12/12/17 A new group to support local people with tinnitus is being formed in Sandbach. Tinnitus is experienced by around one in ten people, which is around 1,800 people in Sandbach alone. The first meeting will take place on Monday 8 January, 7.00-9.00pm at Sandbach Cricket Club, Hind Heath Rd, Sandbach CW11 3LZ.

The group is being organised by local volunteer Lucy Naylor who has over 20 years combined NHS and private sector experience as a clinical audiologist and hearing aid audiologist. Lucy says: “Whilst tinnitus can be complex it can be helped and does not have to be a troublesome symptom. There is a lack of specialists nationwide offering this specialist help. I plan on facilitating a patient led help group that will enable people with tinnitus gain a good level of understanding and have access to support to enable tinnitus to be a non-troublesome symptom.”

Colette Bunker, British Tinnitus Association (BTA) Volunteer and Support Group Manager comments: “Being among people who have tinnitus, listening to their experiences and how they manage it, can be a tremendous help. I witness this first hand when attending group meetings. It is amazing seeing the difference it makes to people, especially those who have recently been diagnosed.”

Tinnitus is defined as the experience of sounds with no external source, most commonly ringing or buzzing, but sometimes experienced as whooshing, clicking or even music. Many people aren’t troubled by sounds they hear, but for around 10%, the condition has a significant impact on their quality of life, often linked to stress, anxiety or sometimes depression.

Colette adds: “Tinnitus can be an isolating condition, with friends and family struggling to understand how it feels to adapt to the presence of loud or persistent noises. Some people choose to bring a partner or family member to the meetings, which can often help both parties understand more about the condition and the experiences or behaviours it can bring.”

If you would like to find out more, please contact Lucy: sandbachtinnitus@hotmail.com or call the BTA Helpline on 0800 018 0527

Ends

Editors Notes

The British Tinnitus Association (BTA) is an independent charity which supports thousands of people who experience tinnitus and advises medical professionals from across the world.

The BTA is the primary source of support and information for people with tinnitus in the UK, facilitating an improved quality of life.

They aim to encourage prevention through its educational programme and to seek effective treatment for tinnitus through a medical research programme.

The support the BTA offers to 335,000 people per year who are affected by tinnitus is reliant upon the generous donations of their supporters and fundraisers. They receive no government support and need to raise half a million pounds each year to continue their UK wide support. Donations can be made via www.justgiving.com/BTA

Not an illness or disease, tinnitus is a term that describes the sensation of hearing a noise in the absence of an external sound. The noise can have virtually any quality. Ringing, whistling, and buzzing are common, but more complex sounds may also be reported. Troublesome tinnitus can be very distressing for the affected individual, and issues may arise with sleep, concentration and mood. However, in many cases, subtle changes in people’s environment can address these issues, and improve quality of life.

The experienced team at the BTA understands the impact that tinnitus can have on the lives of those who experience tinnitus and those who live with them, so seeks to provide the most appropriate and expert advice and information free of charge – via a confidential freephone helpline on 0800 018 0527 and online at www.tinnitus.org.uk. The BTA can also post printed and audio information and advice.

Visit the BTA’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishTinnitusAssociation and follow the BTA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BritishTinnitus

For more information

Nic Wray, Communications Manager

nic@tinnitus.org.uk

01449 771384

Skype:nicwray20

Emily Ducker, Volunteering and Engagement Support

emilyd@tinnitus.org.uk

0114 250 9933

British Tinnitus Association

Ground Floor, Unit 5 Acorn Business Park

Woodseats Close

Sheffield

S8 0TB

The newly emerged Maltese iGaming operator Stakers Limited has announced a breakthrough blockchain-powered security system. All transactions will be now verified with self-enforced smart contracts, signed by the parties and digitally sealed with the computed hash.

Following in the footsteps of American Express, who have recently launched their blockchain-based business payments, Stakers introduces its own “secure by design” transaction handling system, with data protected against interception and any other unauthorised involvement. Smart contracts will be executed as final with the score coming in, leaving no loopholes for fraud as all player bets are processed almost instantly the time they are deposited. In the end, the players are guaranteed with both their odds and payout, while Stakers finds a yet another way to bolster their trust and credibility.

Although Malta Gaming Authority is on the verge of legalizing and regulating cryptocurrency gambling, it may take some time for these innovations to be fully implemented, yet Stakers has already made the first steps in this direction. Until it is done, all players may still benefit from the new security technology, as all their bets are accepted and paid out with real money, while odds and transactions are secured with Ethereum smart contracts, encrypted, stored and processed by the network, thus ensuring that the history of all past events, as well as bets placed and odds in force remain available with no downtime for both parties.

Michael Schmidt, company’s business development manager claims: “I am sure that introduction of smart contracts running on enormously powerful shared global infrastructure will serve as a confidence boost for the growing number of our players. We’ve been always promoting the principles of fair play, and blockchain technology makes yet another way to prove it”.

In absence of efficient international regulating measures, trusted by both bookmakers and their customers, the whole industry’s reputation has been tarred for a long time by offshore semi-legal gambling operators. Consequently, even the world’s renowned sports betting companies are often bombarded with accusations and the newly appeared bookmakers have a hard time winning players’ trust. However, Stakers proves to be up to this challenge.

“We abide to the gold standards, set by our predecessors, yet there is no use denying that today’s betting services require a totally new approach. Stakers has already been in the limelight with its innovations for some time and we are going to keep to this path”, noticed Michael Schmidt.

Most analytical agencies agree that blockchain is about to form the backbone of tomorrow’s electronic commerce. In accordance to forecasts published by IBM, around two-thirds of banking transactions will be performed on the basis of blockchain by the end of 2020. The banking sector will not surely be the only one to benefit from its features as the core principles behind blockchain make it perfect for any kind of business management. The transparency of blockchain’s data trail as well as its ability to process transactions in near real-time proves well that the underlying principle of smart contracts has only yet begun to show its full potential.

Stakers.com is licensed in Malta and regulated by the Maltese Gaming Authority. License number MGA/CL2/1306/2017

International sales consultancy Whitten & Roy Partnership makes a case for the need of a new paradigm in sales to re-focus on the well-being of the employees and customers in addition to financial profitability.

The shift in sales ethics and management practices would offer both sellers and buyers the possibility of collaboration instead of competition, and education instead of persuasion and manipulation.

Roy Whitten, co-director of Whitten & Roy Partnership, explains: “Without a doubt, sales results matter. But, in order to have maximum impact, they must be the right results: those that support double- or triple-bottom line benefits of economic, social and/or environmental prosperity."

The belief for a new paradigm was much influenced by Whitten & Roy’s Partnership’s collaboration with leading international research organization, The Laszlo Institute of New-Paradigm Research, founded and led by the renowned philosopher, academic, author and two-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee Dr Ervin Laszlo.

