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Greater Lincolnshire’s Ports and Logistics industry and its workers are supplying the world!

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Wednesday 21 February, 2018

With an agri-food sector supplying 70% of the UK’s fish and a manufacturing industry comprising of over 2350 employers; it comes as no surprise that Greater Lincolnshire’s ports and logistics industry is huge. How else would companies within the region be able to export worldwide, and deliver produce within the UK?

How does Greater Lincolnshire deal with such a massive ports and logistics task?

Over 18,000 workers within the industryThe Port of Immingham is the UK’s largest port by tonnage, handling around 55 million tonnes every year.The Port of Grimsby handles over 500,000 vehicles every year.Humberside Airport enables produce to be delivered to the European market within a few hours.Road transport counts for 8,000 jobs within the sectorOrganisations such as Denby Transport, Associated British Ports and East Midland trains.

And there is more than just driving vehicles to the ports and logistics industry. There are many interesting job roles in different departments which ensures the sector keeps moving produce such as Marketing, Heath and Safety, Website Managers, Stock Control assistants, Pilots, HR, IT, Transport Planning and Training!

The World of Work is challenging the perceptions of young people by showcasing all job roles found within sectors, rather than focusing on stereotypical careers. By sharing real stories from people within the regions priority sectors, we can inspire young people and help them shape their own career journey.

And there are so many exciting industries and employers in the Greater Lincolnshire region to showcase; it’s hard to know where to start looking when it comes to work. So, by accessing www.theworldofwork.co.uk young talent can start to learn more about opportunities they may never have thought of.

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

MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING AGRI-FOOD HEALTH & CARE LOW CARBON VISITOR ECONOMY PORTS & LOGISTICS TECHNOLOGY CONSTRUCTION AND MANY MORE....

Employers who have contributed to the site include British Steel, Bakkavor, Associated British Ports, Branston, Interflora, Nutrapharma, Lincolnshire Cooperative, The Woodland Trust, Wilkin Chapman, Hales Group, Siemens, the Grimsby Institute and many more!

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



No media attached. Please contact The World of Work for more information.


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WHY OWN ONE CRYPTO FUND, WHEN YOU CAN OWN A DIVERSE MIX OF THE SMART STRATEGIES IN THE SPACE?

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Thursday 22 February, 2018

CoinShares Announces a New Fund-of-Funds Built To Invest Across A Variety of Strategies in Blockchain

LONDON, ENGLAND, FEBRUARY 22, 2018 — CoinShares, pioneers in crypto investment products, is welcoming another first-of-its-kind fund to its growing investment platform: The Blockchain Strategies Fund, a Luxembourg domiciled, Blockchain focused fund-of-funds that offers exposure to a broad array of components which comprise the crypto and larger blockchain economy.

Similar to other products from the CoinShares group, this Blockchain fund-of-funds is a first for the crypto ecosystem. However, it carries a wider mandate than previous CoinShares investment vehicles. Specifically, the fund will invest in other strategies ranging from those focused on crypto-currency trading, mining, and lending to ICOs, Indexes and Delta One Securities/equities.

The fund strategy is designed to deliver diversified exposure to this emerging ecosystem and seeks to provide a better risk/reward profile and lower volatility than other, more single purpose funds.

“If you wanted to invest in the internet through a diverse mix of strategies focused on everything from servers, fiber-optics and silicon to search engines, social network start-ups and e-commerce infrastructure – this would be that fund; but for the crypto-economy. We are very excited about bringing this fund and Block Asset Management’s expertise to our investor base; both the strategy and team will be a great complement to CoinShares’ growing platform of strategies,” says Ryan Radloff, CEO CoinShares (UK).

The Block Asset team shares a combined 100+ years of professional finance experience with alumnus from Credit Suisse, Societe General, Citibank, UBS, Barclays & Lloyds. The team brings a diverse mix of trading backgrounds equipping them to be one of the most seasoned managers in the crypto-finance market.

“As a group, Block Asset Management and CoinShares have a shared philosophy of acting as portfolio risk managers first and foremost – so when the opportunity to work together came up, it was an obvious fit. We are very excited to bring this fund-of-funds to market, and could not have imagined a better group to do it with than CoinShares, a leader in Crypto Finance,” says Manuel E De Luque Muntaner, CEO of Block Asset Management.

This announcement comes less than a month after CoinShares announced two new crypto asset focused funds, follow-ups to its initial ERC-20, CoinShares Fund 1 which focuses on ICOs.

For more information on the new funds or other CoinShares related inquiries, please email info@coinshares.co.uk.

###

CoinShares
Group is the European leader in crypto-finance with over $1 billion in
crypto-assets across a suite of exchange traded and private investment
products. The group of companies serves a global investor base seeking to
invest in the emerging crypto asset market(s) with a family of products which
offer exposure to bitcoin and other emerging digital currencies/assets. The
CoinShares’ product line-up comprises a group of offerings which all represent
first of their kind products: Bitcoin Tracker One (and Bitcoin Tracker Euro)
and Ether Tracker One (and Ether Tracker Euro) the first exchange traded
bitcoin and ether products, globally; and CoinShares Fund 1 – the first fund
denominated in cryptocurrency (ETH). CoinShares is backed by a team with deep
experience in Exchange Traded Products, Hedge Funds, Commodities, FX, Market
Making and both active and passive investment in frontier markets.

CoinShares
(UK) Limited is an appointed representative of Sapia Partners LLP, which is
authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 550103). This
document has been prepared and issued by CoinShares (UK) Limited and is being
provided for information purposes only. It is not intended as an offer or
solicitation to enter into any proposed transaction or investment.

Investors’
capital is at risk, and investors should only invest if they are able to afford
the loss of all capital invested. There is no guarantee that the investment
objectives will be achieved and past performance should not be construed as an
indicator of future performance.

Crypto-currencies can be
extremely volatile and subject to rapid fluctuations in price, positively or
negatively. Investment in one or more crypto-currencies may not be suitable for
even a relatively experienced and affluent investor. Each potential investor
must make their own informed decision in connection with any such investment
(after having sought independent financial advice thereon).



* For more information regarding media usage, ownership and rights please contact CoinShares.

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Social Enterprise Launches Campaign to Support Underdog Athletes

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Thursday 22 February, 2018

SEUK certified social enterprise; Harper Performance have launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise at least £30k in just 30 days to enable them to continue their work supporting aspirational athletes in disadvantaged, deprived and marginalised communities across the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

In 2018, a team of expert practitioners; from sports scientists, to physiotherapists and sports nutritionists drawn from elite sports teams all over the world will head to Liberia, Uganda and Kenya to support sports academies in some of the most deprived communities in the world.

In Liberia and Uganda, the non-profit Harper Performance will be working with two of the fastest growing football academies in Africa; the Monrovia Football Academy and the Football For Good Academy, where elite football development is coupled with world-class academic teaching. In Kenya, the team will be working to support aspirational long distance runners from rural areas with Project Africa Athletics.

The expert team boasts over 150 years of combined experience in elite sport and will travel to build the capacity of these sports organisations to best support their most talented athletes from a sports science, sports medicine, and nutrition perspective.

A successful crowdfunding campaign will ensure the social enterprise can continue to provide world-class support, that is traditionally out of reach to the vast majority, to some of the most promising athletes in the developing world pro-bono or for heavily subsidised fees.

Tim Harper, Founding Director at Harper Performance said

“We believe that The KANJU Campaign is a fantastic opportunity for the UK community to get behind a really important international cause. Sport can be an unbelievable force for good - there are countless examples of how sport can be a more effective catalyst for social change than years of government policy, especially in the developing world.

