By Jill Dando News Aberdeen is celebrating a conservation success as red squirrels make a strong comeback, with sightings across the city increasing — and grey squirrel numbers plummeting. Only one grey squirrel has been caught in Aberdeen during the first half of 2025, a dramatic drop from six in 2024.
By Jill Dando News Heal Somerset is thrilled to announce a landmark moment in its rewilding journey: the first confirmed sighting of a baby beaver born onsite. The appearance of the baby beaver — known as a kit — was captured on trail camera footage earlier this week and marks the first
By Community Correspondent Ovacome, the UK ovarian cancer support charity, is hosting a free Health and Wellbeing Day at the Mercure Norwich Hotel on Saturday 19 July 2025. The event is open to anyone affected by ovarian cancer, including those diagnosed and their loved ones. The day will include expert-led
By Education Correspondent Dozens of passionate new teachers have been celebrated as they graduated from Futura Learning Partnership’s Early Career Teachers (ECT) programme, marking a proud milestone in their journey into the teaching profession. The graduation ceremony, held at Clevedon School, brought together mentors, headteachers, and senior leaders from
By Community Correspondent Vital support services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness can continue with newly secured funding for Cambridge Cyrenians. Thanks to generous grants from the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Ann Docwra fund Cambridgeshire Area Quaker Meeting, Cambridge City Council’s Homelessness Prevention Grant (HPG) scheme and
By Community Correspondent Birmingham Airport has supported care experienced young adults into work, as part of a specialised Midlands-wide initiative aimed at tackling youth unemployment. The regional transport hub hosted six care leavers aged 18 to 25 for a two-week work experience placement, providing them with a valuable insight into
By Josh Bell, Charitable and Schools Correspondent A moving tribute unfolded on Thursday evening as a new community defibrillator was officially unveiled in memory of Roy Chell, the beloved husband of Christina Chell. The device is part of the Defibrillator Legacy Programme, which places life-saving defibrillators across the region while
By Jill Dando News There’s a bear-y special new face at Edinburgh Zoo! Last week Edinburgh Zoo welcomed Cipísek, Scotland’s one and only sloth bear, who arrived from Zlín Zoo in the Czech Republic. At just two years old, Cipísek is already showing off his playful personality. While
By Mental Health Correspondent Founders of an award-winning Derbyshire consultancy have shared key findings on how to encourage more men and over-50s to get help for their mental health after working with the NHS on the issue. Matt Clutterham and Jenny Jarvis, founders of brand and human transformation company Q
By Business Editor Blinds by Mark, a trusted name in premium window and shading solutions, is proud to announce the expansion of their product range with a stylish and highly functional collection of retractable awnings, now available for both domestic and commercial clients. Known for their craftsmanship and customer-first service,
A new study by researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and Université Paris Cité has revealed how ants actively adapt their wax layer to protect against dehydration, especially in rising temperatures. While it’s known that insects use a wax coating to retain moisture and communicate, this study is the
By Science Correspondent A new study in collaboration with BAS scientists reveals for the first time that zooplankton migration contributes significantly to carbon storage in the Southern Ocean – a process currently overlooked in climate models. A ground-breaking study published in Limnology and Oceanography reveals that small, but mighty, zooplankton—including
By Jill Dando News In a heartwarming video created in collaboration with Lilo & Stitch, experts at Woodgreen answer queries from a curious owners about their new ‘dog’s’ antics because nobody gets left behind or forgotten, even mischievous pets. Some of the rather unusual questions posed to Woodgreen – home
By Health Correspondent A new toolkit to support babies, children and young people in healthcare access high quality health play services was launched at UCLH last week with UCLH chief nurse Vanessa Sweeney welcoming visitors from NHS England and the play charity Starlight. Therapeutic play helps safeguard children against the
By Community Correspondent A community sewing group in Atherton has committed to hand making 100 reusable menstruation product packs to support people experiencing period poverty. The Salvation Army in Atherton hosts a weekly sewing group, at its church and community centre on George Street, with members coming together to work
By Ellise Hollie-Haywood, Disabilities Editor Daisy is 14 years old and lives life with confidence, strength, and a cheeky smile that’s never far away. She’s outgoing, driven, and has always loved being in front of a camera—whether it’s for fashion, media, or just for fun. But
Animals