Prof Dr Ervin Laszlo says: “At the Laszlo Institute, we are committed to bringing a deeper level of consciousness to the world. I am grateful for the application of the new paradigm that Whitten & Roy Partnership is bringing to business. It is critical that the interconnectedness of all things be reflected and respected in the way we offer our goods and services to each other.”

With regards to the new thinking about sales, Roy Whitten continues: “This transformational sales approach requires not only measuring outputs - the actual sales results - but also to focusing on the right inputs that enable sales people and their customers to develop and thrive. This approach can bring significant changes to three critical areas of a sales person’s effectiveness: attitude, competence, and execution.

At the core of the debate lies this problem: over many years, people have believed that selling requires methods – including those at the negative end of the spectrum - that talk clients into, even manipulate them into, buying things they don’t necessarily want or need – all in the name of achieving financial results.

Scott Roy, co-director of Whitten & Roy Partnership, expands: “For too long selling has been considered as a ‘dark art’ involving negative methods to achieve results. But we believe that selling can be done with ethical pride and high morals. This often involves turning what people believe about selling on its head.”

The more human-centered sales approach that Whitten & Roy Partnership is advocating focuses on conversations between sellers and buyers that empower buyers to make the best possible decision for their business. These conversations focus first on understanding fully the range of problems to be solved and the cost of leaving them unsolved. This approach stands in stark contrast to the “pitching and persuading” techniques that focus on selling the solution.

Furthermore, a more human-centered approach not only involves the way clients are treated, but also the way sales staff is supported by managers. Whitten & Roy Partnership have found that, when organizations focus on the well-being of their people and their customers, they can achieve greater results where everybody wins: sales people enjoy their work, clients get a solution that works and managers achieve the results they are after.

Well-being means giving sales people and managers new tools to access their natural ability. For instance, skills that enable a state of present-moment awareness enables sales people to focus on customer needs, tap into everyone's deep desire to succeed, and maintain a genuinely positive state of mind that creates new possibilities instead of stress, pressure and adversity. New capacities, such as these, need to be at heart of any development program for sales professionals and their management. In this regard key support and investment areas are: training, performance management, team structure, mentoring, and remuneration.

Roy Whitten says: “At the end of the day, you only get what you give to your sales staff and managers. Skipping on things like well-being of the team and their professional development is false economy.”

Since 2009 Whitten & Roy Partnership has helped socially minded businesses sell life-changing products and manage their people in an ethical way in over 125 projects, through a team of over 50 international consultants. The company has worked in over 40 countries, many of which are located in the developing world.

EDITORS' NOTES

About Whitten & Roy Partnership:

Whitten & Roy Partnership is an international sales consultancy that helps leading businesses and organizations transform their sales results. Founded in 2009 by sales experts Roy Whitten and Scott Roy, Whitten & Roy Partnership today comprises a network of consultants operating in 40 countries around the world.

Drawing on several decades of sales experience in both the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors, and with a background in psychology and business development, Whitten & Roy Partnership offers an ethical sales approach that is fit for use by socially minded organizations that are genuinely concerned with the well-being of their own people and the clients they serve. For more information visit: www.wrpartnership.com

About The Laszlo Institute of New-Paradigm Research:

The Laszlo Institute of New-Paradigm Research (L-INPR) is to make a meaningful contribution through understanding of the fundamental nature of the world, and through this understanding to contribute to wellbeing in the world. It pursues this mission through research on the concepts, principles and worldviews emerging in the sciences, and developing their applications to fields of human interest. For more information visit: www.laszloinstitute.com

According to the Ashburton Cookery School’s survey of home cooks there is no dampening of enthusiasm for Christmas this year.

The world often feels in constant flux and 2017 has been no different, so it’s not surprising that many of us take comfort in the Christmas period as a time for tradition, family and goodwill.

Of course one of the main events of Christmas day is the meal, often spent with large numbers around a table enjoying a traditional feast of roast turkey with all the trimmings - and it seems many home cooks are feeling positive about the day of cookery ahead.

The vast majority of respondents (84%) are planning a traditional Christmas meal this year agreeing that it wouldn't feel like Christmas without one, although not everyone agrees with 9% declaring it to be overrated.

Despite over 90% thinking that Christmas has become too commercialised they also expect Christmas to be fun this year including 32% who are 'Super Excited'. However there are around 7% of people 'Not bothered' by the event, and spare a thought for the 2% that are 'Dreading It'.

Home is still the preferred location for the meal by far with 90% of respondents planning to have the meal at their own home or that of a family member.

For some though it's all about getting away, either at a restaurant or pub (2%) or on holiday (4%). Particularly brave is the family choosing to picnic on a Cornish beach this Christmas day!

Most respondents (78%) are cooking the meal themselves, although around half of them consider it a team effort in the kitchen. Thankfully over 89% of them enjoy cooking the meal, which is just as well given that many cooks are going to have their work cut out this year with the majority (28%) having 8 or more guests around the table.

With so many options available to shoppers nowadays, have tastes moved away much from the traditional roast turkey? It seems so, with just 65% plumping for a turkey, and nearly one in three people choosing something different - with the most popular choice being Beef (30%), Pork (15%) or alternative birds including Chicken (14%), Goose (11%), Duck (8%) with only a handful choosing game birds.

We had to ask whether the Brussels Sprout would feature on the menu and a firm 90% of you declared it would be - but only if cooked well. A die-hard 9% want nothing to do with the potentially soggy green veggies.

Most (68%) are planning on going for a Christmas walk either before (26%) or after the meal (42%), but around 25% don't plan to be going anywhere, probably to put their feet up to enjoy a classic Christmas movie.

Given the choice between a Bond film (24%), Sound of Music (14%), It's a Wonderful Life (17%), Home Alone (21%) or a Christmas Carol (22%), 007 just edges it.

As for the Queen's Speech, as many won't be tuning in (36%) than will (35%).

A hearty 93% of respondents think that Christmas is going to be a cracker this year and there is no doubt that a Christmas meal spent with family and friends is still as important as it ever was.

--- Survey Details for Editors—

Survey results from 331 home cook customers as of 13 Dec, 2017 invited to survey.

Live survey results can be found here:https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-K9VHXX5S8/

--- Further Details for Editors—

The Ashburton Cookery School is one of the UK’s leading private culinary schools offering 50 cookery courses to home cooks and aspiring chefs of all skill levels. Courses are taught by professional chefs using the best seasonal ingredients from a purpose built culinary school on the edge of Dartmoor National Park in Devon.

The cookery school has been awarded Cookery School of the Year (British Cookery School Awards) and Best English Cookery School (Food & Travel Magazine) awards and in 2017 was named best Tourism Experience in South Devon.

