sick Children’s Trust, alongside a number of other charities including Sepsis UK and Autism UK, has flourished. Recently, Charlotte completed The Sick Children’s Trust’s Sit-Up challenge undertaking 900 sit-ups throughout April. This raised £113 bringing Charlotte’s fundraising total to over £1,000, enough to support a family at Crawford House for 35 days. In addition to this, over Christmas and Easter, Charlotte organised benefit bags – bags full of items such as snacks and toiletries – for families staying at the charity’s ‘Home from Home’. Charlotte said:

“Being a finalist in the Royal Sapphire Pageant is a lot more than wearing a tiara, it’s a lot of hard work. I feel like everybody should have the opportunity to live equally and they should have the same opportunities. I want to try to give people the same opportunities I’ve had.

“I know so many people who have used Crawford House and when I visited and spoke to the families it was amazing and the best thing I have ever done. I could see where all my work was going and how much it meant to the people who need Crawford House. When I found out it costs the charity £30 to support a family for a night, I just wanted to work harder and get more money in.”

Charlotte and her mum, Marie, are currently busy organising their next fundraising event, Movie Mania, which will be taking place on Saturday 21 August at Jubilee Club in Walker. Tickets are just £3 and include entry, a raffle ticket and hot dog and guests are asked to arrive as their favourite film star. Marie added:

“Charlotte knew that she wanted the biggest part of her fundraising to go to a local charity and Crawford House is one of the chosen charities for the pageant. It’s surprising how many people we know who have been supported by The Sick Children’s Trust’s ‘Homes from Home’ in Newcastle.

“Charlotte’s using her platform to shout about Crawford House from the rooftops. We spoke to a few families who said they’d turned up with nothing and had travelled for miles which is why Charlotte wanted to do the benefit bags. Her and everyone at the pageant have such a good work ethic and I am so proud of everything she is achieving.”

The Sick Children’s Trust ‘Homes from Home’ are located just a few minutes’ walk from the children’s wards. It costs The Sick Children’s Trust £30 to support a family for one night which gives them so much more than just a roof over their heads when their child is in hospital. £30 gives them someone to talk to, and a calm place to rest with their family. Andrew Leadbitter, Crawford House Manager, said:

“Charlotte is an inspiration to everyone here at The Sick Children’s Trust. She has shown such determination and remained smiling despite the last year being challenging for everyone. We are so grateful for her support, as we know all the families are who have benefited from her fundraising and gifts. Thank you, Charlotte, for everything.”

To find out more about The Sick Children’s Trust, please visit sickchildrenstrust.org.

To find out more about Charlotte’s fundraising visit: www.facebook.com/lottiepageant/

The acclaimed author of Chocolat Joanne Harris invited an international audience to celebrate the 2021 Society of Authors’ Awards run digitally for the second year because of Covid-19 restrictions.

Speaking from her home in Yorkshire, Harris previous award recipients to announce the 2021 winners of ten prizes for debut novels, poetry, historical biography, illustrated children’s books, and lifetime bodies of work. The trade union – which counts such household literary names as Philip Pullman, Hilary Mantel, Kazuo Ishiguro, Neil Gaiman and JK Rowling among its members, as well as 11,500 jobbing writers, translators, illustrators and journalists – shared £105,775 between 35 writers, poets and illustrators in a celebration of the ‘phenomenal depth and breadth of books and words’

The winners included Thomas McMullan, who won the £10,000 Betty Trask Prize for his dark dystopian debut The Last Good Man; poet Paula Claire who this week celebrates 60 years of creating poetry as well as her Cholmondeley Award; Graeme Armstrong, who won both a Betty Trask Award and a Somerset Maugham Award for The Young Team; lawyer turned children’s writer Rashmi Sirdeshpande and illustrator Diane Ewen who won the Queen’s Knickers Award, now in its second year, for Never Show a T-Rex a Book; Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and British Book Awards winner Kiran Millwood Hargrave who won a Betty Trask Award for her debut adult novel The Mercies; and Pulitzer Prize winner Fredrik Logevall who won the Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography for JFK Volume 1.

Gboyega Odubanjo, Milena Williamson and Cynthia Miller were among the young poets celebrated in the Eric Gregory Awards, while other award recipients included Forward Prize winner Kei Miller, award-winning columnist Lola Okolosie, playwright and education worker Lamorna Ash, and short fiction author and literary reviewer DM O’Connor.

Introducing the Awards, Harris reflected on the current challenges facing the author community, saying, ‘for authors, whose careers are precarious at the best of times, the challenge to sustain themselves right now is more acute than ever.’

She continued, ‘that is why all of us are here to celebrate the phenomenal depth and breadth of books and words. Authors at the very beginning of their careers. Authors that are well established. Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and everything that lies in between. Literature as a treasure at the centre of society. Writing as a force to be reckoned with.’

In his acceptance speech, Kei Miller described his Cholmondeley Award as ‘a wonderful reminder that we belong to so many societies and so many countries’. McKitterick Prize winner Elaine Feeney spoke of the ‘lovely boost’ the prize has given her, confirming ‘signs of life off the West coast of Ireland!’

Queen’s Knickers Award winner Rashmi Sirdeshpande thanked ‘everyone who has helped [Never Show a T-Rex a Book] find its way into the hands of a child’. And Graeme Johnson whose novel The Young Team mirrors his own experiences of addiction and Scottish gang culture said he hopes his two awards will ‘speak volumes to the young men and women in my community about the distinct possibility of their impossible.’

As she closed the ceremony, Joanne Harris said, ‘There’s no better way to support authors than to read them, so I urge you all to pick up tonight’s winners from your local bookshop and discover their worlds.’

The winners for each award are:

The ALCS Tom-Gallon Trust Award

Sponsored by the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS), the ALCS Tom-Gallon Trust Award is awarded for a short story by a writer who has had at least one short story accepted for publication. Judged by Claire Fuller, Sophie Haydock, Billy Kahora, Ardashir Vakil and Mary Watson. Past winners include Benjamin Myers, Lucy Wood, Grace Ingoldby and Claire Harman. Total prize fund: £1,575.

