News
Duchess of Cornwall helps celebrate 75 years of volunteering
- Thursday, 23 May 2013
Older people’s charity Royal Voluntary Service, formerly known as WRVS, has celebrated 75 years of helping others at a thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral in London on Wednesday 22 May, which was attended by the charity’s President, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.
1,200 Royal Voluntary Service volunteers, who have dedicated years of their time to helping older people in the community, were also at the ceremony, and some met The Duchess at a reception afterwards.
Stamping their feet
- Thursday, 16 May 2013
THOUSANDS OF Post Office staff have taken part in strikes across the country following a dispute about closures, jobs and pay.
A staggering 88 per cent of Communication Workers Union members voted in favour of strike action, following a refusal from the Post Office to negotiate terms.
The 4,000 workers, from 373 offices, took part in the strikes in opposition to plans to close 76 offices.
They hope to protect jobs and services and secure a fair pay rise for Post Office staff - who have not had a wage increase since April 2011.
BBC Rogue Traders: Trades Association condemns sharp practice
- Thursday, 16 May 2013
The British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) has condemned sharp practice in the supply of mobility products by a ‘rogue trader’. A company appearing to pressurise older people in to buying their products was exposed by two investigations set up by the BBC’s “Rogue Traders” following a series of complaints about a particular firm.
In a statement to the BBC, the BHTA Director General Ray Hodgkinson said: “The Trades Association is very concerned about pressurised selling and sharp practice by the occasional ‘rogue trader’. The company concerned in the BBC film is not a member of the British Healthcare Trades Association and is not therefore governed by our Code of Practice.
Could you be part of a ‘shared life’?
- Tuesday, 07 May 2013
As more people with learning or physical disabilities, mental health issues or dementia are choosing their own care and maintaining more independence Bristol City Council is looking to recruit at least 40 more ‘Shared Lives’ carers this year.
Shared Lives is where an approved carer shares their home and family life with a vulnerable person. They provide support and a caring home environment to vulnerable people of all ages. A Shared Lives carer could offer:
Scotland celebrates Hillman Imp's 50th birthday
- Tuesday, 30 April 2013
Thousands of workers who helped build the iconic Hillman Imp have been invited back to celebrate the classic car’s 50th anniversary.
The Hillman Imp was billed as Scotland’s answer to the Mini when the first model rolled off the production line in Linwood, near Paisley in 1963.
Fifty shades of grey
- Tuesday, 30 April 2013
Writer Ida Pollock was yesterday (Mon) hailed the world's oldest romantic novelist and is still churning out the steamy books -- aged 105.
Talented Ida has written 123 bodice-ripping novels during her prolific career - many of them tales of virgins, chaste kisses and dashing male heroes.
41% over 65s use Facebook
- Wednesday, 24 April 2013
As Digital Unite’s Spring Online week approaches (22nd – 26th April) new research from Plusnet reveals that 84% of internet users over 65 use the net to source deals, showing it’s not just the younger generation shopping online.
Plusnet’s research reveals:
- 52% of over 65s use the net to search for deals and buy electrical equipment
- 50% of over 65s use the net to search for deals and buy holidays
- 47% of over 65s use the net to search for deals and buy financial services (e.g. bank accounts, insurance etc.)
Bible stashers
- Tuesday, 16 April 2013
A priceless 700-year-old bible "dictionary" which gives a unique insight into the way nuns lived has gone on display for the first time.
The Expositiones Vocabulorum Biblie by William Brito - sometimes known as Guillaume le Breton - is written entirely in Latin.
It is one of the few monastic documents which is still in its original location after surviving the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII in the 1530s.
Children playing outside just half as much as their parents
- Friday, 12 April 2013
Modern children spend just half the time playing outdoors than their parents did when they were young, a study has revealed.
Researchers found today’s kids are more inclined to stay indoors and watch television, play computer games and in some cases, even do their homework, rather than go outside to play.
The figures show during the 1970s and 1980s, when the current generation of parents were children, they enjoyed more than two hours of outside play each weekday and a further nine hours at weekends – whatever the weather.