Visit: www.ashburtoncookeryschool.co.uk

For press enquiries, photographs please contact:

Anicca O’NionsPR & Events Manager

Ashburton Cookery School & Chefs Academy,Old Exeter Road, Ashburton Devon TQ13 7LG

Tel: 01364 652784

Email: pr@ashburtoncookeryschool.co.uk

Photos: http://blog.ashburtoncookeryschool.co.uk/press-photos/Photo Credit: © Ashburton Cookery School 2018

LONDON 14th Dec 2017-

PersonalLoansNow.co.uk releases a comprehensive guide on using personal loans effectively, potentially saving UK citizens from making costly errors. Coming at a time when personal loan rates are rising across the country, this guide will be a huge help to anyone looking for an affordable personal loan.

When they entered the personal loans market, Personal Loans Now discovered a problem facing many UK consumers, and came up with a helpful solution.

The Problem: There are so many different online lending options available that consumers often apply for unsuitable loans. They end up wasting money and sometimes losing valuable assets such as their car or even home if they cannot keep up with the repayments.

The Solution: Personal Loans Now has created a unique guide covering every aspect of the personal loan process in clear detail, aptly named: ‘The Ultimate Personal Loan Guide’. This will save consumers money, time and effort when searching for personal loans.

“This guide is really a fabulous resource. If I was looking for a personal loan, this is exactly what I’d want next to me to guide me every step of the way,” says Elizabeth Redfern, project co-ordinator.

The guide contains seventeen articles covering:

Who are Personal Loans Now?

Personal Loans Now’s goal is to help UK citizens successfully navigate the personal loans market.

When trying to find a personal loan, consumers have to sift through hundreds on options, both in store and online, and it can be difficult to find a loan that is both right for their needs and the cheapest option. This difficulty is compounded when the consumer has a bad credit history, as they are less likely to be approved by many lenders.

The Personal Loans Now website was set up to address this issue. Consumers fill out one application form which is then processed using Monevo’s advanced technology to select only the lenders who are most likely to approve the loan. It is then submitted to each of these lenders, and the applicant receives the cheapest loan offer given. The entire process takes an average of 90 seconds, providing UK citizens with a fast solution to their personal loan needs.

Read the guide on the Personal Loans Now website here.

About Western Circle Ltd:

Western Circle Limited is a technology and data driven lending company. The company develops and integrates technologies to enable affordable loans online under the new FCA regulations. These technologies include underwriting expert systems, online loan intelligence analytics, and proactive compliance management systems. WCL has already helped over 25,000 people in the UK alone to obtain affordable loans online, via its trading style https://www.cashfloat.co.uk. Western Circle Ltd aims to reinvent the science of affordable online loans and make this helpful and responsible financial instrument accessible to all clients across the UK.

Contacts

Western Circle Ltd

Kelly Richard, 020 3946 6777

kelly.richard@cashfloat.co.uk

or

SEO related queries

Ofer Valencio Akerman, 020 3946 6777

Master of SEO for financial markets

Cueme, the world’s first app-controlled underwear launches today.

Cueme is a wearable meets dating social network, which allows people to control vibrations in their underwear, or that of another like-minded adult, anywhere in the world through a smartphone.

Cueme was designed by Chinese entrepreneur and inventor Tracy Li, who wanted a way to maintain intimacy over a long-distance relationship. The result was the first generation of Cueme underwear, of which 10,000 were produced and sold in China.

The second generation of Cueme underwear is now available to pre-order on Indiegogo. It is made from more comfortable, washable, materials and designed to a more natural shape and fit. The controller, which powers the underwear, is also smaller and more discreet.

In addition, the latest battery technology means that up to three hours of smart intimacy can be experience on a 30-minute charge.

Control vibrations with touch, voice or music

A small bluetooth-enabled controller attaches to the underwear. Users pair it with their smartphone in order to power their own garment, or give someone else permission via the app.

There are different vibration speeds that work by touch, or be programmed to work with music or a voice recording via the app.

Cueme gives users the option to connect with like-minded adults worldwide. To do so, users create a public profile, which is searchable via the app.

However, privacy controls put the power to connect in the hands of each wearer, who can decide who does or doesn’t see their profile. Cueme neither collects nor stores any data about users.

Available to pre-order for $59

Available in Spring 2018, Cueme will retail at $99 for one garment and controller. However, it can be pre-ordered today on Indiegogo for a limited super-early bird price of $59.

Cueme also offers a Couples Pack of two, also for pre-order. This contains either one female and one male, or two same-sex garments.

Though smart underwear prototypes have been produced in the past, Cueme is the only product of its kind in production. Unlike existing teledildonics, such as smart vibrators, the fact that Cueme is underwear means it can be worn discreetly all day.

Cueme founder and CEO Tracy Li says that the goal is to turn Cueme into a leader in adult lifestyle products and wearables:

“We’ve opened up a new world of excitement for couples worldwide, as well as for individuals who want to virtually meet and share intimacy with other like-minded adults. We see our smart underwear as only the start of a social-sexual revolution.

“We plan to launch more products in the next 12 months, and aim to make ‘to Cueme’ a phrase that is synonymous with remotely shared pleasure, whether people are in the same room, or the other side of the world.”

ENDS

About Cueme

Cueme is a Shenzhen, China, based technology company. Having raised over $2.5 million from angel investors, Cueme launched the world’s first smart, app-controlled underwear for the Chinese market in 2016.

The second generation of Cueme is now available to pre-order for audiences worldwide via the Indiegogo crowd-funding platform, with shipping expected in March or April 2018.

For photos, go to https://www.flickr.com/photos/141754362@N08/

For the launch video go to https://vimeo.com/245184553

For further information, Dirk Singer, +44 (0) 7408 840 348

The Tom Maccabee Memorial Fund is partnering with international children’s charity Hope for Children to help girls living in extreme poverty in Uganda by improving their access to quality education through a new project called Girls United Kampala.

The Tom Maccabee Memorial Fund will host a charity football match at 3pm on 23rd December at Regatta Way, the home of West Bridgford Colts Football Club, and hopes to raise at least £5,000 towards the charity’s Head Held High appeal, which is being supported by the Government’s UK Aid Match scheme.

The Tom Maccabee Memorial Football Fund was set up set up in memory of the keen footballer Tom Maccabee. Tom, tragically died in a car accident on December 21st 2014 in Malaysia. He believed in the unique properties of football as a game to bring people together and so, as a way to mark his legacy, his family decided to set up the memorial fund with a focus on enriching lives through football.

The fund has been established in conjunction with West Bridgford Colts – the club Tom played at through his teenage years between 2002 and 2011 – one of the largest amateur clubs in the country with over 1,000 registered members

Hope for Children's Head Held High appeal is raising funds to improve access to a quality education for vulnerable children in Africa. Every pound personally donated by the public by 23 December 2017 will be matched by the UK Government with UK aid.