By Jill Dando News 12 lucky rescue dogs, searching for their forever home have been handpicked to be top models in a new campaign for Manchester based clothing brand Uskees. In a unique fashion shoot, human models were paired with canine companions from Manchester-based Dogs 4 Rescue, showcasing the dogs
Animals
By Jill Dando News In a powerful display of wildlife conservation, Australia Zoo’s Crocodile Rescue Team has successfully rescued two large saltwater crocodiles from devastating welfare conditions in the Solomon Islands, giving them a second chance at life. Both crocodiles, over two meters long, had tragically spent their entire
People
By Jill Dando News Kieran is hoping to get a few steps closer to achieving his bucket list with a craft fair fundraiser at Priory Community School in Somerset this Saturday! After he was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease complex one three years ago, Kieran and his mum decided to start
Education
By Jill Dando News Students from Priory Community School enjoyed a special trip to St Georges Care home in Worle, just a stone's throw from their school, to learn from the care profession and interact with residents there. Icing cakes and strawberries were just the ticket as many
Jill Dando news
By Sofia W, Oliver M, and Theo K, Jill Dando News centre at St Anne’s Church Academy Pupils at St Anne's Church Academy in Somerset, taking part in the Archbishop of York’s Young Leaders Award, have been working on a special community project to raise awareness
People
By Community Correspondent After nearly two decades behind the wheel as a Bristol bus driver and with a background in policing, Carlos Santos saw firsthand how quickly a life-threatening emergency can unfold. But it was the sudden death of a fellow bus driver from cardiac arrest in late 2024 that
Animals
By Jill Dando News An extremely rare pygmy shrew with an albino mutation was found by Anita McMillan near St Austell, Cornwall, while out for a walk. “I went for a walk with my zoom lens, hoping to capture some good photos of birds or butterflies,” said Anita. “This was
News
By Community Correspondent Twelve universities have achieved the prestigious Fairtrade University and College Award in 2025, continuing to champion ethical consumption and global justice across campuses in the UK. Among them, University of Reading earned the highest ‘three star’ award for exceptional achievement across a broad range of activities including
People
By Community Correspondent Deputy Ward Manager Lianne Hopkins has been named June’s Health Hero for the unwavering good humour and kindness she shows to children and families on Pelican Ward. Lianne is Deputy Ward Manager on Pelican Ward at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital of Wales, an eight-bed
People
By Community Correspondent The team behind the life-saving Donate For Defib Weston-super-Mare project is thrilled to announce its nomination for a BBC Bristol Make A Difference Award in the Community Category. This incredible recognition shines a spotlight on the project's unwavering commitment to public safety, community empowerment, and
Education
By Education Correspondent UWE Bristol and Avon and Somerset Police have signed a new 10-year agreement, extending their successful partnership to deliver high-quality, forward-thinking police education and training. Since 2019, the collaboration has welcomed more than 1,200 student officers onto programmes such as the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship and
Sport
By Education Correspondent The annual Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) Festival of Sport was once again a resounding success, held this year at the University of the West of England’s (UWE) state-of-the-art sports centre. This festival of sport brought together pupils from across both CLF primary and secondary academies for
Health,
By Health Correspondent A major milestone in creative health was reached today as the National Arts in Hospitals Network (NAHN) unveiled the UK’s first comprehensive web-based guidance for hospital arts programmes at University College London Hospitals (UCLH). The NAHN Arts in Hospitals Guidance offers practical, evidence-based tools to help
People
By Jill Dando News The relationship between medieval people and their pets is the topic of the latest book by the University of Leicester’s Dr Ben Parsons. Introducing Medieval Animal Names explores what names medieval people gave to the animals with which they lived and worked. Dr Parsons’s
Business
By Business Correspondent Bristol Airport’s charity golf day was a soaring success once again, raising over £32,000 for its charity partner, the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC), its highest total to date. Held at The Kendleshire Golf Club in South Gloucestershire, the event welcomed 96 players across
News
By Jill Dando News NASA announced Monday its latest plans to team up with a streaming service to bring space a little closer to home. Starting this summer, NASA+ live programming will be available on Netflix. Audiences now will have another option to stream rocket launches, astronaut spacewalks, mission coverage,