Connection
Positive stories, useful developments and people making a difference in Connection.
Tees Expo brings hundreds of businesses together at the Riverside Stadium
Tees Expo returns to Middlesbrough on 17 September with free delegate entry, more than 70 exhibitors and a day of networking and business support.
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Most breast cancer survivors in study safely stopped heart medication after recovery
A UK-led trial found that most women whose heart function recovered after breast cancer treatment were able to stop long-term heart medication without their heart function worsening over the following year.
South Norfolk community groups can apply for up to £10,000 to improve local greenspaces
A fresh round of South Norfolk Council’s Nature Conservation Fund is offering grants for community-led projects that help wildlife, climate resilience and access to greener places.
Northern Ireland gives sign languages formal legal recognition
A new Sign Language Act has received Royal Assent, giving formal recognition and stronger support to sign language users across Northern Ireland.
Cornwall community health network shortlisted twice for national NHS awards
A partnership linking the NHS, voluntary organisations and more than 50 community hubs has been recognised for work on health inequalities and neighbourhood care.
£96,000 shared by 23 grassroots groups across all four UK nations
Twenty-three charities and community organisations have received grants through SPAR's 2026 Community Cashback scheme, spanning causes from youth work and conservation to sport and search and rescue.
First young people start paid jobs through new employment guarantee
The first participants have started six-month paid roles through a national scheme aimed at young people who have been out of work for an extended period.
Carers in Bedfordshire expands independent support after major service change
The Bedfordshire charity says it is continuing and developing its support for unpaid carers despite the end of a long-running local authority contract.
£22 million UK programme backs human-based science to reduce reliance on animal testing
New investment includes a £20 million centre for miniature human organs and nine projects exploring alternatives including beating heart cells and AI drug modelling.
Eight volunteering festivals will help East Hampshire residents find ways to get involved
Community events across East Hampshire are bringing volunteering opportunities into towns and villages so residents can meet organisations face to face.
Council cake sale combines fundraising with a potentially life-saving lesson about sepsis
A Three Rivers charity cake sale will raise money for the UK Sepsis Trust while helping residents learn the warning signs of the condition.
Grain-of-rice-sized light chip could help power faster 6G networks
Loughborough researchers have demonstrated a tiny microcomb system capable of generating precisely spaced light frequencies for communications and quantum technology.
Wiltshire community lottery helps Calne group turn local support into practical impact
Wiltshire's community lottery is helping a Calne good cause raise money and connect more residents with its work.
Scotland reviews IVF rules with aim of widening NHS fertility access
A national review will examine access for single women, blended families, fertility preservation and people waiting for donor eggs or sperm.
Community hub in Croydon combines affordable workspace, creativity and connection
Soul-Full is bringing a community café, creative studios, meeting rooms and affordable workspaces together in central Croydon.
New parent packs offer practical support when a child's hospital stay comes without warning
University Hospitals Sussex has launched packs designed to help families cope with the practical strain of an unexpected admission.
Dudley patients invited to help design better support for living with inflammatory arthritis
A free NHS workshop will bring patients, carers and healthcare professionals together to shape how people with inflammatory arthritis are supported to live well.
Bath Spa University earns Mental Health Charter Award for whole-university approach
Bath Spa has been recognised through the University Mental Health Charter for work embedding mental health and wellbeing across university life.
Twenty-eight community organisations share £120,000 across Hart
Local projects supporting wellbeing, inclusion, connection and residents facing challenges have received grants through the Here for Hart scheme.
Herefordshire opens micro-grants for ideas that strengthen community connection and wellbeing
Residents and local groups can apply for up to £250 to start or develop small projects that bring people together and support mental wellbeing.
Shrewsbury turns disused town-centre plot into a community garden
Volunteers are being invited to help transform an unused Abbey Foregate site into a pocket park and shared community garden.
Free bike checks and learn-to-ride sessions aim to get more Walsall residents cycling
Walsall Council and Cycling UK are offering free Dr Bike repairs and learn-to-ride sessions through a new project designed to make cycling easier to start or return to.