The athletes and organisations we work with herald from areas in the world where, for large swathes of the population, daily survival is the top priority, and in that sense, our work, and sport in general may seem like a superficial event. But it is our belief, and the belief of those we work with on the ground that sport serves as a marker of stability in an otherwise volatile and challenging existence.

Sport allows these athletes and communities to forge an identity, and draw international attention for reasons other than the conflict, poverty, famine and disease that disproportionately fills our airwaves on a daily basis - attracting business, investment and carving out genuine social change.”

The KANJU Campaign is offering a range of exciting rewards in return for pledges, including the naming rights to one of their 2018 projects, a VIP private dinner with their team of experts and limited edition clothing and accessories. You can pledge your support via: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-kanju-campaign.



http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-kanju-campaign
* For more information regarding media usage, ownership and rights please contact Harper Performance.

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Studying the impact of R&D tax incentives on SME-led innovation: New EU project

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Thursday 22 February, 2018

Prof. Pierre Mohnen will lead UNU-MERIT's stake in WATSON -- a new 1 million euro innovation project.

WATSON is a research project funded by the European Commission under Horizon 2020, which aims to develop and demonstrate a framework methodology for studying the impact of R&D tax credits and incentives on SME-led innovation within Europe. The project with a duration of 18 months (January 2018 – June 2019) and a total budget of nearly 1 million euros brings together leading European research institutions and Innovative SMEs from the domains of Fintech, financial services and economics.

R&D tax credit schemes have been widely implemented as a measure of innovation funding; however, the “one-size-fits-all” nature of R&D tax incentive schemes does not account for the intrinsic differences in the research and results of different industries. This leaves certain sectors at a disadvantage in achieving funding, limiting the impact of R&D tax schemes. Most schemes have yet to be subjected to a detailed quantitative study, which impedes their comparability and limits their improvement potential in better targeting the specific needs of the wide array of R&D performing SMEs in the European market.

WATSON will further the knowledge of innovation funding by providing a foundation for detailed study of SME funding through the framework methodology, which will be integrated into the WATSON ICT innovation analytics platform for richer analysis. This tool will identify gaps in funding of European tax credit schemes, and help to better target and improve innovation funding measures. The results of WATSON will thus expand innovation support for SMEs through the provision of instruments better targeted to the funding needs of specific SME segments. WATSON aims to set the foundation for innovation benchmarking and help maximise the impact of innovation funding in Europe.

The consortium with six partner organisations is led by the SME Kapitalise Ltd (United Kingdom), and comprised of industrial partners: Exodus S.A. (Greece), Inventya Ventures (EU) Ltd (Ireland); and academic institutions: Imperial College London (United Kingdom), Maastricht University (Netherlands) and London School of Economics (United Kingdom).

Stakeholder engagement will be undertaken throughout the project through events such as workshops, training sessions and conferences, as well as a cross-sector stakeholder panel.

WATSON is keen to attract more stakeholders so if you would like to be involved in this innovative and exciting project, please contact the WATSON team via stephen@kapitalise.co.uk



* For more information regarding media usage, ownership and rights please contact United Nations University - MERIT.

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'The Most Handsome Inn in The World' Up for Sale

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Thursday 22 February, 2018

The Feather Hotel in Ludlow, Shropshire, has recently been put up for sale. Widely regarded as 'the most handsome inn in The World', it is on the market for a cool £2.65 million. After 16 years, the owners of the hotel are looking for a buyer which will allow them to retire.

The 40-bedroom hotel was rebuilt in 1619 and is a grade 1 listed building. It is said that the hotel has the oldest facade in England. With a beautiful 17th century coaching inn appeal, the front of the inn has an incredibly intricate Jacobean patterning. With 4 retail units, conference rooms and private dining facilities: this establishment has all of the provisions that a modern hotel can offer and more.

Charles Jones, the senior agent for hotels, pubs and restaurant for the agency handling the sale, Christie & Co said: “The Feathers is a fantastic opportunity for an owner operator to purchase their own piece of history in one of England’s prime market towns. The Feathers continues to be a destination hotel. We expect to see high interest from local, national and international operators who will recognise The Feathers as an exceptional addition to any portfolio."

The hotel was acquired by the Ceney family in 2002 for 1.75 million. After 16 years, they are now looking for a sale which will allow them to retire from the business.

Local UK Hotel Supplier, Smart Hospitality Supplies, have worked with many businesses in the area with their branding in the form of bespoke menu holders and guest information folders. A company representative explains: "Ludlow has a rich and grand history within the hospitality and hotel industry, at one time boasting three Michelin Star restaurants. The Feathers is a top attraction in the area and the acquirers will inherit the option to work with local businesses to build on its deep and fruitful foundations."

Although the hotel is an attraction in itself with its unmistakeable 17th century character, it is situated in a prominent location. Within a five to ten minute walk of Ludlow Castle, the River Teme, Ludlow Market and the high street, it is an integral part of the market town. Being within the heart of the town means that this hotel has the potential to boost the local area and work in conjunction with local businesses to bring Ludlow back to its Michelin prime position once again.



* For more information regarding media usage, ownership and rights please contact Smart Hospitality Supplies.

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European Tinnitus Course returns a seven-year hiatus

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Thursday 22 February, 2018

The British Tinnitus Association (BTA) are proud and excited to be involved in bringing back the acclaimed European Tinnitus Course after a seven-year hiatus. The 29th running of the course will feature a world class faculty, and a superb, modern venue.

Developed by Dr Ross Coles in the late 1970's, the European Tinnitus Course is one of the longest running tinnitus courses in the world. However, the content has been completely revised and refreshed, reflecting the many discoveries and innovations in this rapidly developing field.

Presenting modern concepts and management of tinnitus and hyperacusis in a multidisciplinary, evidence-based manner, the course will be comprised of both smaller group sessions, and traditional teaching. Over the three days of the course it will cover the following areas:

Basic science, definitions and clinical assessmentMainstream treatmentsSpecial populations and other treatment modalitiesResearch perspectives

The course is taught by leading tinnitus experts David Baguley, Beth-Anne Culhane, Don McFerran and Laurence McKenna, who between them have clinical and research experience, and are able to synthesise these in a comprehensible and compelling manner. The European Tinnitus Course is aimed at healthcare professionals in audiology, psychology, ENT and audiovestibular medicine, who have already acquired their basic proficiencies but are wishing to specialise in tinnitus or who wish to take their tinnitus knowledge to the next level. The course is also relevant to scientists undertaking research in the field of tinnitus and hyperacusis.

Comments Beth-Anne Culhane, ”This course is suitable for audiologists who see patients with tinnitus and want to build on their knowledge and clinical skills. The course will leave you feeling more confident to help the people who come to see you.”

The course will be held 7-9 June 2018 at The Studio, 51 Lever Street, Manchester M1 4FN and will cost £650 per person. NHS staff may be eligible for a BTA bursary towards the course fee.

If you would like to find out more, please contact Marcus Bowen on 0114 250 9933 or marcus@tinnitus.org.uk to register your interest or visit www.tinnitus.org.uk/event/eurotc

Ends

Editors Notes

Images and interviews with the faculty can be provided

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 over 360,000 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

07816 827304

Skype:nicwray20

Marcus Bowen, Events Manager

marcus@tinnitus.org.uk

0114 250 9933

British Tinnitus Association

Ground Floor, Unit 5 Acorn Business Park

Woodseats Close

Sheffield

S8 0TB



No media attached. Please contact British Tinnitus Association for more information.