Funds raised by The Tom Maccabee Memorial Fund will help launch the charity’s Girls United project which will work with girls from Namuwongo, a slum community outside Kampala where children live with their families in inadequate makeshift shelters and whose lives are limited by poor health, lack of access to quality education and opportunity.

The project will provide 40 girls aged 11-17 years the chance to have fun and play football while at the same time access vital support to protect their health, wellbeing and future opportunities through counselling, life-skills training and support to help them go to and stay in school.

Activities will include the provision of football equipment, kit, pitch hire and a trained football coach for weekly training sessions and competitive matches, as well as social workers and counsellors to provide the girls with weekly support that will ultimately increase their retention in school.

Tim Maccabee, father of Tom: "Looking for a charity and worthy cause to support in memory of a loved son, brother and friend of so many is not easy. Tom loved football and the power it had to bring people together. He also had a real drive to help people less fortunate than himself. Finding a project together with Hope for Children to establish a girls football club in a slum district in Uganda fits his legacy perfectly. Tom would be proud - and we are on his behalf" -

Immaculate Kiiza, Hope for Children Uganda Country Director: “It’s amazing to have the support of the Tom Maccabee Memorial Fund and link up with West Bridgford Colts FC in the UK to get Girls United off the ground. The project will make a huge difference to the lives of many girls living in really difficult situations in Namuwongo. The girls are so excited about playing football, and as well as having fun the project will help boost their confidence and self-esteem.”

The extra income from UK aid match funding will help Hope for Children provide a range of activities in northern Ghana including providing school books and uniforms, running teacher training programmes to improve the quality of education available, and community workshops that teach girls about their right to education.

To donate to the Head Held High appeal, go to https://www.hope-for-children.org/head-held-high-donate and quote Tom Maccabee in the comments field.

- Ends –

The parents of a baby boy, Albie, who underwent lifesaving surgery at only four hours old, are taking on the gruelling Tough Mudder Mud Run to fundraise for The Sick Children’s Trust, who supported them with free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation whilst their son recovered in hospital.

Ashton Daley, 28, and her partner, Tom Greenwood, 25, from Huddersfield, were left terrified when they found out there was something wrong with their baby at a ten week scan. Doctors at Huddersfield Hospital told the worried parents that Albie had developed a condition known as gastroschisis, which meant his bowels were growing outside of his body. They were sent to Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) for further tests and Albie was closely monitored over the months that followed. Mum, Ashton, who works as an optical advisor, says:

“We had never heard of such a condition and didn’t know what to expect, but the doctors reassured us there were no other complications and provided us with lots of information.

“It was so worrying knowing his condition was getting worse, but until he was born there was nothing anybody could do about it. I was so scared to do much whilst I was pregnant and time seemed to pass very slowly. My eight year old son, Jacob, also knew there was something wrong and that his mummy wasn’t being herself, which made him anxious – it was a bad time for us all.

“Albie was induced three weeks early on Friday 13th October 2017 in a room full of doctors and nurses. Although, Friday 13th in an unlucky day for some, for Tom and I, it was the amazing day we got to meet our son for the first time. Even though we had been expecting it, it was a massive shock to both of us to see the extent of the condition and how much of his bowels were protruding outside his tiny body. The doctors quickly whisked Albie away, leaving Tom comforting me in my hospital bed.”

Albie underwent the corrective surgery to move his bowels back into his abdomen at just four hours old. Fortunately, the operation was a huge success and Albie was stabilised and began to recover on the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at LGI. Mum, Ashton, continues:

“We had heard about Eckersley House run by The Sick Children’s Trust during one of my visits to LGI when I was pregnant, but a room didn’t become available for us for a few days. During this time I stayed on a ward at the hospital, which wasn’t very comfortable, so it was a huge relief for us when we could move into a ‘Home from Home’. That is exactly what Eckersley House became for us – a place that felt like home. We stayed there for three weeks until Albie was discharged and I can’t describe how amazing it was to have somewhere to stay so close to his bedside. There was a direct phone line from his ward into our room, which meant in the middle of the night when I was worried I could call through and be reassured in moments.”

Eckersley House is run by The Sick Children’s Trust. The charity runs ten ‘Homes from Home’ across the country, supporting families, like Albie’s with free accommodation whilst their child is being treated in hospital. Ashton continues:

“We also met other parents at Eckersley House, who had babies being treated in LGI, which was a real comfort and support, plus having a room there meant Jacob could spend his weekends with us so we could be a complete family. He loved playing in the playroom and made friends with other children staying in the house.”

Fortunately, Albie, made a miraculous recovery and was discharged after just four weeks. Since then, he has grown from strength to strength and was given the all clear at his most recent hospital visit. Now his parents are keen to give back to the charity that supported them during their worrying ordeal and along with Tom’s brothers, Matthew, Chris and Will, and Ashton’s friend, Rosie Campbell, they are fundraising for The Sick Children’s Trust. Dad, Tom, who is Assistant Project Manager at Hargreaves Ductwork Ltd., says:

“Being able to give back to the charity that supported Ashton and I is very important to us. My brothers and I are all fitness fanatics, so this seems like a good challenge to take on, especially as Ashton and her friend are also going to join in, which is very impressive!

“We are hoping to raise at least £5,000 in the months leading up to the race, which will take place next June in Skipton and hopefully when people read about the amazing work of The Sick Children’s Trust they will be inspired to donate. We can’t thank the charity enough for what they did for us after Albie was born.”

The family are also supporting The Sick Children’s Trust’s first ever Christmas campaign, which aims to raise £13,140, enough to run its ten ‘Homes from Home’ over the festive period. The charity supports around 4,000 families in its ten ‘Homes from Home’ every year – keeping families close to their seriously ill child’s bedside. Jane McHale, Eckersley House Manager, says:

“We are so grateful to Albie’s mum and dad for their commitment to The Sick Children’s Trust and decision to fundraise for us. We were thrilled to hear Albie was given the all clear at his latest check-up.

“It costs the charity £30 to support a family for one night in one of our ‘Homes from Home’ and we rely entirely on voluntary donations to do this, so Ashton and Tom’s fundraising will contribute to supporting lots of other families when they need a ‘Home from Home’.”

To keep a family together this Christmas, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/sickchildrenstrust/alliwantforxmas.

To watch the Christmas appeal film, visit: https://youtu.be/qpgKkZuPWmc.

To support Ashton and Tom Greenwood, family and friends on their fundraising mission, please visit the Just Giving page:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thomas-greenwood

For further information about The Sick Children’s Trust, please visit: http://www.sickchildrenstrust.org/

Ends

The health and care sector is all about people.

