By Charities Correspondent STAND has announced a new formal partnership with French NGO Nav’Solidaire, aimed at increasing access to high-quality prosthetic limbs for amputees across Africa. The collaboration brings together two specialist organisations working in the same field, with the aim of improving efficiency, reducing costs and lowering environmental
By Community Correspondent The University of Leicester marked Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday with a day of celebrations including a commemorative tree planting and a large themed cake created by two former Great British Bake Off stars. The University has close historic links with Sir David and his family.
By Mental Health Correspondent A counsellor and trustee at Wellspring Counselling is one week into her 500-mile solo cycling challenge — and despite a cough, cold and some punishing hills, she’s still pushing on to raise money for young people in crisis. Sue Jenner set off on April 30 from
By Community Correspondent A London Ambulance Service paramedic who faced a sword-wielding attacker while responding to the Hainault tragedy has been invited to a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace today. Lachlan Allan was just 21-years-old when he and his crewmate responded to the first 999 call. It was their
By Education Correspondent Learning a second language through apps is now a global trend, but new research suggests the most effective tools may share a surprisingly simple feature: they make users guess first, then reveal the answer. A study from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has found that word–
By Conservation Correspondent Scientists at the Natural History Museum in London have identified a new genus and species of parasitic wasp in its collections — and named it in honour of broadcaster and natural historian Sir David Attenborough to mark his 100th birthday. The discovery was led by Dr Gavin R.
By Business Correspondent Waitrose has become the first UK supermarket to launch a ‘Made Without Nitrites’ ham range, responding to rising demand for simpler ingredients and cleaner labels. The new products join the retailer’s existing nitrite-free bacon lines, which have already seen strong growth. Sales of its unsmoked back
By Charities Correspondent Aspire Community Works has been awarded the King’s Award for Enterprise for Promoting Opportunity, recognising its work to improve pay, conditions and access to employment across London’s everyday economy through its BetterforUscampaign. The organisation, which holds the Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard at
By Charities Correspondent Donkeys are being celebrated around the world this week as part of World Donkey Day — and it turns out there’s a lot more to them than most people realise. To mark the occasion on 8 May, The Donkey Sanctuary has been sharing some of the more
By Schools Correspondent Following a two-day visit in March 2026, Banwell Primary School in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, has received a positive Ofsted inspection outcome, with inspectors recognising significant improvements in leadership, early years provision, attendance, behaviour, personal development and pupil wellbeing. The report highlights a school on a strong improvement
By Conservation Correspondent A gentoo penguin colony in Port Lockroy has come through a difficult breeding season, with young chicks now beginning to head towards the sea for the first time. Wildlife monitor Pete has completed the final chick count of the season on Goudier Island, confirming that the colony
By Animals Correspondent Wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin has introduced an adorable new addition to the Australia Zoo family, a charming eastern grey kangaroo joey named Cwtch. The young joey, whose name is pronounced “kutch,” is already capturing hearts with her curious nature and personality. “Cwtch” is a Welsh word meaning
By Charities Correspondent A senior figure at Wembley Stadium is helping a North East cancer charity raise funds by offering fans the chance to experience one of football’s biggest days live. Paul Smyth, the stadium’s General Manager, has donated two pairs of tickets to the 2026 FA Cup
By Science Correspondent Scientists have developed a faster, lower-cost way to study viruses that could one day help treat infections where antibiotics no longer work. A research team at the University of Leicester has created a new method to analyse bacteriophages — viruses that infect and destroy harmful bacteria — more efficiently.