Oxfordshire independent school marks record BTEC success
This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The ...
NHS must plan for heat and wildfires, says expert
Health services should be "preparing in advance rather than reacting" to events, including heatwaves and wildfires, an academic has said. Firefighters have been tackling rural blazes across the East ...
Nature reserve hit by 10 fires in a few weeks
A nature reserve had suffered 10 fires in recent weeks, causing damage to precious habitats and leaving volunteers distressed. Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust (SRWT) said it believed the fires at ...
Norfolk to receive NHS mental health hubs and crisis unit
This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The ...
£300k pledged to create 'lasting legacy for nature'
Hundreds of thousands of pounds have been pledged to two community projects to help create a "lasting legacy for nature that is truly unique". The East Suffolk Trust has awarded more than £300,000 to ...
Is VAT threatening the dominance of Edinburgh's private schools?
Private school leaders warn of an 11 drop in pupil numbers and growing pressure on state schools. Edinburgh councillors say the evidence tells ...
New GCSE league table sees four Hertfordshire schools in top 100
Four Hertfordshire independent schools have been included in the top 100 of a new league table based on 2026 GCSE results.
Four new mental health facilities promised across Cambridgeshire will be 'lifeline'
Four new mental health facilities will be built in Cambridgeshire, including two emergency departments. The developments are part of a £343 million national initiative that marks the biggest redesign ...
University of Hertfordshire supports Luton's A-level students
A university has been praised for its support of students as they take their next steps after A-levels. The University of Hertfordshire joined students at Luton Sixth Form College on Thursday, August ...
New genetic breakthrough brings answers for those with Perrault Syndrome
Researchers from Bill Newman's team at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and The University of Manchester have uncovered a new genetic cause of the rare inherited condition Perrault syndrome, ...
Wiltshire police netball team recognised at awards ceremony
A police netball team has been recognised for its commitment to sport and community at a new awards ceremony. The Wiltshire Police Netball Team was named the first-ever Sports Team of the Year at the ...
GCSE results day 2026 LIVE: Cambridgeshire schools, grades, pass rates and updates as students get their results
Students are receiving GCSE grades and technical awards to help them progress on to sixth form, college or training.
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside starts winter flu jab campaign
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside is urging people to get vaccinated as part of early preparations for winter, with the national booking system now open to help ease demand on healthcare services during the ...
York celebrates Key Stage 4 (GCSE) students’ success
City of York Council education leaders have congratulated students across the city as they receive their GCSE and Key Stage 4 results today (Thursday 20 ...
Ysgol Bro Dinefer and Cwmtawe Community School GCSE results
Students in Carmarthenshire and the Swansea Valley are celebrating their GCSE results. In Carmarthenshire, 63.4 per cent of entries were awarded grades A* to C. Nearly one in five entries (18.8 per ...
Schools in Pembrokeshire celebrate GCSE success for 2026
Thousands of pupils in Pembrokeshire have been celebrating their GCSE results. Students in schools all across the county collected their long-awaited GCSE envelopes this Thursday, August 20, and many ...
Preventative mental health reform plans backed by Oxfordshire charity
Oxford-based charity Response has endorsed the Government’s £343m plan to enhance existing preventative mental health care provisions designed to ensure fewer ...
Programme to help shape future health services across Devon
People in Devon are being invited to have their say on shaping future health services in their communities. A new county-wide conversation has launched in the county as part of the ‘Let’s talk ...
Integrated NHS partnership transforms care for children with cerebral palsy
A decade-long collaboration between Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (CWPT) and University Hospitals Coventry and ...
Norfolk Wildlife Trust invites public for fundraiser in 2026
Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) is inviting the public to take part in a sponsored walk at Broadland Country Park on Sunday, October 4, to raise funds for its work protecting the county’s wildlife. Eliot ...
Bury riding centre marks 60 years of helping people through horses
The volunteer-run Margaret Haes Riding Centre has celebrated six decades of equestrian activities supporting children and adults with disabilities and other challenges.