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New Support for Tinnitus Sufferers in Rotherham

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Friday 23 February, 2018

23/02/2018 A new group to support local people with tinnitus is being formed in Rotherham. Tinnitus affects one in ten adults in the UK, and there are an estimated 20,400 people with the condition in Rotherham alone, of whom over 2000 find it significantly affects their quality of life.

The first meeting will take place on 23 March 2018 between 10.30am -12.30pm at Rotherham Sight & Sound, 8 Ship Hill, Rotherham, S60 2HG.

The group is being hosted by Tony Atkin and Sue Hill from Rotherham Sight & Sound who say, “During Tinnitus Week in early February we held a Tinnitus Awareness Day. On the day we asked the question, ‘Would you be interested in a Tinnitus Support Group?’ It soon became apparent that there was interest to start a new group in Rotherham. After talking with Colette Bunker from the British Tinnitus Association, Rotherham Central Tinnitus Group will start on Friday 23 March”

Colette Bunker, Volunteer and Support Group Manager at the British Tinnitus Association, comments: “Being among people who have tinnitus, listening to their experiences and how they have managed to handle things, is a tremendous help for the individual. 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 Tony or Sue on 01709 72240 or enquiries@rotherss.org.uk

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 over 360,000 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

07816 827304

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



No media attached. Please contact British Tinnitus Association for more information.


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STIRLING'S NEWEST FESTIVAL GETS £10K FUNDING BOOST FOR REBRAND

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Friday 23 February, 2018

FVSE, the organisation behind the delivery of Stirling Highland Games since 2014 has successfully evolved the event into Stirling’s newest cultural event, The Sruighlea Festival [Sreee-lie].

The new festival aims to continue attracting visitors to the host region from not just the UK but from overseas as it seems there is an ever-growing appetite for a multi layered Scottish cultural event. With highland games competitions, a foodie festival and now a live music event on offer, it promises to be well worth a visit.

Director Matt McGrandles explains, “Over the last few years we have been tweaking the offering to visitors to see what works and what doesn’t. Last year’s event went very well so we are looking to build on this and grow the offering, so we can attract more visitors.”

With the Festival looking to increase its numbers, the FVSE team have been working since last September on securing more funding partners. As such, the recent matched funding support of £10,000 from Cultural Business Fund Scotland (CBFS) has now allowed FVSE to appoint their new Creative Festival Partners, Nettl Stirling to help develop its branding and online presence, a key part of the Festival’s growth.

CBFS aims to encourage businesses to sponsor arts and heritage activity within Scotland for the first time and this new fund brings creative projects – large and small – vividly to life.

Carl Watt, Head of Programmes at Arts & Business Scotland, added: “By matching their sponsorship pound for pound, the Culture & Business Fund Scotland aims to encourage many more businesses that are new to cultural sponsorship to sponsor cultural projects throughout Scotland. It also seeks to strengthen long-term collaboration by offering ongoing support for those businesses sponsoring cultural projects in their second and third years. Nettl Stirling’s sponsorship of The Sruighlea Festival is a fantastic example of how businesses and cultural organisations can work together for mutual benefit. Companies who support the arts, such as Nettl, benefit from the opportunity to showcase their expertise with a wider audience.”

He continued, “Developing the branding and online presence of The Sruighlea Festival will no doubt boost visitor numbers to the event and will make a positive, long-lasting impact that inspires and enriches the local community in Stirling.”

Alan Gunning, Director at Nettl of Stirling are really exciting to be working on the branding and web development for this year’s Sruighlea Festival. Having attended 2017’s Stirling Highland Games, he saw the tremendous effort that the FVSE team went to in putting on such a fantastic event.

He commented, “Last year, the hugely successful foodie festival, traders’ village and the first ever evening of music with the Sruighlea Sessions added to a fantastic atmosphere and brought a great day to a majestic close. Now that we know how to pronounce Sruighlea, we were delighted to be approached to create the branding and website (including a bespoke ticketing system) for 2018’s Sruighlea Festival. We’re proud to be supporting this wonderful, cultural and local event.”

The Festival promotes itself as a weekend destination and believes it has something for everyone. Matt concludes, “with the great news that we have now secured support from both CBFS and Nettle Stirling, it allows development of The Sruighlea Sessions, our live music part of the event where we are looking to attract 3000 additional visitors in the evening. The Project is a massive funding jigsaw, but I am delighted it is all coming together to create a cracking event for Stirling on Saturday August 18th.”

Tickets for The Sruighlea Festival can be bought in advance from their new web site www.sruighlea.scot in March 2018. For further details please contact FVSE on 01786 273556 or email your enquiry to office@fvse.org.uk



* For more information regarding media usage, ownership and rights please contact FVSE CIC.

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Mum hosts ball to celebrate son’s 21st birthday and give back to charities close to her heart

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Saturday 24 February, 2018

A grateful Colchester Mum is on a fundraising mission for three charities that have supported her family throughout her son’s life.

Sue Cain, 50, from Colchester, is organising ‘Nathan’s Extravaganza’ – her second charity ball – to celebrate her son’s 21st birthday and to thank The Sick Children’s Trust, The J’s Hospice and the David Randall Foundation for helping her family over the years.

20 year old Nathan Cain was born with a congenital heart defect and developed hydrocephalus at just a few hours old. As Nathan got older, other conditions emerged, including cerebral palsy, worster-drought syndrome, autism spectrum disorder and scoliosis. Nathan has only one functional kidney and a rare chromosomal genetic condition, which have all come together to cause his brave struggle.

Nathan has required specialist treatment throughout his life and for this he has had to travel to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge. During his treatment there, his parents, Sue and Neil, were supported with free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation at Acorn House, run by The Sick Children’s Trust. Acorn House is located in the hospital grounds, which meant Nathan’s parents were never more than just a few minutes’ walk from his side. Alongside The Sick Children’s Trust, his family have been supported by The J’s Hospice and the David Randall Foundation, which will also be benefitting from the charity ball. Sue, who is selling tickets for £55 per person* or as tables of ten to the event at Le Talbooth in Dedham, says:

“I was completely overwhelmed with everyone’s support and generosity in 2016 and really want to raise just as much for these fantastic charities this year.

“‘Nathan’s Extravaganza’ is extra special this time round as at midnight Nathan will turn 21! Nathan is such a fantastic young man, and makes Neil and me proud every single day. On Friday 4 May we will be having a wonderful celebration to mark the occasion and also to thank everyone who has helped us and been there for us over the last 21 years by raising much-needed funds for charity.

“The J’s Hospice has been an absolute rock for Neil, Nathan and me, giving Nathan time away from home and provides us with lots of emotional support. The Sick Children’s Trust is a charity we have received support from more recently when Nathan has had to go for treatment at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Having your child in hospital and being just minutes from their bedside in a ‘Home from Home’ is a huge relief; we cannot praise Acorn House enough – staying there took a huge weight off our shoulders. This year, we also wanted to take the opportunity to thank the David Randall Foundation, which is also very close to our hearts. The charity has given our family some wonderful days out which we always look forward to and memories we will always treasure.”