By Community Correspondent A deaf ambulance medic has handed over her England rugby shirt in an emotional thank you to the mentor who helped her rebuild her confidence. Zoe Cox, who works for the London Ambulance Service, surprised paramedic Richard Webb Stevens with the very first England Deaf Women’s
By Schools Correspondent Pupils across the Extend Learning Academies Network (ELAN) in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, have been spending time thinking about something big: who they are now, and who they want to become. Through a three-day Resilience Reps programme led by YouthShoots founder Paul Hanmore, Year 4 and 5 pupils
People
By Ellise Hollie Hayward, Disabilities Correspondent Clare is 43 and lives in North London with her partner and their two children. Her oldest son is almost six and was diagnosed with autism when he was two. Her youngest son is nearly two and is currently being assessed for autism. Being
Charities
By Charities Correspondent The Donkey Sanctuary has won the Smiley Charity ‘People’s Choice’ Gold award for its campaign film, ‘Stolen Donkeys, Stolen Futures’ The compelling short film which illustrates the devastating human and animal cost behind the cruel donkey skin trade, received the greatest number of public votes in
Business
By Business Editor Bristol-based Blinds By Mark is raising the bar in window design with its premium Plantation shutters, offering homeowners a high-quality, UK-manufactured alternative to long-lead imported options. Led by Mark and his experienced team, the company specialises in locally made shutters with an impressive turnaround time of just
Schools
By Schools Correspondent Bournville Primary School in Weston-super-Mare North Somerset, is delighted to announce that it has been awarded the OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) Platinum Award, the highest level of recognition within the programme, following a final assessment carried out by OPAL mentor Rachel Murray. This outstanding achievement places
Business
By Business Editor A new half-day workshop in North Somerset aims to help local organisations cut through the noise and tell their stories more effectively — without the need for expensive agencies or complex marketing strategies. The session, titled “Your Story. Shape It. Get Seen.”, will take place at the Campus
Sport
By Sports Correspondent A new student-led initiative called Headstrong is aiming to change how professional rugby clubs support players through injury, by placing greater focus on mental and emotional recovery alongside physical rehabilitation. The project has been developed by University of Bristol students Anna Leppard, Jenna de Vera and Sam
Jill Dando News
By Phillip Nkhoma, Malawi Correspondent Last month students at Mnjiri Secondary School were visited by members of ZGC Company for a careers talk aimed at encouraging them to work hard and consider careers in mining. One of the representatives said: “We are here at Mnjiri Secondary School mainly for a
Jill Dando News
By Isabella, 14, Good News Room at Priory Community School Academy In the past, Noah's Ark Zoo Farm has run extremely popular Somerset Safaris in the summer. And after popular demand for them to be brought back — they are! The official dates for this event are: Saturday 6th
News
By Health Correspondent Only one in ten UK children eat their recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables on a typical school day, while more than a third refuse them altogether, according to research commissioned by Tesco. However, the same study highlights what can help improve children’s diets. Nearly
News
By Community Correspondent TransPennine Express (TPE) has introduced dedicated Passenger Assistance meeting points at stations across its network, aimed at making travel more accessible and easier to navigate. The clearly marked areas are designed as simple, easy-to-find spaces where customers can meet staff for support at the start of their
Charities
By Nature Correspondent Nearly three-quarters of a million young people in Britain now regularly go birdwatching, with participation among 16–29-year-olds rising more than tenfold since 2018, according to new research published by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). The study, conducted by Fifty5Blue, found a 1,
Conservation
By Charities Correspondent Shaldon Wildlife Trust is celebrating a landmark achievement after being officially accredited by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). This recognition places the Devon-based zoo among a select group of highly regarded zoos and aquariums across Europe and Western Asia. Accreditation confirms that the Trust
Education
By Education Correspondent A 22-year-old apprentice carpenter is set to test his skills against the best in the region after landing a place in a major competition. Tom Martin, who trains with Bloor Homes and studies at Gloucestershire College, has been picked to compete in the 2026 regional heats of
Animals
By Conservation Correspondent Bird lovers could be in for a treat this weekend as Nightingales return in force ahead of International Dawn Chorus Dayon May 3. The iconic songbird — famed for its powerful voice — is enjoying a boost at RSPB nature reserves, with 176 singing males recorded this year, up
Charities
By Community Correspondent Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm is proud to announce the launch of a new Universal Credit ticket initiative, running throughout May 2026, designed to make visiting the Zoo more accessible for families and individuals facing financial challenges. As a conservation charity, the Zoo is committed to ensuring
Charities
By Charities Correspondent A brave runner is taking on one of the world’s toughest races — and showing what life with MS really looks like — in a powerful new documentary. My MS, My Rules, created by Scruffy Bear Media with charity MS-UK, follows Anjali Silva-Vadgama, known as Anji, as she