Cornwall expands face-to-face Community Gateway support to reach thousands more people
Cornwall’s Community Gateway is increasing in-person outreach alongside its telephone service, with at least 50 additional people a week expected to receive face-to-face help.
Disused Ilford building becomes accessible new home for community groups
Janice Mews has reopened after refurbishment as a 60-person community space with a kitchen, accessible toilets and step-free access for charities and voluntary groups.
Ramsgate fishing community raises more than £6,500 for RNLI as 79 children take to the water
A record 79 children joined Ramsgate’s junior fishing competition, while organisers Dawn and Jason Parrott received surprise community-service awards from the High Sheriff of Kent.
Free fitness sessions for over-60s earn gym owner community sports award
Kirkintilloch gym owner Barry Peacock has been recognised for giving his time freely to help older residents stay active and young footballers build healthy habits.
Cornish schools celebrate GCSE results day
Students across Cornwall are visiting their schools today to receive their final GCSE results.
GP practice in Dundee introduces robotic assistance
Patients in Dundee are experiencing a new way of conducting health checks with the help of medical robotics.
Suffolk students celebrate academic success
Schools across Suffolk are reporting positive GCSE outcomes as pupils collect their results today.
Proposal for new energy facility in Cambridgeshire
Plans for an anaerobic digestion plant on the outskirts of a Cambridgeshire village are currently being considered.
Teesside students receive GCSE grades
Year 11 pupils across Teesside are collecting their GCSE results today, marking a significant milestone in their education.
Bridging the gap: innovation in Liverpool classrooms
Two schools in Liverpool's Baltic Triangle are preparing students for the future by connecting them directly with industry professionals.
New research project targets New Forest biodiversity
A collaborative programme has launched to safeguard the most vulnerable species and habitats within the New Forest.
London to host health innovation conference this October
Healthcare leaders from the NHS and the independent sector will gather in London for the biennial Harley Street Health District conference.
London food hub switches to solar power
New Spitalfields Market has completed the installation of rooftop solar panels to generate renewable energy.
Pedigree cattle introduce natural grazing to Rostherne Mere
A local nature reserve in Knutsford is welcoming a herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle to help restore the landscape.
Sheffield green tech firm launches major African energy project
A UK-based company is investing £55 million to help develop renewable energy infrastructure across Africa.
Devon residents invited to shape health service future
A new county-wide initiative is encouraging locals to share their views on how future community health services should look.
Edinburgh investment promotes youth access to sport
Children and young people in Edinburgh are to benefit from a significant funding boost to encourage physical activity.
Welsh health sector explores new approaches to service challenges
Experts are looking at how innovative working methods could secure the future of the NHS in Wales.
New Highland wind farm project could power nearly 100,000 homes
Plans for a major wind energy development in the Scottish Highlands have been submitted, aiming to boost renewable energy capacity.
NHS to introduce at-home HPV cervical screening in Essex
Eligible residents in Essex will soon be invited to participate in a free, at-home HPV self-testing programme.
Kingsley School celebrates record results and a top-25% national ranking
Kingsley School Devon says its 2026 A Level and vocational results have broken school records for a second year, with an ALPS score placing it in the top quarter nationally for academic achievement.
Sunderland rallies around teenager Jude Hazard as family raises money for specialist treatment
Fundraisers across Sunderland are backing 15-year-old Jude Hazard and his family as they seek specialist treatment overseas for a rare heart cancer.
Wolverhampton charity lunch raises nearly £2,000 for four local good causes
A sports-themed mayoral lunch in Wolverhampton raised nearly £2,000 for four local charities supporting young people, community kitchens and grassroots sport.
Bristol festival will put bees, pollination science and live hives centre stage
The University of Bristol Botanic Garden's Bee and Pollination Festival returns on 5 and 6 September with talks, honey tastings, live-hive demonstrations and children's activities.
WHO highlights UK learning-disability medicine course as an example of inclusive healthcare
A postgraduate course co-designed by North Middlesex consultant Dr Charly Annesley has been recognised by the World Health Organisation for strengthening disability-inclusive care.