• Winner: DM O’connor for I Told You Not to Fly So High Awarded £1,000
• Runner-Up: Sean Lusk for The Hopelessness of Hope Awarded £575

Betty Trask Prize & Awards

The Betty Trask Prize and Awards are presented for a first novel by a writer under 35. Judged by Sara Collins, Elanor Dymott and Vaseem Khan. Past winners include Zadie Smith, David Szalay, Hari Kunzru and Sarah Waters. Total prize and award fund: £26,200.

Betty Trask Prize Winner

• Thomas Mcmullan for The Last Good Man (Bloomsbury) Awarded £10,000.

Betty Trask Awards Winners

Five winners, each awarded £3,240.

• Maame Blue for Bad Love (Jacaranda Books)
• Eley Williams for The Liar’s Dictionary (William Heinemann/Cornerstone Prh)
• Kiran Millwood Hargrave for The Mercies (Pan Macmillan/Picador)
• Nneoma Ike-Njoku for The Water House (Unpublished)
• Graeme Armstrong for The Young Team (Pan Macmillan Picador)

Cholmondeley Award winners

5 winners each awarded £1,680

The Cholmondeley Awards are awarded for a body of work by a poet. Judged by Moniza Alvi, Grace Nichols and Deryn Rees-Jones. Past winners include Seamus Heaney, Carol Ann Duffy, John Agard and Andrew Motion. Total prize fund: £8,400

• Kei Miller
• Paula Claire
• Maurice Riordan
• Susan Wicks
• Katrina Porteous

Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography

The Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography is an annual award for historical biography which combines scholarship and narrative drive. Judged by Roy FosterFlora Fraser, Antonia Fraser, Richard Davenport-Hines and Rana Mitter. Past winners include D.W. Hayton, Anne Somerset and Philip Ziegler. Total prize fund: £5,000.

• Winner: Fredrik Logevall for JFK Volume 1 (Viking)

Eric Gregory Award winners

7 winners each awarded £4,050

The Eric Gregory Award is presented for a collection of poems by a poet under 30. Judged by Vahni Capildeo, Andrew McMillan, Sarah Howe, Jamie McKendrick and Roger Robinson. Past winners include Carol Ann Duffy, Helen Mort and Alan Hollinghurst. Total prize fund: £28,350.

• Phoebe Walker for Animal Noises
• Michael Askew for The Association Game
• Gboyega Odubanjo for Aunty Uncle Poems
• Kandace Siobhan Walker for Cowboy
• Cynthia Miller for Honorifics
• Milena Williamson for The Red Trapeze
• Dominic Hand for Symbiont

McKitterick Prize

The McKitterick Prize is awarded for a first novel by a writer over 40. Judged by Sabrina Mahfouz, Nick Rennison and Christopher Tayler. Past winners include Helen Dunmore, Mark Haddon and Petina Gappah. Total prize fund: £5,250.

• Winner: Elaine Feeney for As You Were (Harvill Secker, Vintage) Awarded £4,000
• Runner-Up: Deepa Anappara for Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line (Chatto & Windus, Vintage) Awarded £1,250

​Paul Torday Memorial Prize

Now in its third year, the Paul Torday Memorial Prize is awarded to a first novel by a writer over 60. The prize includes a set of the collected works of British writer Paul Torday, who published his first novel Salmon Fishing in the Yemen at the age of 60. Judged by Paul Bailey, Roopa Farooki and Anne Youngson. Past winners are Anne Youngson and Donald S Murray.

Total prize fund: £1,000.

• Winner: Kathy O’shaughnessy for In Love with George Eliot (Scribe Uk) Awarded £1,000
• Runner-Up: Karen Raney for All the Water in the World (John Murray/Two Roads)

The Queen’s Knickers Award

Now in its second year, this annual prize, founded by Nicholas Allan, author of The Queen’s Knickers, is awarded for an outstanding children’s original illustrated book for ages 0-7. It recognises books that strike a quirky, new note and grab the attention of a child, whether in the form of curiosity, amusement, horror or excitement. Judged by Alexis Deacon, Patrice Lawrence and Tony Ross. ​The inaugural winner of this award in 2020 was Elena Arevalo Melville for Umbrella. Total prize fund: £6,000.

• Winners: Writer Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Illustrator Diane Ewen for Never Show a T-Rex a Book (Puffin) Awarded £5,000
• Runner-Up: Alex T. Smith for Mr Penguin and the Catastrophic Cruise (Hachette) Awarded £1,000

Somerset Maugham Award winners

4 winners each awarded £4,000

The Somerset Maugham Awards are for published works of fiction, non-fiction or poetry by writers under 30, to enable them to enrich their work by gaining experience of foreign countries. Judged by Fred D’Aguiar, Nadifa Mohamed and Roseanne Watt. Past winners include Helen Oyeyemi, Julian Barnes, Zadie Smith and Jonathan Freedland. Total prize fund: £16,000.

• Lamorna Ash for Dark, Salt, Clear (Bloomsbury Publishing)
• Isabelle Baafi for Ripe (Ignition Press)
• Akeem Balogun for The Storm (Okapi Books)
• Graeme Armstrong for The Young Team (Pan Macmillan Picador)

Travelling Scholarships

5 winners each awarded £1,600

The Travelling Scholarships are awarded to British writers to enable engagement with writers abroad. Judged by Tahmima Anam, Aida Edemariam, Anne McElvoy, Adam O’Riordan and Gary Younge. Previous recipients have included Dylan Thomas, Laurie Lee and Margaret Drabble. Total prize fund: £8,000.

• Clare Pollard
• Guy Gunaratne
• Yara Rodrigues Fowler
• Tom Stevenson
• Lola Okolosie

The inspection focused on five key areas integral to the running of the home, including whether the home is safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led. These key areas surmise the full report, which saw Lavender Fields receive a rating of ‘Good’ out of the possible ratings of ‘inadequate,’ ‘requires improvement,’ ‘good’ or ‘outstanding.’

