The VIA Arts Prize, the UK’s only Ibero-American themed arts award, has launched its 2019 Call for Entries, and is celebrating the fifth edition of the respected Prize. The VIA Art’s Prize’s mission is to deepen cultural awareness of Latin American, Spanish and Portuguese arts and cultures in the UK. All UK-based artists of any nationality are invited to submit an original artwork specifically inspired by Ibero-American arts and culture. Through this specific brief, those behind the prize seek to…

Six in ten people with dementia say they experience loneliness and isolation. Alzheimer’s Society’s #AskUsAnything launches Dementia Action Week 20-26 May, calling on people to start talking and include people living with dementia Each year, 6,000 more people with dementia are predicted to be living by themselves, according to leading dementia charity Alzheimer’s Society. The figures were released to mark the launch of the charity’s #AskUsAnything campaign, which runs throughout Dementia Action Week (20-26 May). The campaign aims to end…

Staff at recruitment firm, Hoop Recruitment in Cardiff are taking on various fundraising activities this year to help raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities UK which provides free accommodation for families with poorly children. Their first activity was a tea party as part of the Charity’s “Let’s Get TEAgether” campaign which is encouraging individuals, communities and corporate groups to hold an afternoon tea or tea party to help raise awareness and funds. The campaign launched on 15 May which…

Vaughan Gething, Health Minister of Wales has paid a visit to pupils at a high school who’ve decided to cut down on the use of plastic bottles. Pupils from St Illtyds Catholic High School, in Cardiff, believe that plastic bottles are contributing to the growing plastic pollution of the oceans and are on a mission to reduce their own plastic waste. Vaughan Gething praised the ambitious group of Year 9 students for raising the issue and for their conscientious work…

“I don’t know what I would do without Goldies. It keeps me going, it really does.” That’s just one of the 100s of comments from one elderly lady who loves attending her Goldies sing-along session. NOT a choir, the Golden-Oldies Charity, now in its twelfth year, reaches out to older isolated people across England and Wales. From the initial four sessions taken by founder Grenville Jones, in and around Bath, there are now over 60 dedicated session leaders and, by…

• Newcastle United fans travel the most during the Premier League, racking up 4,579 miles per season. • Plymouth FC fans spend £1,267 in fuel each year to see their team play, clocking up to 6,033 miles per season – more than any team in their division and in the Premier League. • Crusader Vans latest study reveals the number of miles and yearly fuel cost for football fans in the UK and around the world. Howay the Lads! Newcastle…

Underwear brand Box & Scandal marked Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) by staging a protest show at Manchester Fashion Week, using semi-naked, male models representing the ‘every day man’ to promote body positivity – their core value and the theme of this year’s MHAW. The show, which featured models holding placards with slogans including ‘Balls to Perfection’, ‘Make Love Handles Not War’ and ‘Body Shaming is Pants’, was designed to bring attention to the fact that the portrayal of male…

  Abigail Prudames First Soloist at Northern Ballet Created the title role of Queen Victoria in Victoria Abigail is from Harrogate in North Yorkshire and joined Northern Ballet in 2011/ She trained at The Royal Ballet School and Elmhurst School for Dance. Her previous roles have included Marilla (The Little Mermaid), Bellino (Casanova), Jane (Jane Eyre), Cathy (Wuthering Heights), Sugarplum Fairy (The Nutcracker) and Juliet (Romeo and Juliet). What research did you do to prepare for this role? Before we…

A team of researchers from across Europe are praising the transformative impacts of forests on mental health. For two years, European health and wellbeing experts, Forest Europe, have been reviewing evidence on the benefits of spending time in forests. The experts say that just 2 or 3 short visits a week can dramatically improve mental health. In response, Forestry England & television presenter Kate Humble are encouraging people to visit the nation’s forests during mental health week (13 – 19…

‘Hafal’s Promise’ pledges friendship and ongoing support to anyone in Hafal’s client group who approaches the Charity for support Welsh charity Hafal will launch a new national service to combat loneliness and isolation at an event in the Principality Stadium on 15th May 2019. The new service – Hafal’s Promise – delivers on Hafal’s pledge to never turn away anyone in its client group, which includes people with a mental illness and their carers and families, and also people with…