Zero-emission car-sharing clubs expand across Wales with more than 500 members
TrydaNi now operates 13 electric car-sharing clubs across Wales, backed by £1m of public funding and offering members access to vehicles without the full cost of ownership.
Belfast Culture Night returns with more than 200 free events across the city
Culture Night Belfast returns on 18 September with more than 200 free, family-friendly events, quiet spaces and activities across venues from City Hall to the Oh Yeah Centre.
Llanelli community kitchen serves more than 1,040 meals in its first six months
Cegin Llanelli has served more than 1,040 free or pay-what-you-can two-course meals, while 15 volunteers have contributed over 690 hours and rescued food from waste.
Hertford’s free castle music festival puts family-support charity centre stage
Rock at the Castle returned with three stages, an inclusive SEND area and fundraising for Home-Start Hertfordshire, which supports families with young children.
£15,000 grant gives Glasgow community hub the repairs it needs to keep serving local families
Crossroads Youth and Community Association in Glasgow has received £15,000 from the Asda Foundation for essential repairs to its community building.
Liverpool programme turns lived experience into nine businesses and £5.2m of social value
Citizen First LCR backed entrepreneurs facing barriers into business with a Real Living Wage, seed funding and expert support, generating more than £5.2m in assessed social value from £500,000 investment.
British Transplant Games will bring 1,500 participants to Birmingham in 2027
The University of Birmingham will host athletes, transplant recipients, living donors and families for four days of sport and organ-donation awareness next summer.
World-first cancer treatment saves 15-foot python at Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo vets and University of Liverpool cancer specialists adapted electrochemotherapy for a snake for the first time, leaving 50kg python Jodie cancer-free and eating normally again.
SpongeBob takes on the Smurfs in Hull hockey match raising awareness of fostering
A free fancy-dress hockey fundraiser in Hull is using Team SpongeBob versus The Smurfs to raise money and awareness for fostering services in the city.
Bradford fundraiser passes £1.6m lifetime total after 10K raises enough for 159 goats in Malawi
Nazim Ali's Blackpool 10K raised more than £6,365 for families in Malawi and pushed his 14-year fundraising total beyond £1.6m.
Age UK asks North Worcestershire residents for just a few hours to support older people and young fundraisers
Age UK North Worcestershire is recruiting volunteer mentors and collection helpers, with roles requiring as little as two hours or three hours a month.
Surrey team becomes first to run an experiment with world’s most advanced gamma-ray detector
University of Surrey nuclear physicists have led the first scientific experiment using the $58m GRETA detector at a US rare-isotope facility.
East Dunbartonshire groups can apply for up to £4,000 to tackle isolation and bring people together
A new local fund offers community organisations grants of up to £4,000 for projects supporting wellbeing, families, inclusion and social connection.
Birmingham students win international award for turning surplus potatoes into packaging
The student-led Potastic project has won an international sustainability award for developing eco-friendly mailing material from surplus potatoes.
Capybaras, penguins and one very specific snail report for London Zoo’s annual health check
London Zoo’s animals are being weighed and measured, with health data shared through a global conservation database used by animal-care teams worldwide.
Twenty Newcastle community organisations share £400,000 for spaces, services and accessibility
Twenty Newcastle voluntary organisations have received grants between £10,700 and £30,000 for community buildings, youth work, health, arts and sport.
Leicester streets turn into a free playground for bikes, art and family creativity
Open Streets returns to Leicester’s Waterside area with free adapted cycling, street art, music, workshops and family activities.
First KEMP Hospice Moonlight Walk raises more than £7,500 under the stars
More than 160 people joined KEMP Hospice’s first Moonlight Walk at Bodenham Arboretum, raising over £7,500 for local hospice care.
Sudanese refugee passes English and maths GCSEs in Ipswich while chasing a World Cup refereeing dream
Nasser Hamid, who fled Sudan in 2023, has passed GCSE English and maths at Suffolk New College and is building a refereeing career alongside engineering studies.
Pembrokeshire school records its strongest GCSE results yet
More than 84% of pupils at Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi reached the Level 2 threshold, while 32% achieved at least five A* to A grades.