It is all about looking after and supporting people. And this means, the industry looks for certain people to employ.

Within the industry, your employer could be a doctors or dentist surgery; or perhaps you would work caring for the more vulnerable people within the region. No matter where you find yourself, if you work within the health and care sector you will have proved to your employer you are patient, supportive, attentive and skilled.

And you could get into this industry in a variety of ways:

Because it isn’t just about your academic background; but all about you.

Take a look at some case studies from people who work in the sector to find out their story!

The World of Work is an online hub for information and resources about employment opportunities across the county. There are so many exciting industries and employers in the Greater Lincolnshire region; it’s hard to know where to start looking when it comes to work. Luckily, you can now delve into the World of Work at www.theworldofwork.co.uk and find information about your local area.

The Greater Lincolnshire region is filled with amazing career opportunities with national and local businesses within varied industries that you might never have thought of, from manufacturing and low carbon to ports, logistics and technology companies. With case studies from top employers, key facts and resources, industry information and specific local information, the World of Work has something for everyone in Lincolnshire.

The sectors covered by the web site, showing stats, information and case studies include:

Employers who have contributed to the site include Siemens, British Steel, Lindum, Gelder Group, Spaldings, Rilmac Group, Branston, Mirclean, Butlins, The Woodland Trust, Hales Group, The Orders of StJohn Care Trust, Cooperative Group, Associated British Ports, Denby Transport, Dynex.

The World of Work web site was built by the Greater Lincolnshire LEP with the help from Social Enterprise GetMyFirstJob.

Scotland’s international reputation as a key destination for experiencing world-class wild landscapes and outstanding wildlife is to be boosted by Trees for Life joining a prestigious and growing European association of rewilding projects.

The conservation charity was invited to become a member of the European Rewilding Network – placing its restoration of the globally unique Caledonian Forest in the Highlands, especially in Glen Affric and Glenmoriston, firmly on the European map.

A key focus of the network is to show how rewilding – the restoration of damaged natural ecosystems – can benefit economic development, including through nature-based tourism, wildlife watching and volunteering opportunities.

“To have our work saving the Caledonian Forest – Scotland’s equivalent of the Amazonian rainforest – recognized in this way is a major milestone, and highlights its European significance,” said Steve Micklewright, Trees for Life’s Chief Executive.

“As well as sharing knowledge and experience with dozens of organisations, from Portugal to Sweden and from Greece to Ukraine, we’ll be able to promote Scotland’s wild native forests and the country’s inspiring rewilding initiatives to audiences right across Europe.”

Rewilding Europe, based in The Netherlands, coordinates The European Rewilding Network. Its Managing Director, Frans Schepers, said: “Having Trees for Life join our network of major rewilding initiatives is a positive step forwards in making Europe a wilder place. The charity’s pioneering work shows how we can all help save and restore globally important places like the Caledonian Forest.”

Trees for Life believes that the benefits of rewilding include further establishing Scotland as a wildlife tourism hotspot and a world leader in the international drive to tackle forest and biodiversity loss.

A review of Scotland’s wildlife tourism sector by VisitScotland this year highlighted how the country’s landscapes, nature and wildlife are key reasons for people to choose it as a travel destination. Research in recent years has also shown that wildlife tourism generates an estimated £276 million a year for the Scottish economy.

Trees for Life qualified for membership of the European Rewilding Network through its large-scale restoration of the Caledonian Forest. Characterised by Scots pine trees – as well as trees such as aspen, willow and birch – the forest is a unique habitat that supports internationally significant species.

Today just one per cent of the forest’s original area is left, but Trees for Life has already restored large areas in Glen Affric and at Dundreggan Conservation Estate in Glenmoriston through planting over 1.3 million trees and encouraging natural regeneration. The charity’s ambitious new Caledonian Pinewood Recovery Project will take forest restoration to the next level by helping to restore 50 areas of remnant pinewoods – these are mainly made up of ancient 200 year old ‘Granny’ Scots pines which are dying, and there are no young trees to succeed them. These fragments are in danger of disappearing forever without urgent action.

To find out more about Trees for Life’s award-winning work, visit www.treesforlife.org.uk.

Brussels, December 15 2017 – 2017 has been a very successful year for Accreditations in Coaching, Mentoring, and Supervision.

Internationally recognised individual accreditations of coaches and mentors, have increased by 121% compared to 2015/2016 whilst EMCC Accredited Provider Alumni individual accreditation applications have increased by 150% overall.

Supervision training programme acc, and European Supervision Individual Accreditation (ESIA) are also gaining an increased momentum internationally.

Accreditation of Mentoring and Coaching training courses (EQA) have increased by 41% compared to 2016 and application are up 200% overall.

A new EMCC Global Award has been launched to accredit Mentoring and Coaching schemes/ programmes (ISMCP). The first award at Gold level was made in July 2017 to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Mentoring and Coaching Hub, Oslo, Norway.

European Quality Award (EQA) Bespoke Programme Accreditations have been successfully introduced including internationally recognised Team Coaching Modules led by EMCC International Ambassador and Joint Founder, Professor David Clutterbuck.

Reviewing 2017, Denise Whitworth EMCC International Vice-president Accreditation said: ‘It’s been an outstanding year for raising standards and professionalism in Coaching, Mentoring, and Supervision through Accreditation. My thanks go to all our Assessors for their expertise and hard work as well as to all our International Volunteers who have contributed to this remarkable success.’

About EMCC

The EMCC is an International Mentoring, Coaching, and Supervision Professional Association established in 1992. EMCC is made up of Affiliated Countries in Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, and United Kingdom, and direct members worldwide.

EMCC exists to develop, promote and set the expectation of best practice in Mentoring, Coaching, and Supervision across Europe and beyond, for the benefit of society. Our vision is to be the ‘go to’ body in mentoring, coaching, and supervision.

EIA (European Individual Accreditation), EQA (European Quality Award), ESQA (European Supervision Quality Award), ESIA (European Supervision Individual Accreditation) and ISMCP (International Standards in Mentoring and Coaching Programmes) are the Globally Benchmarked quality accreditations for on-going application of competence, recognising a professional level based on the application of the EMCC Competence Frameworks, EMCC Assessment Framework and Global Code of Ethics.

For more information on EMCC visit www.emccouncil.org

Contact: EMCC.Accreditation@emccouncil.org

Dubai, London, Hongkong

December 14, 2017

World’s first 100% physical gold-backed cryptocurrency - CURRENSEE announces its launch. Headquartered in Dubai, Currensee is allowing global investors to be onboard.

"We want to give investors the opportunity to purchase before we list on an exchange", said the Founders of Currensee, "which could see the value increase significantly. To reward early investors, we are also offering lucrative bonus. The investors will get unique sponsor id that could be used to refer their network and earn additional 5% in our bounty program”.