‘Nathan’s Extravaganza’ will be held on Friday 4 May at Le Talbooth in Colchester. There will be a drinks reception and canapés, an exquisite Le Talbooth BBQ, an exciting live auction, raffle and a disco into the early hours. Tickets cost £55 per person* and all monies raised will be split between The Sick Children’s Trust, The J’s Hospice and the David Randall Foundation. Community Fundraising Manager, Elisa Cappello-Dowd, says:

“From the bottom of our hearts we’d like to say a huge thank you to Sue for once again organising such a big event. It means so much to us to have her continued support, which makes a huge difference to other families who need a ‘Home from Home’ when their child is seriously ill in hospital.

“We’re delighted to be a part of Nathan’s 21st birthday celebrations and can’t wait to attend the ball. As a charity we rely entirely on voluntary donations to keep our houses running, so we’d like to say thank you to Sue and all her supporters who we know will make the evening a huge success.”

To buy tickets to Nathan’s Extravaganza’, please email nathan.extravaganza@gmail.com and if you’d like to support Sue by sponsoring the event, please get in touch.

*£55 per person is an early bird offer, prices will increase to £60 from 1 March 2018.



* For more information regarding media usage, ownership and rights please contact The Sick Children's Trust.

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New Support for Tinnitus Sufferers in York

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Saturday 24 February, 2018

23/02/2018 A new group to support local people with tinnitus is being formed in York. Tinnitus affects one in ten adults in the UK, and there are an estimated 20,800 people with the condition in the City of York area alone, of whom over 2000 find it significantly affects their quality of life.

The first meeting will take place on 2 March 2018 (and then every other month) 2.00pm -4.00pm at Yorsensory, Wilberforce House, 49 North Moor Road, Huntington, York YO32 9QN. Colette Bunker, Volunteer and Support Group Manager from the British Tinnitus Association will be on hand to talk to people about tinnitus and the help and support available.

Cathy Woodward from Yorsensory said: ““The Wilberforce Trust is pleased to be adding the Tinnitus Support Group to its growing range of services and support for adults with sight and hearing loss in York, under its Yorsensory banner. The group aims to connect people living with tinnitus, share experiences and inspiration for coping with tinnitus and explore practical ways of managing tinnitus for example via technology and relaxation.”

Colette comments: “Being among people who have tinnitus, listening to their experiences and how they have managed to handle things, is a tremendous help for the individual. 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 Cathy Woodward from Yorsensory on 01904 760037 or C.Woodward@wilberforcetrust.org.uk to register your interest.

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 over 360,000 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

07816 827304

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



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Enterprising universities must boldly grow student business leaders, Localis report recommends

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Monday 26 February, 2018

Embargo date: from 00.01 am, Tuesday, 27 February 2018

More than a third (35%) of higher education bodies fail to produce a single graduate start-up firm to boost local economic growth, a new report from think-tank Localis has revealed today.

The report found although universities are responsible for one in every hundred new business births annually – creating 4,224 businesses employing 44,335 people and producing £2.5bn annual turnover - more than a third (35%) of universities show no evidence of supporting graduate enterprise.

Entitled ‘Place, Learning and Entrepreneurialism’, the report argues universities should provide a ‘swing door’ to help start-ups grow in size and scale. But analysis showed London gained the lion’s share of targeted external investment, attracting £35.5m in 2015/16 against just £1.3m for Yorkshire institutions, or a factor of almost eight times as much on average per institution.

The report authors advised university vice chancellors to make enterprise a strategic priority for their institutions. To put this into practice, all universities should offer students the opportunity to learn business skills, nurture entrepreneurial behaviour across campuses and support the growth of firms that can successfully spin out of higher education into the commercial world, the study suggested.

Key report recommendations include: -

Universities should make enterprise a strategic priority, giving every student the opportunity to develop enterprise and entrepreneurship skills and learning;University incubation units and workspace should be opened up to local entrepreneurs to support local SMEs and provide student entrepreneurs with an immediate and valuable peer network;Government should recognise universities’ position as local economic anchors in devolution framework and local economic strategies;Diversifying the current capital model to increase independent investment to higher education spawned start-ups outside London, incentivising regional and scale-up investment and promoting alumni funding.

Localis chief executive, Liam Booth-Smith, said: “The unfortunate truth is that too many UK universities simply do not act in this space.

“With the risks, challenges and opportunities that Brexit presents, promoting enterprise and entrepreneurship in our universities should be an important part of the government’s national policy agenda and central to the development of local industrial strategy.”

Report author, David Godfrey, said: “Our comparison between universities in London and Yorkshire reinforces this disparity in external investment, with graduate start-ups at London institutions attracting £35.5m in 2015/16 against just £1.3m for graduate start-ups at Yorkshire universities, a factor of almost eight times as much on average per institution.

“Through the support of university entrepreneurship in local industrial strategies, there is a major opportunity for local leadership in bringing good ideas together with London investment by successfully packaging start-up schemes to investors, as Manchester has successfully done.”

Philip Clegg, Head of Student and Graduate Business Start-Up, University of Huddersfield, said: “Initial discussions with our UCL colleagues began 18 months ago and sowed the seeds for this important piece of collaborative research.

“The final report, which aligns the impact of enterprise and entrepreneurship education in regional universities, with the Industrial Strategy's focus on 'place', was simply too important an opportunity to ignore."

Jerry Allen, Director for Entrepreneurship at UCL Innovation, said: “We so desperately need to unlock the latent entrepreneurial talent buried amongst our universities to tackle the UK productivity gap, this report shows us precisely how.

“At UCL, entrepreneurship education features highly and at a strategic level as we recognise the value in equipping our students and staff with an entrepreneurial mindset to contribute to the UK economy.”

ENDS

Press enquiries:

Jonathan Werran, Head of News and Events, Localis(t) 0870 448 1530 / (m) 07967 100328 / (e) jonathan.werran@localis.org.uk

Notes to Editors:

1. A full copy of the report ‘Place, Learning and Entrepreneurialism: the impact of entrepreneurial education on regional economies’ can be downloaded from the Localis website: www.localis.org.uk

2. Report Recommendations:

To support universities in fulfilling their role as local economic anchor institutions we make the following recommendations.

Recommendations: Place, Learning and Entrepreneurialism: the impact of entrepreneurial education on regional economies

To support universities in fulfilling their role as local economic anchor institutions we make the following recommendations.

Make enterprise and entrepreneurship a strategic priority

Every student should have the opportunity to develop enterprise and entrepreneurship skills and learning, both within the university curriculum and outside it. Universities must find ways to identify and nurture entrepreneurs across all disciplines and at all stages.Enterprise and entrepreneurship must have a mandate. Through strong corporate leadership within universities, the university offer to student and graduate entrepreneurs must be strategic and co-ordinated.Universities should review their ‘cut off points’ for enterprise and entrepreneurship support in order to play a more active role in scaling up of businesses not just the pre start-up and start-up phase.Incubation units and workspace should be opened up to local entrepreneurs. This will support local SMEs, potentially increase revenue for enterprise units, encourage throughput and provide student entrepreneurs with an immediate and potentially valuable peer network .

Influence the local economy

Universities’ position as anchors in their local economies should be explicitly recognised in the Government’s Common Framework for devolution and a clear link made to university enterprise and entrepreneurship in the Government’s Review of LEPs. It should be promoted in local economic strategies.Universities should provide a “swing door into the local economy” with clear account management of services across the university and alignment with external enterprise and entrepreneurship support through their local Growth Hubs.Government should create conditions that diversify the current capital model to increase independent investment outside of London, retaining existing tax reliefs but incentivising regional and scale-up investment and promoting alumni funding. Vice Chancellors should work with their LEPs, City and County Councils and Mayors to package regional opportunities to pitch to investors.New financial support and incentives should be developed to replace funding for enterprise and entrepreneurship currently available through Local Growth Fund and European funding streams.