The CQC inspectors spoke to several of the residents’ family members, who were particularly appreciative of the care staff. The report showed comments from relatives such as, ‘It’s like a family here, [carers] cannot do enough for you… Staff speak to my loved one in a very nice manner’ and ‘[care staff] are very caring, they are lovely to her’ in regards to their loved one living in the home.

Another relative praised care staff, describing how they ‘go the extra mile’ in their approach to their role.

The report touched on how Lavender Fields had adapted in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, praising the home manager, Karen Cooper, for having ‘worked in partnership with local health teams during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure people were receiving appropriate care and support’.

In addition, Lavender Fields was noted for admitting people safely, and for using PPE effectively and safely- something that is always important within care homes, but even more so due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The home was further praised on its approach to infection control, with its policies up to date, as well as prevention strategies in place for preventing visitors from spreading COVID-19 through efficient visitation policies.

Home manager, Karen Cooper, said: “I am thrilled that Lavender Fields has received a ‘Good’ rating following this CQC inspection. It is a testament to the hard work of the staff, as well as to the strength and endurance of the residents, as we have all navigated these challenging times together over the last year. To have gained this recognition for the home, and everybody who makes up our Lavender Fields family, is extremely rewarding.”

About Lavender Fields

Lavender Fields in Sevenoaks, Kent, is a purpose-built, 75-bed home catering to older adults in need of residential, dementia or respite care. The home is run by Greensleeves Care, a non-profit care home provider, and it embodies the charity’s ethos surrounding a person-centred, dignified and respectful approach to care.

For more information, visit https://www.greensleeves.org.uk/care-homes/lavender-fields-sevenoaks/

To read the CQC report in full, follow this link: https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-5154676354

Michelle became the newest resident at Gloucester House, a nursing home in Sevenoaks managed by Greensleeves Care, for an intensive physiotherapy programme to rehabilitate a leg injury- a year prior to her move, she had been involved in an accident that resulted in severe damage to her Achilles Tendon.

In a spell of bad luck that most people could not fathom, a year into her recovery, Michelle then broke the same ankle in two places due to an accident on the stairs at her home.

As lockdown was in full swing by this time, Michelle did not have the support system in place that she usually would. She didn’t feel that she would be safe at home on her own, so when the time came for her to be discharged from hospital, the staff recommended that she go to Gloucester House, as they believed the intensive physiotherapy would benefit Michelle, allowing her to recuperate quickly, rather than have sporadic physiotherapy sessions over a long period of time.

Following advice from the healthcare staff, Michelle moved into Gloucester House, where she stayed for four months. Immediately, the home’s physiotherapists began working on a programme with Michelle to rehabilitate her leg and get her back to her old self again. While Michelle describes these sessions as ‘intense’ she maintains that the physiotherapists were incredibly supportive. Michelle particularly enjoyed working with one of the physios, Jane, who she described as ‘inspirational,’ providing the motivation she needed to work hard and self-manage her injury in between home visits and getting her to enjoy the thrill of moving again.

Michelle was also spurred on by her newfound neighbours, all of whom were taking part in physiotherapy sessions themselves. Their support was invaluable, Michelle states, as the culture within the home was one of solidarity and encouragement:

“The other residents really supported me and made me feel welcome. I hoped that at the same time, I could be something to them, and provide some comfort during the COVID-19 lockdown periods.”

Michelle also claims her stay at Gloucester House to be an educational one, where she was introduced to a wide variety of crafts and activities, with plenty of nutritious food on the weekly menu. Now that she is back home, she is still maintaining a healthy, balanced diet. Alongside the benefits of physiotherapy, Michelle’s stay at Gloucester House equipped her with some necessary ‘tools for life’ which have encouraged her to improve her health in general- something she had been planning on doing for some time.

Home Manager, Bethany Powley, said: “After several months of hard work and dedication from both Michelle and the team here Michelle recovered well and walked out to return home. She was not only able to gain clinical and nursing support, but she was supported and encouraged to make healthier lifestyle choices. Michelle remains in regular contact with us and updates us on her progress.”

Michelle returned home and is swimming and walking regularly; but planning to make a visit to Gloucester House as soon as she can, for a cup of tea, a catch up, and maybe an exercise class.

• Musician Pete Townshend has given permission for his classic song ‘Give Blood’ to be used for the first time to promote blood donation. Global Blood Fund, a charity focused on encouraging voluntary blood donation, has produced world-music interpretations in multiple languages for international use to inspire a new generation of blood donors.

• World Blood Donor Day on 14 June is one of only nine official WHO Global Health Days, celebrating each year the vital contributions of tens of millions of blood donors around the world in enabling hospital procedures and saving lives. This year’s event is especially important as the global pandemic has devastated worldwide blood collection.

                                                                _____

London, England; Oklahoma, US and Worldwide – To celebrate World Blood Donor Day on 14 June, the charity Global Blood Fund (GBF) has released multiple interpretations of Pete Townshend’s song ‘Give Blood’, performed by leading musicians from around the world. Set to video to encourage sharing on social media and through other channels, these are being donated by the charity free-of-charge to blood services in low and middle-income countries throughout Africa, Latin America and the Middle-East for use on and around World Blood Donor Day.

Pete Townshend, guitarist and principal songwriter for the legendary rock band The Who comments; “Although it is now more than 35 years since I wrote the song ‘Give Blood’, this is the first time it has actually been used to encourage donation. Shortage of blood around the world is a huge issue, particularly in poorer countries, and so I was delighted to give permission for Global Blood Fund to use my work to help communicate the need for more donors to come forward.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that the minimum number of units of blood needed to sustain an adequate level of health equals 1% of a nation’s population – 10 units per 1000 people. Yet many poorer countries fall well short of this goal. The lack of infrastructure and equipment for collection and processing of blood components is a key impediment to providing a sustainable blood supply, as is a severe shortage of volunteer donors. Though blood and safe transfusion services are essential parts of any strong health system, the safety, sustainability and adequacy of blood remains a major health challenge for numerous countries.