More than 1,000 Cornwall students celebrate 329 top-grade results across five schools
More than 1,000 students across five CELT secondary schools received 8,833 qualification grades, including 329 Grade 9s and Distinction*s.
Billingham young carer scores 100% in Health and Social Care alongside top GCSE grades
Katie from St Michael’s Catholic Academy scored full marks in Health and Social Care while helping care for her sister and supporting other young carers.
Devon opens nominations to celebrate the volunteers who keep grassroots activity moving
The Active Devon Volunteer Awards are inviting nominations for unpaid coaches, organisers, young leaders and teams helping people across Devon stay active and connected.
Stirling community café serves thousands of meals while tackling isolation as well as hunger
Support for Families’ Aunties café and community fridge provide free meals, food and a welcoming social space in Stirling, with a £5,000 grant helping expand the service.
Volunteers spend their Highland holiday repairing one of Scotland’s busiest mountain paths
Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland volunteers are helping repair eroded mountain paths in Wester Ross while learning practical conservation skills.
Renewable-energy funds help Norfolk teenagers reconnect with learning and nature
Community funding generated by renewable-energy projects is supporting Norfolk programmes combining nature, practical learning and wellbeing.
Round Norfolk Relay runners aim to fund an entire air-ambulance lifesaving mission
The 2026 Round Norfolk Relay has chosen East Anglian Air Ambulance as its charity partner, with a £4,250 target matching the median cost of a lifesaving mission.
Ten-day charity bike ride links 18 pension funds with local causes across England
Ewan McCulloch has cycled around 1,300km across England, with partner pension funds using the route to raise money for charities in their own communities.
Former boxing champion takes on 1,800-mile cycle-and-swim challenge for suicide prevention
Darren Barker is travelling from Edinburgh to Morocco by bike and open-water swim to raise money for CALM in memory of Ricky Hatton.
Coventry author launches three books and gives 100% of her royalties to local charities
Itoro Abigeal Oyewobi has launched three books spanning childhood to working life, with all of her author royalties pledged to charities in Coventry and Warwickshire.
Llanelli pupils celebrate A-level results with three quarters of grades at A* or A
St Michael’s School in Llanelli reported 75.1% of A-level grades at A* or A, with the vast majority of pupils securing their first-choice university.
Three friends will jump from a plane to help Prospect Hospice after one receives a terminal cancer diagnosis
Sean Harper, Terry Cook and Sam Cottle are taking on a charity skydive inspired by Terry’s bucket list, aiming to raise £5,000 for Prospect Hospice.
Brighton & Hove Albion and University of Sussex team up on research, students and community projects
Brighton & Hove Albion has named the University of Sussex its official Higher Education Partner, building on more than 30 years of collaboration.
1863 memorial hall reopens as a modern community hub in Barrow Hill
Barrow Hill Memorial Hall near Chesterfield has reopened with a pantry, café, family hub, activity space and health hub after major refurbishment.
Around 1,250 people have already volunteered to welcome the Tour de France to Wales
Around 1,250 people have registered interest in volunteering for the 2027 Tour de France Grand Départ in Wales, with more places still open.
Reading’s contactless homelessness donations pass £7,400 and will continue until 2029
Tap for Reading has raised more than £7,400 and directly supported over 50 people, prompting the contactless donation scheme to be extended for at least three years.
Five grandmasters and a five-year-old share the board at Sussex’s biggest chess tournament yet
More than 200 players took part in the University of Sussex’s largest chess tournament yet, ranging from five-year-old Aahana Gupta to five international grandmasters.
Wolverhampton’s Best Foot Forward turns ordinary laps into thousands of pounds for local charities
Best Foot Forward lets people walk, run or wheel laps of Aldersley Stadium while a business-backed fund converts participation into money for Wolverhampton charities.
Age UK Cheshire is looking for people willing to walk over hot coals for older people
Age UK Cheshire will hold a charity firewalk in Northwich on 1 October, raising money for local services supporting older people across the county.