The first ever digital money that is limited on Downside Risk and is High on PROFIT. A GOLD backed coin that increases its value on every transaction made.

Every transaction that will happen within the CURRENSEE ecosystem will make it stronger. Each transaction will generate a 1% transaction fee up to 10 USD, 80% of this fee will be used to repurchase more gold. This will ensure that as the volume of the transactions increases more gold gets added to the vault and all CURRENSEE owners share the profits by default since the value of the coin automatically increases.

Currensee identified weaknesses in cryptocurrencies with most relying solely on market value perception, without any asset value. To eliminate this, Currensee along-with the leading audit and vault partners, created the world's first 100% physical gold-backed cryptocurrency.

The amount of CURRENSEE coins that will be issued at the Initial Coin Offering (ICO) will be 15,000,000 tokens. All these will be available for purchase through the official website of CURRENSEE. After the ICO ends, prospective holders of the coin will be able to buy and sell CURRENSEE freely through all the international channels that will have listed the Token.

The ecosystem that will be created by the issue of the CURRENSEE will also offer platforms such a mobile apps and payment processing which will ultimately work as an excellent medium of exchange all around the world.

This is a brilliant time in the cryptocurrency sector, the benefits that come twofold, both from a gold investment perspective and a cryptocurrency investment perspective, Currensee is the best investment solution available.

Media Contact:

Saannya Singh

Email: media@currensee.io

For more information visit: www.currensee.io

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YouTube:

SOURCE – CURRENSEE COIN

Christmas is for many, one of the favourite times of year. A chance to spend time with family and loved ones, to watch classic TV and movies and just relax. But for many people in the UK, this is sadly not how they experience the festive period.

The debt cycle has become more and more common for UK households, with latest figures from the FCA revealing that there is £200bn of unsecured consumer credit in the UK, with 8.3m households experiencing debt problems (Money Advice Service).

This cycle is amplified at Christmas when many people over stretch to buy that must have gadget, latest toy or feel under pressure to create that 'perfect' day - they over spend, only to be left with the stark realisation that when 1st Jan arrives and all the direct debits are taken, there will likely not be enough money in the bank to pay these.

They end up attempting to pay off Christmas debt, and then spend again for summer holidays. And by the time Christmas comes round again, the debt again mounts up.

Alan Harty, CEO of debt solutions specialists Richmond Oaks based in Glasgow, remembers a sad call last Christmas:

"I will never forget the call I made last Christmas - it was about 3pm on Christmas day and a dad had emailed us to say he could no longer cope with his debt. He had over-spent, borrowed and fallen deeper into debt, all for one day of the year. He had finished his Christmas lunch, the presents were all opened and reality hit.

I was able to reassure him that there were a range of solutions to help, and by January we were able to provide him with a solution that met his needs.

He phoned me a few weeks later to thank me for giving him his life back and for being able to sleep again."

For more and more of the customers that contact Richmond Oaks, debt issues are not the only problem - stress and a range of mental health issues are often also present. Many don't realise that being in debt, constantly worrying about how to afford to live and feed family, not sleeping and being anxious, can all contribute to ill mental and physical health.

This is an area in which Richmond Oaks have been actively researching, Alan explains further:

"The connection between debt and mental health is well documented. We have been working with a researcher to uncover as much insight and analysis as we can on just how much debt impacts individuals and families. This is in part based on response to feedback from a huge number of our existing clients, and we want to understand much more so that we can signpost our customers to get the best support should they need it.

Our current live research project focuses on the many associations between debt and mental health and we will be publishing our findings in the New Year and rolling out training to our debt advisers so that they are even better equipped to deal with these customer issues when they arise.”

It’s important to realise when financial situations may be getting out of control. Here are five signs that you may not be managing

If you are experiencing any of the above issues, get in touch today and we will be happy to help solve your debt issues. You can call us, email us or if you want to, live chat with one of our team – whichever suits you.

Fuel the Sleigh is the Christmas gift campaign from The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust which aims to provide special gifts to all young cancer patients in hospital at Christmas by collecting donations and gifts.

Approximately 500 young people aged between 13 and 24, will be spending Christmas in hospital this year, away from family and friends; so the charity is ensuring that gifts will be delivered to the 45 hospitals throughout the UK and Ireland that take care of young cancer patients to make sure each one receives something special.

The young patients may have to travel far away from home to receive treatment in one of the 45 hospitals supported by The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust and therefore away from the familiar comfort of home. The charity aims to make their Christmas as merry as possible with the annual Christmas gift campaign by showing that they are not alone in their fight.

The trust needs your help with kind donations for gifts for young people with cancer aged between 13 and 24. To make a financial donation text FUEL45 followed by the amount you wish to donate to 70070. You can help The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust make a big difference to a young cancer patient’s Christmas by donating today.

This year’s campaign is in memory of Clinton Stringer, the charity’s treasured and very much missed Father Christmas. Clinton had volunteered for the charity for a number of years and had been instrumental in promoting the gift campaign and collected hundreds and hundreds of selection boxes; which he donated to the LCYCT gift campaign, as well as many other charities and community organisations in his local area. Clinton sadly lost his battle with lung cancer in July and this year’s campaign is dedicated to him.

The Trust Manager, Pam Thornes commented, “This is the eleventh year the charity has run its Christmas gift campaign and it is an emotional rollercoaster because of the kindness and generosity demonstrated by members of the public for the appeal, teamed with the knowledge that many of these young patients are in the fight for their lives. This year’s campaign is especially emotional because it is dedicated to our dear friend and supporter Clinton Stringer.”

The charity will be fundraising and holding events in the run-up to Christmas, as well as collecting gifts from shoppers and members of the public.

Companies, organisations and individuals can get involved in other ways. Organisations or individuals can Dedicate a Christmas Tree, whether at home or at work, dedicate your Christmas tree to The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust and add a special gift tag that represents a gift for a young patient.

The charity’s gift campaign is only made possible each year by the incredible generosity of individuals and organisations, making sure each young patient in hospital receives a gift at Christmas. Nicky the Youth Support Coordinator on a teenage cancer ward said: “Christmas is a tough time for our teenagers and their families especially if they are on the ward during this time and away from their extended family and friends. We always try our best to make it as special as we can and with your help again this was a success. The gifts you send are very much appreciated by all and we cannot thank you enough.”

The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust urges you to join the fight against teenage cancer and help give a young person in hospital a very special Christmas gift. For more information about the campaign and how to get involved, visit www.lauracranetrust.org/fuel45.

-Ends-

For further information and images please contact Helen or Katie at the Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust on 01484 510013 or news@lauracranetrust.org

Notes to Editors:

Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust:

The Living Wage Foundation is pleased to announce that Making Music has today accredited as a Living Wage employer.