GBF’s Executive Director, Gavin Evans, explains the thinking behind the approach. “Each year it becomes harder for messages about the importance of blood donation to cut through to the public, even though tens of thousands tragically die because of blood shortages. But with music such an influential part of people’s lives – especially in many of those countries that struggle most to collect enough blood – for 2021 we are using lyrics and melody to highlight the extraordinary impact of donor generosity. Not only do these individuals help save the lives of those in need of a blood transfusion, but the benefit to family, friends and the wider community of helping that patient recover is also profound. Using music as the medium, we think we have some really powerful messaging – and a great set of songs that people will enjoy in their own right.”

Working closely with national and regional blood services around the world, the music tracks will be released through multiple channels in the run up to 14 June, with national blood services encouraged to ‘get creative’ in how they use materials; as young donors in Bungoma County in Kenya did here and in Cameroon here.

Evans adds; “Our hope is that thousands of new life-saving blood donors will come forward in all the countries using these materials.”

The following versions of the song, which are featured in a purpose-made video, are being released:

As well as YouTube links above, all materials can also be accessed via https://globalbloodfund.org/wbdd-resources/

About Global Blood Fund

GBF is a charity registered in Oklahoma, US, and England, UK. Each year around 120 million units of blood are collected worldwide, but poorer parts of the world – home to 84% of the population – collect only just over half of this. Shortages in low-HDI countries are common and lack of availability for transfusion leads to tens of thousands of premature deaths; particularly among young children experiencing complications from malaria and mothers in childbirth. GBF aims to re-balance these inequalities. It does this by providing training, equipment, money and other forms of support. It is particularly focused on encouraging voluntary donation, recognized by the WHO as the most effective and cost-efficient of all possible interventions. More at https://globalbloodfund.org/

For Further Information

Gavin Evans, gavin.evans@globalbloodfund.org, +44 (0)7711 447242

Press Officers at local blood collection agencies can provide additional regional context

First is a think tank and charity that promotes practical ways to

improve environmental, social and economic wellbeing in public utilities

such as energy, water and communications.

As part of our new programme of work, Together for a Fair Climate Future, we are delighted to announce that The Sustainability First 2021 Art and Writing Prizes are now open for applications.  We hope you can help distribute this announcement within your organisation and within personal networks that you are affiliated with. This year’s theme is: Together for a Fair Climate Future. The theme brings together the climate crisis, fairness in society, and how we work together to achieve a more sustainable future.

Winning entries will receive a prize of £1000, with £500 for second prize and £300 for third prize. The deadline for submissions is 10 July 2021 at 23:00.

The full competition adverts, which outline the scope, high-profile judging panel and details on how to enter can be found here. Full terms and conditions of competition entry can be found here.

A brief overview of each prize is also provided below.

Sustainability First Art Prize 2021

The Sustainability First Art Prize 2021 is open to all living British visual artists and international visual living, working or studying in the UK, established and emerging, over the age of 18 years. Images of up to 3 works only can be submitted online per person. The works must be original, created in any media

– including but not limited to painting, drawing, mixed media, sculpture, video and installation.

Theme: Together for a fair climate future

We are interested in artworks that:

• Look at the relationship between the climate crisis and fairness in society;
• Set out visions for a fairer and more sustainable future;
• Explor­­e working together or collectively to achieve these visions;
• Explore what meaningful changes are needed and how to put these into action; and/or
• Draw from personal experience.

The Sustainability First Writing Prize 2021 is open to British writers and international writers living, working or studying in the UK, over the age of 18 years. Writing could include, but is not limited to, an article, a personal account, an essay, a short story, or a poem. For the writing prize, we would like to see pieces of writing that respond to the question: 

How do we achieve meaningful social changes in the UK to tackle the climate crisis and develop a fairer society?

We want to hear writers’ imaginative visions, creative ideas and practical steps for societal change. This could draw from lived experience. Written entries will need to look at both climate change and fairness in society, and we particularly invite suggestions for how to challenge existing structures and achieve wider behavioural, social, cultural and/or systems change in a constructive and practical way. 

Fast growing Chinese wind turbine manufacturer CRRC Zhuzhou Institute Co.,Ltd has now joined Global Wind Organisation, becoming part of a global network of stakeholders driving standards for safety.

CRRC is one of the world’s top wind turbine manufacturers, with 3.84 Gigawatts of new installations in 2020 and a total of 8.2GW installed to date. The company’s membership was approved by GWO’s General Assembly of globally leading manufacturers and owner operators and was celebrated at an official ceremony in Beijing.

Mr. LIU Hui, Deputy General Manager of CRRC Wind Power confirmed that they as manufacturer of Wind Turbines will commit to use GWO standards for its workforce training and furthermore CRRC will soon be certifying its own GWO training centre.

CRRC Wind Power has 1100 employees, of which 60% are technicians and engineers who are likely to be in scope for GWO Basic Safety Training.

Mr. LIU Hui, explained:

“For CRRC Wind Power safety has always been crucial ensure both in production, installation, operations and maintenance of turbines. CRRC will unambiguously work to provide a safe and harm-free working environment for our workforce and to promote an aligned standard of safety in the wind power industry. As a GWO member company, CRRC Wind Power is looking forward to work together across markets and expand adherence to GWO global safety standards. As a state-owned enterprise, CRRC takes the responsibility of “achieve yourself while others achieve”, and we will make contributions to the development of green energy in the new era.” ‍

For GWO, having a fifth Chinese member this will accelerate the industry’s global effort to strive towards an injury free working environment and it is a step towards establishing GWO as the aligned wind industry training standard for Chinese technicians.

Jakob Lau Holst, GWO CEO explained:

“To meet our ambitions, we will need to grow this community, doubling each year in 2021 and again in 2022. Globally, we know at least 500,000 technicians need GWO safety training, and in China alone this amounts to almost 220,000 people to meet the country’s forecast installation targets of 194GW by 2025 on and offshore.

We see support from a growing number of leading Chinese wind companies, joining our mission to strive towards an injury free workforce in the global wind industry. And we continue to grow the numbers of training centers globally and in China.

CRRC is is now a part of the global GWO community. Just like in a family, our community relies on unity and leadership and we look forward to working with Mr. LIU Hui and his excellent team”

Paul Robbins, Chairman of Global Wind Organisation’s Executive Committee and Chief H&S Specialist at Vestas, said:

“We are extremely pleased to welcome CRRC as our newest member of the GWO Family.