Glasgow teenager raises more than £6,000 for the children’s hospital that has cared for her since birth
Sixteen-year-old Connie organised a music fundraiser for Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity after a lifetime of treatment, raising more than £6,000.
Petersfield Repair Café has already helped more than 200 people keep broken things in use
A £10,000 climate grant helped launch Petersfield Repair Café, where volunteers have already assessed or repaired more than 150 items brought in by over 200 people.
Golfers raise more than £30,000 for Oakhaven Hospice with a little help from Bruce Grobbelaar
Thirty-one teams took part in Oakhaven Hospice’s annual Barton-on-Sea golf day, raising more than £30,000 for hospice care across the New Forest area.
Birmingham Dogs Home turns its Solihull rescue centre into a country music fundraiser
Birmingham Dogs Home hosted its first mini country music festival in Solihull, using live music and line dancing to raise money for homeless dogs.
Luton Sixth Form celebrates 94% A-level pass rate as students get help with their next step
Luton Sixth Form College recorded a 94% A-level pass rate, with university staff on site offering guidance and places to students on results day.
Teesside teenager balances GCSE success with making UK tetrathlon history
Sixteen-year-old Annabel Lupton returned from representing the UK in Australia to collect strong GCSE results after becoming the youngest athlete selected for the international tetrathlon exchange.
Berkshire project creates safer spaces and stronger voices for people living with HIV and LGBTQ+ communities
Thames Valley Positive Support has launched a National Lottery-funded Berkshire project focused on tackling isolation, stigma and barriers to support.
Corby wellbeing garden gets two years of funding to keep people connected through every season
More than £18,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund will keep Green Minds sessions running at Willowbrook Wellbeing Garden, supporting up to 20 people a week through gardening, nature and peer connection.
Carlisle Foodbank founder leaves more than £1m to help communities across Cumbria
Rachael Rodway, who founded Carlisle Foodbank, left more than £1 million to Cumbria Community Foundation, where it will support local organisations tackling poverty, health inequalities and other community needs.
Birmingham Airport passes £200,000 raised for children’s hospital charity
Airport staff, passengers and businesses have raised more than £200,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity in 18 months, already closing in on a three-year £250,000 target.
Hertfordshire hospice charity asks supporters to put the kettle on this October
Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care is inviting people to host tea parties, coffee mornings and workplace get-togethers throughout October to raise money for local hospice and bereavement care.
Sir Chris Hoy’s Tour de 4 returns with four ways to ride for cancer charities
Tour de 4 returns to Glasgow on 6 September with road, family and static-bike options designed to let people of different abilities take part and raise money for cancer causes.
Heaton music shop turns a one-off guitar into a fundraiser for Northumberland’s wild future
Curvy Sounds has created a bespoke Tokai Les Paul worth around £1,000 for a raffle supporting the campaign to secure the Rothbury Estate for nature.
West Mercia Police is recruiting volunteers to help young cadets grow in confidence
Volunteer Cadet Programme Leaders are being recruited across Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Telford to support teenagers with teamwork, leadership and community activities.
Hampshire architects swap desks for waders to help clear invasive plants from the River Test
Staff from ArchitecturePLB spent a volunteer day in Whitchurch removing Himalayan balsam and monkey flower from a chalk stream habitat in the Upper Test Valley.
Two years sober, Swindon volunteer helps turn surplus food into free community meals
Daniel Norrish says volunteering with FoodCycle Swindon has helped him rebuild his life after alcohol addiction, while his time now helps provide free meals for others.
Essex volunteer prepares another aid run to Ukraine and says donations still make a real difference
Kelvedon businessman Phil Billingham is preparing to drive another donated vehicle to Ukraine with Drive 2 Save Lives after seeing first-hand how aid reaches communities.
Brighton RNLI is looking for eight new volunteers to help save lives at sea
Brighton RNLI is recruiting six volunteer lifeboat crew members and two launch authorities as its station continues responding around the clock to incidents off the Sussex coast.