Measure and reward impact

Local economic impact should be assessed and rewarded through the new Knowledge Exchange Framework and in the allocation of HEIF or related Government growth funding. Universities should first be required to provide commentary illustrating programme impact, with specific impact metrics agreed and introduced to an agreed timetable. National data should be robust and consistent.Universities should be incentivised to produce “impact start-ups” and entrepreneurs, demonstrating they are growing local and national economies, with funding increasingly reflecting their success in delivering local economic growth. New longitudinal measures should be developed to measure longer-term impact and encourage the retention of links with student and graduate start-ups to support their ongoing development.

3. About the University of Huddersfield

The University of Huddersfield has a strong and clear commitment to Enterprise in its widest sense, demonstrated not only through its commitment to student and graduate business start-up support, but also across the institution, from teaching, through to external business engagement and development.

The current 2013-18 Strategy Map has a vision to be ‘An inspiring, innovative University of international renown’, and includes clear teaching and learning aims and objectives to inspire employable and enterprising graduates; suitably equipped for excellent career opportunities as a result of their time spent at the institution. The university has been widely recognised for this approach through awards such as THE Entrepreneurial University of the Year (2012), THE University of the Year (2013) and a Queen’s Award for Enterprise (2013).

The 3M Buckley Innovation Centre, named after businessman Sir George Buckley, a graduate of the University of Huddersfield and former CEO of the multi-national 3M corporation, is a further testament to the innovative and enterprising culture and mind-set of the institution. This purpose-built facility adjacent to the university campus, facilitates business growth, encourages business to academia collaboration and actively promotes innovation. The 3M BIC is also the location for The Duke of York Young Entrepreneur Centre; home to the Enterprise Team and offering incubation facilities and in-house business advice to inspire current student and recent graduate start-ups.

The Enterprise Team is committed to the continued development and delivery of innovative programmes of support, both outside of the curriculum and integrated into undergraduate degree programmes via its Enterprise Placement Year, to assist in local and regional economic impact.

4. About UCL (University College London)

UCL, as a world-leading, research-intensive, large and comprehensive university with a tradition of radical thought and action, can complement its outstanding research and teaching reputation and impact with delivering an equivalent depth and breadth of societal and economic benefit. We are natural drivers of this in how we work with our staff, our students and alumni, our research capabilities and outputs, our partnerships and across our estate.

The UCL Innovation and Enterprise strategy 2016-2021 seeks to capture our opportunities together to bring such benefit, making us more than the sum of our parts. Our 5 key strategic priorities include ‘contribute to the employability of all students, staff and the wider community’.

Set amidst a dynamic changing employment landscape, entrepreneurship education features highly to equip our students with an entrepreneurial mindset to add value to the economy in which they will contribute. Through efficient and effective entrepreneurial education we will improve the productivity of our country thereby fulfilling our responsibilities as a university and contributing to our global development goals of 2034.

Through an extensive programme of extra-curricular activity, students are inspired encouraged and supported through an entrepreneurial journey where they can receive free specialist business advice and guidance to create a start-up and access to the BaseKX Incubation hub with it’s early stage growth workshops and pre-accelerator training. UCL has a team of dedicated entrepreneurial specialists, which reflects the strategic commitment to enterprise and entrepreneurship education across the UCL community.



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Higher Education Commission launches call for evidence to investigate how higher education exports can be protected post-Brexit

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Monday 26 February, 2018

The Higher Education Commission is launching its sixth cross-party inquiring, examining the health of the higher education exports sector. This timely inquiry is co-chaired by Conservative Peer Lord Norton of Louth and Professor Simon Marginson, the Director of the Centre for Global Higher Education.

The UK education export industry is poised between policy-induced stagnation, and a return to forward advance. The future of education exports is currently the subject of a Higher Education Commission Inquiry which has now called for public evidence. The Commission is focused on what we need to do, as a country, to lift the performance of this crucial export sector. The 2015 Conservative Government announced ambitious plans to expand the UK’s educational export industry, including a target to increase educational exports to £30 billion by 2020. A report issued by the Department for Education (2017) earlier this year showed that in 2014 the total value of UK education-related exports and Transnational Education (TNE) activity was established to be £18.76 billion.

Simon Marginson said “Worldwide student mobility continues to grow strongly, competitor nations Australia and Canada are rapidly expanding their international student populations, and UK education providers are ready to roll. But after strong growth in the first decade of the century there has been almost no change in non-EU students entering UK since 2010-11. Through the regulation of supply and demand, especially restrictions to student visas and post-study work rights, the industry has been held down. The proportion of students coming from China continues to grow but that won’t go on forever and there have been sharp falls in students from most other countries, such as India and Saudi Arabia. Yet this is a crucial sector for the economy; the second largest in UK services exports. International education has many benefits and few downsides. Yet it has been held is stasis by migration politics and the continuing decision to treat temporary student visitors as migrants when calculating net migration to the UK. As we approach Brexit it becomes more vital to send positive signals into Europe, as well as the rest of the world, to maintain flows of talent that are crucial to the country.”

Roberta Blackman-Woods, Member of Parliament for Durham City said “Our Higher Education sector is renowned throughout the world for its quality and high standard of education. The HE sector remains very strong as an exporter of education services, both in terms of attracting international students to study in the UK and through transnational education, with the setting up of UK university campuses overseas and other partnership arrangements. It is very important that the final Brexit agreement does not impact negatively on the ability of HE institutions to be attractive to international students and remain at the top of global league tables. The Government also needs to do more to deliver a positive message about HE as a key part of our international trade. The Inquiry will look at current barriers to growing British Higher Education internationally as well as industry support mechanisms it needs to thrive in a highly competitive global market.”

Pooja Kumari, Research Manager at Policy Connect, said “The impression we’re giving to the world that UK PLC is closed for business, we are losing market share with international students and if we’re not careful we risk harming the world class reputation of our higher education sector”



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Record numbers of common dolphin sightings off Scotland’s west coast

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Tuesday 27 February, 2018

Sightings of common dolphins across the Hebrides have reached a new record high according to research conducted by marine conservation charity, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust.

Evidence collected during marine research expeditions on the Trust’s specialized research yacht Silurian in 2017 has revealed a dramatic 24% increase from the previous year’s already record-breaking figures.

The findings were made in a research season running from April to October 2017, part of the charity’s unique long-term citizen science project monitoring whales, dolphins and porpoises – collectively known as cetaceans – and basking sharks in the Hebrides.

“We have never documented so many sightings of common dolphins off Scotland’s west coast before. Our findings highlight the importance of on-going monitoring and research to strengthen our understanding of what is taking place in Hebridean waters. It is hard to say what is causing this increase, but a rise in sea surface temperatures linked to climate change could be playing a role,” said Dr Lauren Hartny-Mills, Science and Policy Officer at Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust.

During 2017, the Trust recorded 93 sightings of common dolphins – its highest total ever, up from 75 sightings in 2016. The encounters included a total of 1,340 individual animals – down from 2016’s high of 2,303, due to smaller group sizes and fewer super pods.

Over the past two years, the charity has also recorded a higher than average number of sightings of white-beaked dolphins – with 14 sightings of 74 individuals in 2017. Generally preferring colder, deeper waters in the North Atlantic, white-beaked dolphins have distinct white noses. These fast, acrobatic swimmers are usually spotted further away from the coast – favouring sites around the Outer Hebrides, and usually seen in groups of five to 20 individuals.