Their Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at Making Music, regardless of whether they are direct employees or third-party contracted staff; receive a minimum hourly wage of £8.75 in the UK or £10.20 in London. Both rates are significantly higher than the statutory minimum for over 25s of £7.50 per hour introduced in April 2017.

The real Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually. The Living Wage is calculated according to the real costs of living.

Barbara Eifler, Making Music Chief Executive said:

Employers choose to pay the real Living Wage on a voluntary basis. The Living Wage enjoys cross-party political support.

Katherine Chapman, Director, Living Wage Foundation said: “We welcome Making Music to the Living Wage movement as an accredited employer.

ENDS

For more information contact Ollie Mustill, Marketing and Communications Manager at ollie@makingmusic.org.uk, 020 7939 6038

Making Music, 8 Holyrood Street, London SE1 2EL.0207 939 6030info@makingmusic.org.ukwww.makingmusic.org.uk

Notes to Editors

About Making Music

Since 1935, Making Music has championed leisure-time music groups across the UK with practical services, artistic development opportunities and by providing a collective voice for its members.

The organisation now represents over 3,300 groups made up of around 180,000 musicians of all types, genres and abilities. We help them run their group so they can get on with making music! www.makingmusic.org.uk

About the Living Wage Foundation

The Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually. The real Living Wage is calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK. Employers choose to pay this wage on a voluntary basis. The real Living Wage enjoys cross-party support.

The UK Living Wage is currently £8.75 per hour. The London Living Wage is currently £10.20 per hour. This figure covers all boroughs in Greater London. These figures are calculated annually by the Resolution Foundation and overseen by the Living Wage Commission, based on the best available evidence on living standards in London and the UK.

The Living Wage Foundation recognises and celebrates the leadership shown by Living Wage employers across the UK. There are currently over 3700 accredited employers. We are an initiative of Citizens UK. We believe that a hard day's work deserves a fair day's pay. We support responsible employers to voluntarily go further than the government minimum and pay the real Living Wage, to all their staff, so they can earn enough to meet the cost of living.

We receive guidance and advice from the Living Wage Advisory Council. The Foundation is supported by our principal partners: Aviva; IKEA; Joseph Rowntree Foundation; KPMG; Linklaters; Nationwide; Nestle; Resolution Foundation; Oxfam; Trust for London; and Queen Mary University of London.

In a
unique move to encourage further contributions to its token generation
event (TGE) — and as a gesture of goodwill in line with its core value
of wealth creation for all — Ankorus is announcing it will return all contributions if its target is not exceeded (less transportation costs. The estimated percentage that will be returned is 99%.)

Contributors will additionally retain all of their allocated ANK tokens, which the company will list on several major exchanges following the end of the token sale period.

Ankorus
CEO John Cruz explained: “There is only an upside — this is a message
we want to instill. Those who believed in our model and entrusted us
with their Ether can expect one of two outcomes, depending on whether
our funding target is reached. If it is, our contributors will hold some
valuable ANK tokens. If not, they will be rewarded with our free tokens
and we’ll return their greatly appreciated Ether. It’s a win-win for
our contributors.

“If our crowdfund is well supported, it’s full steam ahead on the plan
laid out in the whitepaper. If not, it’s steady as she goes, and
contributors are rewarded with free tokens and their appreciated
Ether!”

The
raised amount has already crossed the USD $500,000 mark, demonstrating
significant market validation of the company’s propositions. This
success has been achieved via an organic “grassroots” style campaign
that avoided marketing expense.

CEO
Cruz explained: “Our TGE is not like these other ICOs, for at least two
reasons. One, is that we already have an extremely viable business that
will begin in January, so we don’t need the contributions to begin. Two, we will return all
funds if we don’t reach 3,500 Ether. In making this announcement we
hope for an exciting final week while also demonstrating the kind of
trust and opportunity we will represent going forward.”

Ankorus Arrives in January

Ankorus
will begin an OTC cryptocurrency business in January — a retail
operation for smaller orders, and a trading desk for institutional
clients and larger retail investors ($100,000 — $500m). This will be
followed shortly after, expected February 2018, by a bitcoin futures
brokerage, and a cryptocurrencies mutual fund to follow later.

“All
of these businesses represent massive opportunities, both for Ankorus
and its customers,” said CEO Cruz. “Should our token sale exceed our
target, then we will be able to more quickly achieve other milestones,
such as becoming a regulated broker-dealer, developing our AnchorNet trading platform and implementing our DLT blockchain.

“To
potential new funders, think of your contribution as buying an express
ticket, helping us set sail more rapidly. If there’s not enough, we
reimburse you, and you get to enjoy free passage on a steadier journey
with Ankorus!” 

“To
our present contributors, we want to make clear that you’re aboard
already, as ANK holders. If your contribution is returned, we hope you
may remain encouraged to make a good decision twice and buy even more of our tokens — because, as you can see, Ankorus is going places.”

The ANK token sale will complete at 23:59 UTC on December 25.

My son, Zac, arrived 11 weeks early at only 29 weeks on 30 January 2013 at Bassetlaw District General Hospital (BDGH) and I knew immediately that something was very wrong. I had needed an emergency caesarean and I had a couple of minutes with my baby before he was whisked away. Zac was born with hydrocephalus, caused by an excess of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) on his brain, and was soon diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP).

Stuck in a hospital bed, it was my husband, Andy, who comforted me and told me Zac had been transferred to the Jessop Wing in Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital and that we could follow him there as soon as I could be moved.

The next day the doctors agreed to transfer me to Jessops too, so I could be close to Zac. My blood pressure was all over the place and I wasn’t discharged for a week, but that’s when everything became a nightmare of car journeys to and from Worksop, and family tension as I couldn’t drive after surgery. Over the next two months my husband would arrive home from his night shifts exhausted and wanting to sleep and I would need to be driven straight to Sheffield to be with my baby. Looking back I don’t know how we really coped and with all the upset and stress of worrying about Zac. It was horrible being so far away from him. I felt like he could sense when I wasn’t there, but fortunately when he was just over nine weeks old he was stable enough to come back to BDGH, which is within walking distance of our home.

A week later doctors became concerned as Zac’s head began to swell and he was deteriorating fast. We had thought he was going to be discharged and were just waiting for oxygen to become available to take home, so it was another horrible shock when he took a turn for the worse. Unable to support him any longer at BDGH, the EMBRACE team arranged to collect my baby and take him to Sheffield Children’s Hospital. Whilst we were waiting for them to arrive, Andy and I were told about The Sick Children’s Trust. A nurse told us that whilst Zac was being treated on the high dependency unit (HDU) we could stay in free accommodation provided by the charity, just minutes from our baby boy. Honestly, I can’t tell you how much The Sick Children’s Trust helped our family – I think it saved my marriage, because we were no longer stressed about travel to and from the hospital and taking our fear and anger out on each other. Andy could stop at the ‘Home from Home’ when he wasn’t at work, without worrying about driving miles and miles to see Zac.