Norfolk Wildlife Trust marks its 100th year with sponsored walk for nature
Norfolk Wildlife Trust is inviting people to walk 5km or 12.5km through Broadland Country Park on 4 October to raise money for wildlife during its centenary year.
Age UK North Worcestershire asks for just a few hours a month to help older people locally
Age UK North Worcestershire is recruiting volunteer mentors and fundraisers, with some roles requiring as little as two or three hours a month.
Peterborough mechanic spends his spare time answering calls as a volunteer firefighter
Twenty-year-old Tyrell Cambridge works as a vehicle technician by day and volunteers with one of the UK’s few operational volunteer fire brigades in his spare time.
South Norfolk communities can get up to £10,000 to create greener local spaces
A new Nature Conservation Fund is offering schools, charities, community groups and parish councils grants of up to £10,000 for local biodiversity projects.
Twenty fundraisers abseil 100 metres down Spinnaker Tower and raise more than £14,700
Twenty supporters took on a 100-metre descent down Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower, raising more than £14,700 for Trinity Winchester’s homelessness services.
Grimsby teenager wins community award after raising £40,000 and challenging stoma stigma
Thirteen-year-old Jax from Grimsby has been recognised for raising £40,000 for stoma charities while helping other young people feel more confident about life with a stoma.
Arctic-to-Africa fundraiser sets sights on a 114-mile loop around the M25
Hertfordshire athlete Matthew Hollingham raised almost £30,000 for children’s charities during a 61-day Arctic-to-Africa challenge and is already planning his next fundraiser.
Newport community garden grows food, skills and connection from an unused patch of land
Raven House Trust has turned a once-underused space into a community garden linking food growing, affordable cooking, sustainability and social connection.
Norfolk set for new walk-in mental health centres and dedicated crisis unit
Two new community mental health centres and a specialist mental health emergency department are planned for Norfolk as part of a national NHS expansion.
Wales summer food and activity programme reaches one million funded places
Bwyd a Hwyl Food and Fun has passed a major milestone after more than a decade of providing meals, activities and social opportunities for children during the school holidays.
Community-based mental health approach shows promise in reducing hospital admissions
A UCL-led trial found that Open Dialogue, a model built around continuity, shared decisions and social support, was associated with less inpatient and crisis-service use.
London surgical robotics centre aims to move research into patient care faster
Imperial College London and Smith+Nephew have launched a five-year centre designed to speed up advances in robotic surgery for musculoskeletal conditions.
New South London half marathon will build fundraising into race day from the start
A new closed-road half marathon in Merton is being designed to help thousands of runners get active while giving charities a bigger platform for fundraising.
Volunteers are feeding and supporting firefighters during major wildfire responses
A Cambridgeshire-based charity has been sending volunteer teams to provide hot food, drinks and welfare support to firefighters tackling major wildfires around the country.
Liverpool businesses back fan-owned club built around inclusive grassroots football
Two Liverpool businesses have joined forces to sponsor FC Community of Liverpool, a fan-owned club working to make grassroots football more inclusive and accessible.
12-hour walking football marathon raises almost £5,000 for Prostate Cancer UK
More than 70 players took part in a 12-hour walking football event in Shoebury, raising close to £5,000 for Prostate Cancer UK.
North East golf network raises £22,500 for youth and Teesside charities
Golf in the City has raised £22,592 for The Teesside Charity and NE Youth, taking its four-year fundraising total beyond £80,000.
Doctors swap scrubs for sheet music in Glasgow concert for children’s hospices
Doctors from Glasgow hospitals will join the European Doctors Orchestra for a charity concert raising money for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland.
Midnight Inverness runway challenge raises more than £43,500 for Maggie’s Highlands
Fundraisers ran, jogged and walked 5km across Inverness Airport’s runway at midnight, with the total for Maggie’s Highlands passing £43,500.
Glasgow’s indoor beach raises £50,000 for children’s hospital charity
Silverburn’s Flamingo Beach welcomed 21,000 visitors this summer and raised £50,000 for Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.
Volunteers help Derbyshire homelessness project grow its garden and support space
A team from Places for People’s Thrive training centre has spent a day improving Derventio Housing Trust’s Growing Lives project in Ilkeston.