Lauren Hartny-Mills said: “Silurian is more frequently travelling further north in her surveys, with trips now departing from Ullapool. This could explain why more white-beaked dolphins are being spotted each year. It also highlights the need for further research in the far north of our survey area, where white-beaks reside.”

The 2017 survey season – which recorded nearly 3,000 whales, dolphins, seals and sharks during more than 1,100 sightings – also saw large numbers of minke whales, with 62 sightings of 80 individuals, and Risso’s dolphins, with eight sightings of 58 individuals. These sightings are similar to numbers recorded in previous years.

The harbour porpoise was the most commonly seen species – as has been the case every year since the Trust’s surveys began – with 363 sightings of 621 individuals.

The annual expeditions depend on paying volunteers. In 2017, 75 volunteers worked alongside marine scientists, conducting visual surveys and acoustic monitoring with underwater microphones or hydrophones, and identifying individual cetaceans through photography.

The 2017 season marked an important milestone for Silurian, with the yacht surpassing 100,000km of effort-based survey – the equivalent of sailing two and a half times around the world in search of whales and dolphins.

Other highlights of the season included an encounter in July with three inquisitive minke whales, which circled and followed Silurian in picturesque surroundings in the Sea of Hebrides between Coll and Barra, after four rough days at sea.

Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust has been monitoring marine megafauna in the Hebrides since 1994, and from Silurian since 2002. Its surveys are partly funded by a grant from Scottish Natural Heritage, which supports the role of citizen science in better understanding Scotland’s seas.

Fiona Manson, a marine specialist at Scottish Natural Heritage, said: “Volunteer citizen scientists make an important contribution to marine conservation in Scotland. We are delighted to see the research expeditions on Silurian continue to run year after year, and that volunteers are getting to see more and more whales, dolphins and porpoises in our seas.

“The exciting range of marine wildlife in Scottish waters is a huge draw for visitors to our coasts, and is a fantastic way of connecting people with nature. Scotland’s network of Marine Protected Areas – including Europe’s second largest protected area for harbour porpoise in the Inner Hebrides and the Minch – aims to ensure that these amazing animals remain here for future generations to enjoy.”

Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust is the only organisation collecting long-term data on such a large scale on Scotland’s west coast. Its volunteers and scientists have now recorded more than 30,000 marine mammals and sharks. A short film about the surveys can be seen at https://youtu.be/M_3r-GKfh8o.

The Trust is recruiting volunteers to work as citizen scientists on board Silurian for periods of one to two weeks from April to October 2018. Participation costs cover boat expenses, accommodation, training, food and insurance, and support the charity’s research. For details, contact volunteercoordinator@hwdt.org, call 01688 302620, or visit hwdt.org/silurian.



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Chorus and Police ICT Company collaboration could see 1.5 million hours saved

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Tuesday 27 February, 2018
UK police forces now have improved access to industry leading data
cleansing and analytics technology to help combat crime.

Chorus Intelligence today announced that its data cleansing and analytics software now falls under a commercial collaboration with the Police ICT Company ensuring that police forces will have access to the latest intelligence technology when conducting investigations.

The Police ICT Company was established to create a bridge between the policing, technological and commercial worlds. It helps the service purchase ICT and manage it more effectively to help cut costs and red tape. Chorus Intelligence becomes the 4th vendor and the first Small or Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME)to secure a commercial collaboration following in the footsteps of IBM, Adobe, and VMWare. It comes as The Police ICT Company aim to create more value for users of technology across the UK.

Chorus Intelligence was founded in 2011 (then Create Intelligence) to help reduce the amount of manual processing police forces had to go through when analysing digital data such as billing records and ANPR data for an investigation. Time savings when using Chorus can be substantial due to the sheer volume and variety of digital evidence that is available, and it has evolved as a product to allow users to spot connections in and between cases as well as creating reports that can be used as evidence in court.

“This is a great achievement for Chorus and just goes to show the importance of our software to the Analyst and Investigator communities”, said Boyd Mulvey, Founder and CEO of Chorus Intelligence Ltd. He added, “we already have over a thousand users in the UK and with this collaboration in place it should allow more forces to take advantage of the technology whilst saving the public sector precious time and money.”

With the collaboration now agreed between Chorus and the Police ICT Company, purchasing and IT departments can transact with pace, but still have the confidence that they are using a trusted vendor and securing the best price for their force whilst meeting their procurement compliance responsibilities.

The Police ICT Company’s CEO, Ian Bell, said: “This is a fantastic collaboration that provides UK police forces with access to software that will help their analysts do time consuming tasks considerably quicker and easier. The latest data analytics technology is needed now more than ever to combat all forms of crime and with this collaboration in place we will give forces the opportunity to exploit the technology that will help keep the public safe.”

Police forces can now secure licences for Chorus using the familiar G-Cloud platform or by contacting Chorus or the Police ICT Company directly.



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Knowing your baby could stop breathing every time they go to sleep is a terrifying reality that turns your world upside down.

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Tuesday 27 February, 2018

The day Sydney-Rose arrived was absolutely terrifying. It was too soon. My baby wasn’t old enough to be born, but I was in a life-threatening condition and too unstable to protest. If doctors didn’t get Sydney-Rose out immediately, then it was likely both of us would die.

Sydney-Rose arrived by emergency caesarean on 6 September 2017 at just 28 weeks. I suffer from renal artery stenosis, which is a narrowing of the arteries that carry blood to the kidneys. This caused my blood pressure to rise to 250/160. 120/80 is considered normal, so this was deadly high. I was also suffering with pre-eclampsia, which was affecting the blood flow through my placenta to my baby. I took myself to A&E at Basildon University Hospital just minutes from where I live. On arrival the doctors had no choice but to deliver Sydney-Rose.

As soon as she arrived, my little baby was taken straight onto the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Sydney-Rose was too small, weighing just 1kg, but doctors tried to reassure me that although her lungs were underdeveloped, there were no other complications to her prematurity. For the next three weeks, she remained in an incubator on NICU and I spent all day every day by her side, making the short journey to the hospital every morning and back home every night – trying to get some sleep, though some nights that didn’t happen.

Those three weeks weren’t straightforward. Sydney-Rose didn’t grow stronger as the doctors had anticipated and instead lost 200g and her airway collapsed twice, meaning she had to be intubated. It is so traumatising to see your tiny baby with tubes coming out of her mouth and nose, lying there in an incubator wired up to different machines. I have an older daughter, Kacey-Jo, who was only eight years old at the time, and I was concerned about how distressed being in the hospital was making her feel, but knew I couldn’t keep her away from her baby sister.

At six weeks old, Sydney-Rose became extremely ill with necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). NEC is a serious illness in which tissues in the intestine become inflamed and start to die. Sydney-Rose needed specialist treatment at a different hospital in Cambridge. The Acute Neonatal Transfer Service (ANTS) came to collect us and I travelled alongside my baby in the ambulance to The Rosie Hospital in Cambridge, over 90 minutes from home.

When we arrived at The Rosie Hospital, Sydney-Rose was intubated again and taken to NICU. I watched on helplessly as I rang my sister and asked her to pick up Kacey-Jo from school and drive her to Cambridge to be with us. This is when I heard about Chestnut House. One of the nurses on the ward told me about The Sick Children’s Trust and that there might be a room in a ‘Home from Home’ where we could stay. Kacey-Jo and I stayed in Chestnut House for a week. There was nobody else to look after her, so Chestnut House meant we could be together and there was somewhere away from the hospital environment for us to go, whilst still being only a couple of minutes from Sydney-Rose.