We stayed at Treetop House for two months before we got to take Zac home for the first time. Being able to stay at Treetop House meant that an unbearable situation was made more bearable. It was a safe haven in a time of huge stress and allowed for us to be close to our son, but also have somewhere to retreat for some quiet time together. It also meant that close friends and family could visit, making a very lonely time slightly less so. But it also put us amongst other families who were going through a similar situation. This enabled us to share our days with each other, the good and the bad. We have stayed in touch with some of the other families we met there having bonded through our shared experience.

After Zac was discharged he continued to be monitored closely at Sheffield Children’s Hospital as an outpatient and it wasn’t until earlier this year that we relied on the generosity of The Sick Children’s Trust once again. We had seen Magnolia House four years earlier, and knew it was even closer to the wards so when the pressure built up in Zac’s brain at the end of February and he was admitted to the hospital, The Sick Children’s Trust offered us a room there. It is awful when the pressure builds up on his brain due to excess CSF as Zac begins to make unusual movements, as though he is having a seizure and then becomes so sleepy and can’t keep down any of his feeds. Zac will always need to be tube fed.

2017 has been a tough year for Zac. He had to be put into a medically induced coma in February and even though it was only for a few days, it felt like years. Being close by in Magnolia House meant I felt comfortable to leave his side for a quick shower or to make some food, knowing I could be back in under a minute. We have stayed with The Sick Children’s Trust three times this year and Zac has had surgery twice for a shunt, which relieved the pressure on his brain. He is an amazing, brave little boy and I can’t believe he is almost five years old. Zac suffers from other complex conditions and will never walk, talk coherently or be able to see anything but shadows, but most of the time he is a happy little boy who amazes us with his playful nature and chattering.

Although we don’t know what the future holds for Zac, the doctors are impressed by how well he has recovered since his last operation in September. We have stopped asking about his prognosis or making plans for the future because what is important to my family is the here and now so we take every day as it comes and are grateful for every moment we have with Zac.

Becky Keith, Zac’s mum

The UK’s only Sarcoidosis charity, SarcoidosisUK, is celebrating 20 years since its foundation with pioneering research that hopes to find a cure for this rare disease.

Sarcoidosis is an under-researched disease, affecting one in 10,000 people in the UK and a million around the world.

Sarcoidosis is an agonising, debilitating disease that can affect any part of the body. It often affects the lungs but can also target the skin, eyes, joints, nervous system, heart and other body parts. Patients can be affected in multiple organs.

Sarcoidosis is an under-researched disease with no cure. Patients have their symptoms treated with the hope that the disease goes into remission. However, in 20-30% of cases it becomes chronic and in up to 5% cases it is terminal.

Since its inception, SarcoidosisUK has focused on funding and commissioning research towards finding a cure. In the last three years it has negotiated donation multiplying partnerships to fund over £360,000 of crucial research. Each project has been a building block towards a cure and reducing deaths from Sarcoidosis.

Now in its 20th year, ground-breaking research offers hope of finally finding a cure. Researchers from the University of Vienna have discovered that “switching on” a protein called mTOR in a mouse gives it Sarcoidosis. SarcoidosisUK is funding a project to discover if the reverse works – blocking the mTOR protein to stop Sarcoidosis.

Crucially, there are already approved human mTOR blockers. SarcoidosisUK aims to celebrate its 20th anniversary by funding a globally significant human trial to see if those blockers can cure Sarcoidosis. If successful, this would provide the world’s first ever treatment for Sarcoidosis.

For every donation made to SarcoidosisUK, the value will be doubled. The charity is aiming to raise £60,000 of the £120,000 total needed to fund this potentially lifesaving mTOR research. Every single pound counts – please consider supporting us.

Henry Shelford, Chairman and CEO of SarcoidosisUK, said: “We fund a significant piece of research every year. Each one is a building block towards a cure. This year, our 20th Anniversary, we’re excited to explore the opportunity mTOR blockers represents. We truly may be on the verge of a cure – but we can only find out with your help. Please consider donating to help us find that cure.”

London, UK — December 18, 2017 — Feeld, the first dating platform for couples and singles, has launched a new dating product that aims to bridge technology with real life experience. Signal, the first augmented reality dating app, would lead members to a secret location visible through the app and allow them to meet other likeminded people.

Circumventing the need for matching and chatting – an often time consuming and misleading way of testing out a connection – Signal breaks the fourth wall of online dating and lets interpersonal chemistry lead the way. Signal will be application-only, with approved members gaining the right to invite others.

Signal will be launched in London in Summer 2018, with other locations to follow.

Feeld is a dating platform for open-minded couples and singles. Founded in London in 2014, Feeld is a fully remote design-led company. For more information and to sign up for Feeld, visit feeld.co.

Photo prints app Printicular and retail group Timpson today announced, UK customers can order photo prints using the Printicular app and pickup at hundreds of Max Spielmann stores. Locations are nationwide, many conveniently located within larger Tesco stores. Printicular makes it easy for customers to order photo prints which are ready in about 1-hour to collect in-store.

Through the Christmas and New Year season, Printicular aims to drive customers to photo retailers. With simple to use design and the convenience of local pickup, people can now create photo prints easily. Gorgeous, permanent prints are ready same day at retail stores, typically within 1 hour. Printicular with pickup of photo prints at Max Spielmann photo shops on the High Street and in larger Tesco stores is available on Android, iPhone and iPad.

Printicular is engaging with younger audiences compared to traditional photo print customers. “Printing customers are traditionally families printing family photos but, because of the photo revolution of phones, print orders have increased phenomenally in the 14-24 age group,” says Bruce Seymour, Director of Printicular. “Photos are showing up on refrigerators, mirrors and lockers like it’s 1985.”

The new apps, launched today are available in partnership with Timpson Group. “The quality of today’s prints are stunning,” says Kevin Martin, Timpson’s Online Director. “Combined with new technologies in mobile phone image capture, the results are incredible.”

About Printicular

Printicular, is the UK’s leading print-to-retail phone app enabling retail pickup of prints at hundreds of locations in the UK. Download Printicular Photo Print Android and iPhone, iPad. Details on Youtube here and here or get the press-pack.

About Timpson

Timpson is the UK’s leading retail service provider employing over 3,400 colleagues, with 1,325 owned stores and 110 Snappy Snaps franchises throughout the UK and Ireland. Timpson has been established since 1865 and is family owned and run by John Timpson as Chairman and James Timpson as Chief Executive.