CRRC has a decades long heritage within rail and entered the wind industry in 2006, becoming an important Chinese manufacturer today, and I look forward to working together with our new colleagues to positively influence the safety of a diverse workforce. We look forward to supporting them in reaching our collective goals of creating a safer environment and more productive workforce in wind.”

About CRRC

CRRC Wind Power is a division of CRRC Zhuzhou Institute Co.,Ltd. (CRRC Zhuzhou Institute),established in 1959, formerly known as Zhuzhou Electrical Locomotive Research Institute of Ministry of Railways, and currently is the first level wholly owned subsidiary of CRRC Corporation Limited.

The Wind Power Business Unit of CRRC zhuzhou institute (CRRC wind power) was founded in 2006. CRRC wind power has built three product lines of wind turbine, intelligent operation and maintenance, and comprehensive energy, aiming to become an important force in the field of global clean energy.

Currently CRRC has established and produced 8183.3MW and the forecast for 2021 of 3500+MW

About GWO

GWO is a non-profit group of wind turbine owners and wind turbine manufacturers, committed to the creation and adoption of standardized safety training and emergency procedures.

Independent training providers deliver GWO-certified training to technicians and students worldwide. There are currently nine GWO training standards, containing a total of 24 modules. For more information on GWO standards, visit this page.

Training records are created when a GWO standard course is passed and completed by a person. These records are uploaded and stored in the GWO WINDA database, allowing workers to transfer their skills to new employers, reducing frictional costs and eliminating retraining of basic skills.

GWO member companies

Acciona, Avangrid Renewables, CGN Wind Power, CRRC Wind Power, Cubico Sustainable Investments, Enercon, Envision, Equinor, GE Renewable Energy, Goldwind, Iberdrola, The Nordex Group, Ørsted, RWE Renewables, Shanghai Electric, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, SSE, Vattenfall and Vestas.

All photos and graphics copyright Global Wind Organisation

‍Media Contact Details

Ralph Savage – Director, Global Development & Stakeholder Relations, Global Wind Organisation

rs@globalwindsafety.org

‍

The new children’s book, Colour My Future, shares the story of a young Black girl who is drifting off to sleep. With every turn of the page, she dreams of all that she could grow up to be, from ‘Firefighter’ to ‘Doctor’.

Colour My Future is the debut publication by Roxanne Williams, an emerging Black British author and visual artist. Williams wrote and illustrated the book during the Covid-19 lockdown to support young readers, aged 3-7.

Williams says the world’s mental health is on edge due to many forms of uncertainty and loss. This, “mixed with the outcry and weight of protests against systemic brutality towards Black lives, led me to using my creative skills to boost our wellbeing and affirming self-representation,” she says.

With an affirmation on every page, Colour My Future uses rhyme and the affirmation “I can’’ to explore 16 different futures. The bright illustrations capture the joy of the main character’s imagined career choices. As she wakes up from her dreams, the reader is encouraged to keep exploring their own aspirations for the future.

Through her story, children are encouraged to express themselves, dream ambitiously, and have fun. A matching activity book reinforces the infinite potential in every child.

“My mum empowered me with love, compliments and positive affirmations, and told me that I could do anything, until this belief became second nature. With the Colour My Future toolkit, I am paying these life skills forward to the next generation of little dreamers”, says Williams.

Farzana Khan, Executive Director of Healing Justice Ldn, says, “It is an honour for Healing Justice Ldn to support Colour My Future as part of our Artist in Residence programme. In these critical times, we need the genius of those who are marginalised and are already imagining new ways. This book is a creative gesture towards young people who offer us so much, and need more and more space to colour the world. Colour My Future is part of the practice of imagination, which needs to be cared for and strengthened right now.”

Colour My Future is available for purchase beginning 8 June, 2021. Readers can purchase their copies from colourmyfuture.com.

About the Author

Roxanne Williams grew up in South East London and splits her time between drawing, painting, exploring new ideas and giving creative advice. In 2010, Roxanne founded Crazivity Design Studio to celebrate self worth through creativity and collaboration. Expression is at the heart of Crazivity, in the form of illustrated products, live art events and design services.

Rewilding Britain says nature is badly depleted in the parks – with protected sites often in a worse condition than elsewhere, key species missing or declining, and decades-old laws hampering National Park Authorities’ ability to protect nature.

The charity says the UK Government and devolved administrations should create core rewilding areas on public land across 10% of the national parks. They should also modernise legislation to empower the parks to significantly expand their efforts to tackle biodiversity loss and climate breakdown.

“Wilder national parks could lead the way for a healthier, more nature-rich Britain, with opportunities for communities and local economies,” said Guy Shrubsole, Rewilding Britain’s Policy and Campaigns Coordinator.

“Nature would be in an even worse state were it not for the parks, but we’re being outpaced by the nature and climate crises. Despite some superb initiatives, the parks’ ability to upscale nature’s recovery and lead the way is being hobbled by decades-old laws dating as far back as the 1940s. It’s time for change. Without wilder national parks, the Prime Minister’s pledge to protect 30% of Britain for nature by 2030 is just not credible.”

The independent Glover Review into England’s national parks reported to the Government in 2019, and recommended setting up Wilder Areas – but Ministers have yet to act. The Scottish and Welsh governments are yet to set up similar reviews.

The UK has been ranked 189^thout of 218 countries for its quality of nature, with some 56% species in decline and 15% threatened with extinction. Rewilding Britain says rewilding – the large-scale restoration of nature to the point it can take care of itself – could reverse the country’s collapse in biodiversity.

In England’s national parks, three-quarters of Sites of Special Scientific Interest are in a poor condition and often in a worse state than elsewhere, according to RSPB research. They also have average woodland cover of just 15%. A Friends of the Earth study showed there is less woodland cover in the Yorkshire Dales than London, less in the Peak District than Leeds, and less in the Lake District than Sheffield.