In Chestnut House we could shower and wash, something I had taken for granted before having a seriously ill baby in NICU. I was exhausted – I still hadn’t recovered from the caesarean and was in a lot of pain, plus I needed to have an operation to treat my renal artery stenosis and was suffering as a result. We had got used to eating takeaways whilst Sydney-Rose was in Basildon so it was nice to be able to cook a home-made meal in the kitchen at Chestnut House. The staff were also very supportive and nothing was too much trouble. Kacey-Jo chatted away to them as she watched TV in the living room. Most importantly the ‘Home from Home’ accommodation was free of charge. The financial cost of a hotel would have crippled me.

After a week, Sydney-Rose began making a really good recovery, she was taken off intubation and we were told that she would not need an operation. She was no longer one of the sickest babies on NICU and so we left Chestnut House, as there is such a huge demand on the charity’s ‘Home from Home’ accommodation. For four days we made the three hour round trip to and from The Rosie Hospital until Sydney-Rose was transferred back to our local hospital; it was incredibly draining and the fuel was expensive, but it made us appreciate what a difference Chestnut House had made. Finally, after 11 more days in NICU in Basildon, I brought Sydney-Rose home for the very first time.

Over the next three weeks Kacey-Jo and I got used to having Sydney-Rose at home with us. It felt like the worst was behind us and I could finally start to heal. However, this respite didn’t last long. One day Sydney-Rose just stopped breathing and had to be rushed back into hospital. This time she was transferred by the Children's Acute Transport Service (CATS) to The Royal London Children’s Hospital and admitted onto the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

The doctors at The Royal London diagnosed Sydney-Rose with infant apnea of prematurity (AOP). AOP is a condition in which premature infants stop breathing for 15 to 20 seconds during sleep. They told me that AOP is fairly common in preemies, but the doctors also diagnosed her with bronchiolitis caused by an influenza virus, which meant the airways in her already-weakened lungs were infected and inflamed. She needed to be intubated once again and I watched on helplessly, spending a frantic night trying and failing to get some sleep in a small room off PICU.

The Sick Children’s Trust came to my rescue once again and they gave me a room at Stevenson House, another ‘Home from Home’ just minutes from my daughter’s bedside. Irma, the Assistant House Manager, was very welcoming and supportive when I arrived at Stevenson House. I was completely distraught that my daughter was back in hospital – and her kindness meant so much to me at that time.

Although I didn’t spend much time at Stevenson House, as I was by Sydney-Rose’s hospital bedside as much as possible, it was a comfort to have somewhere warm and comfortable to sleep at night. And like Chestnut House, it was also very clean and tidy and also took a bit of the stress away, as I was supporting my baby alone in London and it felt like everyone I knew was a long way away. After one week we were transferred back to our local hospital and the following day allowed home again.

Five weeks later the world was swept from beneath my feet again when Sydney-Rose stopped breathing. It was like déjà vu as she was rushed to another specialist children’s hospital. This time we went to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

At GOSH it was worse than before. Sydney-Rose needed intubating for eight days this time and for the first time she was bagged. This meant she manually needed to be ventilated by the nurses with a handheld resuscitation device because without their support, intubation alone was not enough. At the same time, doctors diagnosed her as disabled, suffering from a muscle condition. We won’t know exactly what the diagnosis is until later on in the year, but in the future she will need further tests, continuous physio and child developmental support. So far outside of Basildon Hospital, my baby has had three intensive care stays and been intubated six times. It is reassuring to know that if Sydney-Rose needs further treatment The Sick Children’s Trust will be there for us.

Tate Keating, Sydney-Rose’s mum.

About The Sick Children’s Trust

The Sick Children’s Trust is working to a future where every family with a seriously ill child in hospital will be able to stay together, just minutes from their child’s bed during their treatment.

We believe keeping families together significantly improves the recovery of seriously ill children. We provide free, high-quality ‘Home from Home’ accommodation, as well as emotional and practical support, to families with sick children in hospital in the UK.

The Sick Children’s Trust was founded in 1982 by two paediatric specialists Dr Jon Pritchard and Professor James Malpas. Today we have ten ‘Homes from Home’ at major hospitals around the country where families can stay free of charge, for as long as they need whilst their child is undergoing treatment.

We support around 4,000 families every year, and there is a growing demand for our ‘Homes from Home’ as children must increasingly travel long distances to get the specialist treatment they need. www.sickchildrenstrust.org



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Somerset children’s charity bibic bags £3,600 from carrier bag charge fund

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Tuesday 27 February, 2018

bibic is delighted to announce it has bagged £3,600.00 from a Tesco funding scheme.

Tesco teamed up with Groundwork to launch its Bags of Help funding initiative, which sees grants raised from carrier bag sales being awarded to thousands of local community projects every year.

Millions of shoppers voted in stores up and down the country. And it can now be revealed bibic, based in Langport, Somerset has been awarded £3,600.00.

Work will now begin on bringing the project to life to create a special outside space at their National Assessment Centre in Langport, Somerset, that is fun, interactive and sensory for all the children, young people and their families to enjoy.

bibic delivers individualised developmental therapy to children and young people age 6 months to 25 years, and training to parents and professionals. They help those with or without a diagnosis and support a wide range of conditions including Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Sensory processing difficulties and many more.

Some of the bibic therapy programmes use sensory input to significantly improve a child’s concentration, alertness, mobilisation, creativity and social skills, helping them to feel relaxed, calm and ultimately help them to manage the world around them.

“Receiving no government funding we completely rely on donations, many of which come directly from our local community. The Bags of Help grant will enable us to develop a special sensory safe space for families and their children who will really benefit from it.”

said Molly Johnston, Fundraiser for bibic.

Alec Brown, Tesco’s Head of Community, said:

“Bags of Help has been a fantastic success.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the response from our customers. The great thing about Bags of Help is that local people are invited to decide how the money will be spent in their community. We can’t wait to see the projects come to life.”

Voting ran in stores throughout July and August with customers choosing which local project they would like to get the top award using a token given to them at the check-out.

Since launching in 2015, Bags of Help has awarded more than £36 million across more than 7,900 local projects.

Tesco customers will get the chance to vote for three different groups each time they shop. Every other month, when votes are collected, three groups in each of Tesco’s regions will be awarded funding.

Bags of Help criteria have recently been extended to include any project that benefits the community. Previously the scheme funded outdoor projects only.

Groundwork’s National Chief Executive, Graham Duxbury, said:

“Bags of Help continues to fund thousands of projects across the UK. We want to ensure that the money raised benefits as many local people in as many different places as possible so we’ve extended the range of groups and projects that we can support.

“The scale and variety of activities supported by Bags of Helps shows what can be achieved when communities are given the support and the encouragement they need to make change happen in their local area.”

Funding is available to community groups and charities looking to fund local projects that bring benefits to communities. Anyone can nominate a project and organisations can apply online. To find out more visit www.tesco.com/bagsofhelp.



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Cutting the ribbon at Rame

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Tuesday 27 February, 2018

A new
neighbourhood of affordable homes for local people has been officially opened
in Rame, Cornwall, thanks to the combined efforts of Coastline Housing, Cornwall
Community Land Trust and Cornwall Council.

Of the 16 new
homes, 11 have been offered for affordable rent and five were offered for
shared ownership (part-buy, part-rent). Happy residents have taken the keys to
the rented properties already, and all five shared ownership homes have also
been reserved.