Volunteers are steadily transforming Fulford Cemetery in York
Residents, community groups and local workers have been giving their time to improve Fulford Cemetery, with regular volunteering sessions continuing at the site.
Cromer RNLI volunteer shows there is more than one way to help save lives at sea
Kate Roberts now holds five volunteer roles at Cromer RNLI and is encouraging people with different skills and interests to find a place in the station team.
Armagh friends turn cancer recovery into a year of fundraising for three charities
Two Armagh friends who have both experienced breast cancer are bringing their community together through a series of events raising money for three cancer charities.
Bristol teaching team recognised in national higher education awards
The University of Bristol has received two national teaching honours, recognising both an individual educator and a team working to improve research-rich teaching and the student experience.
Manchester researcher wins major fellowship to study bacteria’s hidden weapons
A University of Manchester researcher has secured a major fellowship to investigate how bacteria attack their rivals, work that could reveal new ways to tackle antimicrobial resistance.
Social prescribing may help people connect with care without driving up costs
A University of Manchester study of more than 1.4 million records suggests social prescribing is linked to more healthcare use at first, followed by a small reduction in GP appointments within a year.
UK mental health innovation scheme will bring patients, researchers, the NHS and industry together
A University of Manchester-led national initiative has launched to connect lived experience, researchers, the NHS and technology organisations around better mental health innovation.
Manchester scientists rethink a key part of how wounds heal
University of Manchester researchers have challenged a long-standing view of how the blood-clotting protein fibrinogen behaves at an air interface, opening new questions about wound healing.
‘Rainbow on a chip’ research could help unlock faster 6G networks
A Loughborough University-led team has demonstrated a tiny chip that produces precisely spaced frequencies of light, with potential uses in 6G communications and quantum technologies.
Bristol researchers find a way to strengthen poultry immunity without antibiotics
University of Bristol-led research has identified how a naturally occurring gut molecule could help chickens fight bacterial infection, offering a possible route to healthier farming with less reliance on antibiotics.
National Trust plant sales go completely peat-free
The National Trust says its entire retail plant supply chain is now 100% peat-free, a move designed to reduce damage to carbon-rich peatland habitats.
Somerset wetlands stay green through one of the UK’s hottest summers
River restoration, wetlands and beaver activity at the National Trust’s Holnicote Estate have helped parts of the landscape retain water and wildlife through extreme summer heat.
AI supports sight-saving brain surgery in a clinical first
UCLH says AI was used during live neurosurgery to help a surgical team protect a patient’s sight while removing a brain tumour.
Dissolvable 3D-printed patch could make skin cancer treatment gentler
Researchers at Queen’s University Belfast have developed a dissolvable microneedle patch designed to deliver two anti-cancer drugs directly through the skin.
Hoverflies turn out to be tiny heavyweights in strawberry pollination
Queen’s University Belfast research has shown how hoverfly behaviour during a flower visit can directly influence successful strawberry pollination.
Queen’s Belfast and Rolls-Royce expand aerospace research partnership
A new University Technology Partnership will build on more than 25 years of collaboration and train future aerospace specialists alongside new research.
Ten Scottish charities share £20m to support families
A £20 million package will support ten charities working with families across Scotland on wellbeing, income and routes towards employment.
Rectal cancer trial helps four in five patients avoid major surgery
A major international trial coordinated in Birmingham found that an organ-preserving treatment approach allowed four in five patients in one group to keep their rectum after 12 months.
Bristol team backs technology designed to cut AI data-centre energy waste
A startup working with University of Bristol researchers has secured more than £600,000 to develop diamond-coated electronics for more efficient data centres.
Durham scientist wins £5.6m fellowship to investigate the early Universe
A ten-year Royal Society fellowship will support Durham University research into the first moments after the Big Bang and the nature of dark matter.
Bluefin tuna return to North East waters after 60 years
Atlantic bluefin tuna have recolonised waters off North East England, and researchers have tagged fish there for the first time to support conservation.