Ensuring wilder national parks is achievable, and the Government can create rewilding areas across 10% of the parks regardless of action by private landowners, according to land ownership mapping carried out by Rewilding Britain. Public bodies – with water firms, which are legally obliged to help the parks meet their purpose – own 738,000 acres or 13% of the total 5.7m acres covered by Britain’s 15 national parks.

The charity says the Government should also introduce fresh legislation to modernise key Acts of Parliament, dating as far back as 1949, which cover the national parks. As planning authorities, the parks can restrict built development but have very few powers to restore and protect nature.

Exmoor National Park Authority plans to restore natural processes over 10% of the park but may struggle to do so without other public bodies being obliged to support them. Brecon Beacons National Park Authority has been consulting on its next Management Plan, with encouraging proposals for nature recovery.

Rewilding 10% of the parks would see peatlands, moorlands, woods, rivers and seas restored, with no loss of productive farmland. Another 50% of the parks should consist of nature recovery areas with a mix of habitats, wildlife corridors and land uses, with Government financial support for nature-friendly agriculture.

Allowing native trees to naturally regenerate, and restoring peatlands damaged by drainage and moorland burning, would boost biodiversity, absorb carbon dioxide, reduce flooding and improve water quality. Missing species such as beavers, pine martens and white-tailed eagles should be reintroduced when habitat is available and in consultation with local people. Conservation grazing by native livestock would help overgrazed meadows and heaths revive.

Rewilding Britain’s research has shown a fifth of Britain’s species could be saved from decline or extinction by increasing the scale, quality and connectedness of habitats nationwide. It has also shown how rewilding can bring new opportunities for people, including jobs and volunteering opportunities, and how nature restoration on marginal land can work well alongside generating income from food production and livestock.

The public already wants wilder national parks. The top response from residents and visitors to a Campaign for National Parks survey in 2016 for improving the parks was ‘better conservation of wildlife’, closely followed by ‘make them wilder’.

Increasing numbers of landowners are rewilding areas of the parks. Members of Rewilding Britain’s Rewilding Network include Wild Haweswater and Wild Ennerdale in the Lake District, Ingleborough National Nature Reserve in the Yorkshire Dales, and Creag Meagaidh and Mar Lodge in the Cairngorms.

Rewilding Britain has launched a public petition calling on the Prime Minister and the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales to create wilder national parks this year. This comes as the G7 nations meet this week and are expected to reaffirm their commitment to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030, and with the UK to host the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow in November. See rewildingbritain.org.uk.

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Macy Baker along with her dad, David and brother, Joel, will be climbing Skiddaw, Scafell Pike, Helvellyn and Scafell all in just one day on 24 June. The trio have all conquered several of the mountains individually in the past, but this will be the first time they have climbed all four in one go.

The family are taking on the challenge to raise money for The Sick Children’s Trust to thank the charity for supporting David and his wife, Carole, 23 years ago when their son Martin underwent treatment at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI). Martin had a condition which caused an abnormal connection between his oesophagus and the trachea. He had surgery when he was born to correct this but sadly Martin passed away at ten weeks old due to further complications. The family have always been grateful to The Sick Children’s Trust for keeping them close to their son’s bedside throughout his time in hospital at its ‘Home from Home’ Crawford House. Carole said:

“As a family we relied heavily on the support we received from the staff at Crawford House. We live 82 miles away from the RVI and with a poorly baby under one year old in hospital, we would’ve found it so difficult to manage as a family without being able to stay close to Martin.”

David has completed several fundraisers in the past for The Sick Children’s Trust and is excited for his children, Macy and Joel to join this latest challenge. Though they know that this will not be an easy feat. David said:

“From past experience of climbing these mountains on their own we know how tiring they can be, so this will be both a physical and mental challenge. We’ve been getting a lot of support from friends and family which has really motivated us, as well as knowing we are raising money for such a great charity.”

It costs The Sick Children’s Trust £30 to support a family for one night. £30 gives a family so much more than just a roof over their heads when their child is in hospital. £30 gives them someone to talk to, and a calm place to rest with their family. The Baker family are hoping that their efforts will raise £500. Macy and Joel added:

“The charity means so much to our family for the support it gave my parents so we’re always looking for ways to give back. We’re all very active so this was the perfect challenge for us. It is quite daunting and we know it will be difficult, but knowing that we’re doing it for Martin and for such a worthy cause will definitely push us through.”

2020 was a challenging year for the charity which saw a significant drop in income due to a lot of fundraising events being cancelled because of the pandemic. The charity expects 2021 to be equally as challenging. Crawford House Manager, Andrew Leadbitter, said:

“The Baker family are amazing supporters of ours and we can’t thank them enough for taking on such an incredible challenge to raise money for our ‘Homes from Home’. It is certainly a hard task but we’ll be with them every step of the way and we know they can do it.

“As families navigate the additional challenges that the pandemic has brought with it, we are continuing to provide them with the support they need in our ten ‘Homes from Home’ across the country, but this is only possible thanks to our wonderful supporters and fundraisers like the Baker family.”

More information about the family’s fundraiser can be found on their JustGiving page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Macy-Baker

For further information about The Sick Children’s Trust, please visit sickchildrenstrust.org

Jessie May is a hospice at home care charity that provides palliative and respite care to terminally ill children, and their families, across the South West. A Jessie May nurse will provide specialist nursing care to terminally ill children with extremely complex medical needs in their own home.

Skechers have provided all Jessie May nurses with a free pair of their memory-foam trainers, to help them keep comfortable during their daily work. They have also generously offered 50% off to all office staff, recognising the hard work that they undertake behind the scenes to support the team of nurses.

The partnership has come about through the friendship of Jessie May nurse Charlotte Baker and Skechers MD Pete Youell. Having heard many stories from Charlotte about the work Jessie May do, Pete was keen to help.

“Here at Skechers we endeavour to help our community the best way we can” says Peter Youell, Managing Director at Skechers UK & Ireland. “Partnering with the amazing children’s hospice, Jessie May, on such an important cause is an honour and we managed to provide care staff with comfortable work shoes that are essential to their role”.

Lindsey Horton, Corporate Partnerships Officer at Jessie May, is delighted with the support.

“Jessie May nurses can be on their feet all day, supporting children and families when they need it the most. Could you walk a mile in their shoes? I doubt it, but Skechers decided that a little comfort would help and embraced our nurses by offering them footwear that supports their feet as well as looking fashionable. It’s so lovely to partner with a company that has so much “sole”. Thank you so much and welcome to the Jessie May family.”

Corporate partners form an essential aspect of support for Jessie May. There are many ways companies can get involved including Caring at Work https://www.jessiemay.org.uk/caring-at-work/ or having Jessie May as your Charity of the Year

https://www.jessiemay.org.uk/fundraising-and-events/corporate-fundraising/charity-of-the-year/

//:ENDS

A spike in mental health issues caused by lockdown pressures has prompted landlord Lincolnshire Housing Partnership to step up its positive action for residents.

LHP has linked directly with mental health practitioners to help staff be more alert to residents affected by mental ill-health.

Specialist mental health training has been delivered to support officers and is planned for repairs and maintenance technicians, with the aim of identifying residents who might need some extra help in managing the pressures of lockdown.

Officers have also maintained a high level of proactive welfare checks, making around 150 calls each week, to offer support and spot signs of anyone having difficulties.

The direct link with health experts means they can immediately access appropriate help from local mental health services.

Mark Coupland, Head of Commercial and Support Services at LHP, said in one case the simple purchase of an Alexa helped reduce calls from someone suffering from loneliness from 800 to 52 a month.

“One customer was feeling lonely and isolated due to lockdown and would call to ask for the time or to talk about the weather,” Mark said.

“At the height of their anxiety they rang 200 times a week. By listening carefully to the calls, we increased our support and suggested the purchase of an Alexa. The customer is still in touch, but calls have dramatically reduced.”

Eighteen people have also been referred for additional help with a range of health, care and tenancy issues.

And LHP continues to work with Age UK Lincoln and South Lincolnshire on a project to supply mobile tablets to keep vulnerable people connected. Support staff also follow up Age UK mobile responder visits with regular wellbeing calls.

“During the first lockdown we made regular calls and provided activity packs, plus access to online exercise classes, which were really welcomed,” added Mark.

“Having seen the spike in mental health needs, we are being proactive in spotting trends and issues in people’s behaviour so that we can make sure they get the right help to remain safe and well in their homes.”

LHP is partnered with Lincolnshire Telecare Services and Age UK Lincoln and South Lincolnshire to provide a Lincolnshire-based monitoring centre for a range of telecare products and services.

Find out more about the service by visiting the website.

Rock Trust’s first Green Action Plan outlines the steps the charity is currently taking to reduce their carbon footprint, as well as highlighting the many steps they aim to take over the next year to help minimise environmental impact. The plan is proudly aligned to the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with the first year’s SMART objectives initially focusing on goal three and seven of the UN’s 2030 Agenda: Good Health and Wellbeing, and Affordable and Clean Energy.

Fuel costs continue to remain a critical issue in Scotland, with 25% of all households living in fuel poverty – defined by the Scottish Government as any household spending more than 10% of their income on energy – after housing costs have been taken out. Like the Scottish Government, Rock Trust recognises the four main drivers of fuel poverty: energy prices, income, energy efficiency of the home, and how energy is used in the home. The charity has already begun addressing these drivers in their Green Action Plan by creating resource booklets for the young people in their services and accommodation. These resources provide guidance on areas such as sustainability in the home, energy efficiency and condensation. You can view these booklets on Rock Trust’s Sustainability webpage here: www.rocktrust.org/sustainability

Rock Trust staff are also benefiting from the organisation’s commitment to the Green Action plan. Five employees’ have registered to the charity’s Bike2Work scheme as part of their initiative to promote active travel. This number is expected to grow as Covid-19 restrictions ease and more employees come back to the workplace.

Rock Trust’s partners Home Energy Scotland and OVO Foundation have been influential to their Green Action Plan, both contributing to the plan and offering ongoing advice and support surrounding sustainability best practice.

Caroline Silke, Head of OVO Foundation which commissions Rock Trust’s Future Builders programme said: “The Rock Trust’s dedication to creating a Green Action Plan reflects how the importance and urgency of the climate crisis is intrinsically linked with the critical matters in housing and homelessness that they tackle in their daily work. Not only have they mapped out how they can take action, but they have also centred the young people they support – and their futures – at the heart of the Plan too. As climate awareness increases and attention turns to COP26, we have a unique opportunity to build momentum and drive change. It is brilliant to see the Rock Trust grasp this moment and we look forward to continuing our work together.”

Home Energy Scotland also comments on Rock Trust’s Green Action Plan: “We have been working with the Rock Trust to upskill staff, review their housing stock and engage their young people. We are delighted to see the formalisation of this work, and much more, through the creation of this

Green Action Plan. From building staff awareness, to reviewing and improving their own stock, from recognising the benefit of simple and small actions like turning down the thermostat through to installing larger measures as recommended by EPC data, the Rock Trust are taking a holistic approach to the issue of energy efficiency. By engaging young people, they will ensure a legacy to this work, equipping them to take positive action to protect the planet as they progress through life. We support the Rock Trust in their commitment to embed sustainability and look forward to working in partnership with them in the years ahead.”

Kate Polson, CEO of Rock Trust said: “Rock Trust has been working to end youth homelessness and to support young people to have positive futures for 30 years. Throughout this time, we have worked to improve the sustainability of all our services and processes including those which have a wider impact on the world we live in. Our Green Action Plan ensures that this activity continues and confirms our commitment for going even further. As an organisation, making more sustainable business decisions and creating more sustainable opportunities for both our staff and the young people in our services is vital. We are very proud to be doing all we can to ensure that the future health of the environment our young people live in is protected.”

To read Rock Trust’s Green Action Plan 2021-22 in full, please click here.

For more information on Rock Trust’s Green Action Plan and how you can get involved on helping the charity achieve their sustainable commitments in 2021-22, please contact Tammy Reilly on tammy.reilly@rocktrust.org.uk or call 0345 222 1425.

For further information about OVO Foundation or Future Builders please contact: media@ovoenergy.com

For further information about Home Energy Scotland, please contact partnerships@se.homeenergyscotland.org

Norman Cook encourages community to ‘Chip in’ to support Martlets

on National Fish and Chip Day

Martlets Ambassador, international DJ and Brighton local, Norman Cook is supporting Martlets as they launch their first ‘Chip in for Martlets’ campaign on National Fish and Chip Day on Friday 4 June 2021. Norman is asking people to celebrate the best chippies of Brighton and Hove and coastal East Sussex, by having their favourite seaside takeaway and to also ‘chip in’ with a donation to Martlets. Fish and Chip shops from Newhaven to Portslade are lending their support with collecting tins and window displays. Martlets also has a ‘Chip in’ page on their website www.martlets.org.uk/fish-and-chip-day for people to donate the price of a takeaway to help the charity raise valuable funds.

Martlets is a charity in the heart of the community, caring for patients and their families helping them do what they love in the time they have left – and that includes having fish and chip takeaways – even on the Martlets inpatient unit in Hove.

As Ward Manager Graham Turner commented: “Across our community Martlets cares for patients with terminal illness and supports their families in their own homes and also at our specialist inpatient unit in Hove. Despite having to cope with Covid-19, the inpatient unit has a wonderful atmosphere and although we are caring for patients with life-limiting conditions we want to celebrate life and for families to cherish the time they have together in a relaxed environment.

“Before Covid-19 we even hosted weddings at our hospice and encouraged families to bring their beloved pets to visit. We were also able to host family celebrations with relatives enjoying a beer or glass of wine (or two) and to order in takeaways. We’re very happy to now be able to offer our takeaways again – and of course people here always love a fish and chip supper living by the sea as we do!’

National Fish and Chip Day is an awareness day, now in its sixth year, run by the Neoda (National Edible Oil Distributers Association) that aims to celebrate everyone involved in creating the iconic family favourite – from fish and chip shops, to pubs, restaurants, retailers and fishers and famers. Martlets is encouraging local fish and chip shops to celebrate by signing up to support hospice care – and even asking locals to nominate their favourite fryer to get involved!

Norman Cook a.k.a Fatboy Slim commented: “I have seen first-hand the amazing work that Martlets does, and know that as a frontline healthcare provider they have had to work incredibly hard during this pandemic to care for local people. I would love people to take the opportunity this National Fish and Chip Day to celebrate our local community and everything that goes in to making this a special place to live. Enjoy some fish and chips and ‘chip in’ to donate and help the nurses at Martlets keep caring for local residents.”

For further information visit www.martlets.org.uk

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Notes to Editors

• Martlets is a charity that provides terminally ill people in Brighton and Hove, and surrounding areas, with the very best care and support. Martlets’ expert team helps patients live life to the full during the precious time they have left. We want everyone affected by terminal illness to know they can still feel hope, purpose and possibility.
• Most people receive care from Martlets in their own homes. Outpatients also visit our hospice for pain relief, physiotherapy, counselling, welfare advice and social activities. Others choose to spend their final days at the hospice, or to stay as inpatients for respite care or symptom management.
• Martlets has a 24-hour ‘Hub’ telephone service which allows patients and carers to call a special hotline at any time for medical advice and help with their symptoms.
• Martlets also offers a comprehensive bereavement service to patients’ families and close friends. This includes counselling, remembrance events and social evenings.

To find out more, please visit www.themartlets.org.uk, or call 01273 273400. Martlets Hospice Wayfield Avenue, Hove, BN3 7LW. Charity number: 802145

House Floats

Using the 2021 theme ‘Mother Earth’, Cowley Road Works (CRW), the charity which organises the Carnival, is encouraging residents all around the city to decorate their houses or premises in the form of Carnival floats. There will be prizes for the best decorated House Float and a special prize for residents who best address the Mother Earth Carnival theme.

“This is the time for residents to start planning how they are going to decorate their home or business premises,” commented Mark Crampton-Smith, CRW Chairman, who went on to say: “We are negotiating some exciting prizes and we want residents doing House Floats to go completely wild with as many decorations as they can muster!”

Other prizes to be won include Best House Float of The Year, Best Budget House Float, Best Medium House Float, Judges’ Choice Award, and Best Bunted House Float. Judging will take place on 28 June.

The Creative Director Pax Nindi commented: “What is also very important is our aim to support local artists, most of whom haven’t had work since the pandemic started. We are encouraging potential House Float makers to engage these artists in designing or constructing the House Floats. We encourage residents to get in touch with us if they need artist assistance”.

Street Parties

What better way to celebrate Carnival Day and the possible end of lockdown rules than with a street party with your friends, family and neighbours in your community?

CRW Charity Director Sean Duvall commented: “We are aware people really want to celebrate not just Carnival but freedom from lockdowns, so we are encouraging them to celebrate in their own way via organised street parties.

“We urge you to get planning soon as possible, because if you need to close your road, you need a license from Oxford City Council. It isn’t expensive or complicated. Then the fun can really begin!

“Our website has plenty of information for anyone interested in organising their own street party.”

Virtual Carnival @ Home

There will be a live stream featuring music and performance including live broadcasting from Carnival Day street parties on YouTube and Facebook all day from noon – 6pm hosted by Pax Nindi.

The party will continue with DJ sets on Mixcloud throughout the evening. The full line up for the day will be published on the website www.cowleyroadworks.org closer to Carnival Day.

Design a Car-nival MINI competition

Oxford’s young car designers of the future are invited to submit designs to celebrate 20 years of ‘new’ MINI car production at the Plant in Cowley and the Cowley Road Carnival.

The competition is to design a Car-nival celebration MINI using this year’s Cowley Road Carnival theme of ‘Mother Earth’. The winning design will be imaginative, big, bright, bold, and colourful. The judges will also be looking at how the car interprets the eco theme. 

The competition is open to children in school years 6-9. 

For more information on the competition and Cowley Road Carnival go to the website www.cowleyroadworks.org or email admin@cowleyroardworks.org