Wendron Parish
Council, and divisional ward member Loveday Jenkin were also closely involved
in the development from the start and showed strong support for bringing this
new affordable housing to the village.

The site, close
to the corner shop in Rame, was owned by Cornwall Community Land Trust who approached
Coastline Housing to bring the scheme to fruition. The Trust purchased the site
and then granted Coastline a long lease in order that the housing charity could
start developing. The project was boosted thanks to funding of more than £350,000
from Cornwall Council’s Community Housing Fund.

Andrew George,
Director of Cornwall Community Land Trust, said: “This is very exciting. Especially for the 16 local families whose lives
have been changed for the better by this project. Good quality, affordable
accommodation which provides the kind of security local families deserve.

“This is a great example of
communities doing it for themselves. It just shows what can be done. Cornwall
CLT are doing it elsewhere. 236 homes in 10 years and growing.

“Full credit to Wendron Parish
Council who have spearheaded this project. A big thank you to the land owners
who have been patient and supportive throughout. And enormous gratitude to
Coastline who came in at just the right time to ensure we could deliver what
the local community wanted. A successful partnership.”

Mr George came
together with the Chairman of Coastline Housing Derek Law MBE and new resident
Mary Stevens to officially cut the ribbon and declare the scheme open.

Mr Law said: “At
the time this scheme was brought to our attention, 53 households were
registered on the waiting list for homes in this area so there was clearly a
real need for more affordable housing here. I’m delighted that we’ve been able
to work with local partners to bring this site to life and I hope the new
residents will be happy in their homes for many years to come.”



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New social enterprise unlocks £7bn in unused loyalty rewards for charity

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Wednesday 28 February, 2018
94% of UK consumers have loyalty cards but only 49% always redeem their pointsYounger people less likely to redeem, with only 43% of 18-24 year olds claiming to always redeem, but 56% of 55+ year olds The result is £7bn in unused points, miles and cashback in the UK each year, sitting around doing nothing53% of loyalty card users have lost their rewards because they didn’t use them52% felt annoyed and 17% felt outraged as a result66% would give their unused rewards to charity

New social enterprise, For Good Causes, launches today (28.2.2018) enabling people to convert their unused loyalty rewards into cash for their favourite charities. For Good Causes aims to work with as many of the UK’s 200+ loyalty programmes as possible starting with Quidco, the UK’s largest cashback service. For Good Causes seeks to raise £100m in the next five years through developing new ways for people to give to the charities that they love.

Quidco’s 7 million members now have the option to donate their earned cashback to a charity of their choice through For Good Causes. Since starting in 2005, Quidco members have earned over £400 million in cashback, with the average Quidco member earning £305 a year.



Other:

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Too many children are still waiting too long for cancer diagnosis

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Wednesday 28 February, 2018

One in ten babies and children in the UK with an aggressive type of eye cancer have to wait more than six months to be diagnosed, according to new figures*.

The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) found that 11% of children diagnosed with retinoblastoma in 2017 had a delay of at least six months from their first visit to a GP or other health professional to being seen for specialist assessment.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines state that a child should be referred urgently and seen within two weeks if retinoblastoma is suspected.

In 2017, 57% of children were referred urgently for specialist assessment and were seen within the recommended 2 weeks, up from 40% in 2016. However, 43% of children waited longer than this, with 11% waiting over six months. Many families have to make several visits to their doctor or other healthcare professional before the appropriate tests are carried out.

Retinoblastoma is a fast growing cancer that affects young children, mainly under the age of six, and early diagnosis is essential in order to save a child’s eyes, sight and life. Sadly, more than 70% of children will lose an eye to stop the cancer spreading.

Today, to mark Rare Disease Day (28 February) the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust has urged parents and healthcare professionals to be aware of the symptoms.

Patrick Tonks, Chief Executive of the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust, said: “Retinoblastoma is rare, with around 50 cases diagnosed in the UK each year, so most doctors will never come across it in their career. In addition to this, the symptoms are very subtle and children often seem well in themselves which makes it hard to diagnose. But this is leading to alarming delays and we know that early diagnosis can potentially offer more treatment options and a better outcome for the child.”

The two main symptoms of retinoblastoma are a white glow in a child’s eye, seen in dim lighting or when a photo is taken using a flash and a squint, where the eyes do not look in the same direction. Healthcare professionals should carry out a red reflex test on any child showing these symptoms in order to rule out cancer. This is a simple, non-invasive test which is done using a medical torch in a darkened room to check the retina at the back of both eyes. If eye cancer is suspected, an urgent referral should be made (within two weeks), according to the NICE guidelines.

However, the latest figures show that in 2017 only 36% of GPs made an urgent referral after seeing a child who was later diagnosed with retinoblastoma.

“It was horrible thinking that something was wrong but not knowing for sure”

Logan Brown was just 2 years old when he was diagnosed with retinoblastoma in August 2017, after his parents noticed a white glow in his left eye whilst Logan was playing.

Hayley, from Wisbech St Mary, Cambridgeshire, said: “We first saw a strange white blur across Logan’s pupil when he was playing, and again when we were putting Logan to bed. We though it was odd so went online and googled “white blur in child’s pupil” which led us to information about retinoblastoma on the CHECT website.

“We read that retinoblastoma was very rare but we could see that it was important to get Logan’s eye checked out straight away.”

The following morning Hayley tried to get an appointment at a local opticians but, despite explaining why she wanted an appointment for her son, was told that Logan was too young to see, so immediately made an appointment with the GP.

At the appointment with the GP, Hayley explained she had read about retinoblastoma and showed the GP some photographs of Logan, she had taken with flash whilst waiting for the appointment, which clearly showed a white glow in his left eye. The GP examined Logan’s eyes, carrying out a red reflex test in a darkened room, and made an urgent referral to the local hospital eye department.

When the appointment came through it was for 8 weeks later, Hayley rang the hospital straightaway to ask for an earlier appointment or cancellation and was told neither was possible. Concerned Hayley returned to her doctors’ surgery and saw a second GP who, without carrying out a red reflex test, told her not to worry and to wait for the appointment at the local hospital eye department.

Eight weeks later, the appointment at the local hospital finally arrived but the ophthalmologist was unable to say what was wrong and Logan was urgently referred to see a more senior ophthalmologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

Hayley: “It was really hard, we know now retinoblastoma is really rare and not every health professional will have seen it, but we were so worried, we could see the white glow more clearly each day and it was horrible thinking that something was wrong but not knowing for sure”.

Two weeks later the family went to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, only to have to return a week later to have Logan examined under general anaesthetic. Suspecting retinoblastoma, the ophthalmologist referred the family to The Royal London Hospital the following day, one of the two specialist centres for retinoblastoma in the UK.

At The Royal London Hospital, Logan was diagnosed with unilateral retinoblastoma. The following week Logan had his left eye removed, the operation was successful and Logan required no further treatment.

Logan, who turns three in May, is now a typical cheeky toddler who loves playing and making friends. Hayley said: “Throughout all of this Logan has carried being his cheeky, mischievous, little self and taken it all in his stride. We are so proud of our little boy”

- ENDS -



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London’s DIY housing groups set to boom thanks to multimillion European fund

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Wednesday 28 February, 2018

A London community housing group has received European funding to share its knowledge and inspire more communities to become ethical housing developers.

London Community Land Trust was formed by Londoners in 2011 to address the need for genuinely affordable homes in the capital. In 2017, their first 23-home project in Mile End was completed. They are now working on their second project in Sydenham, south east London.

The Community Land Trust (CLT) approach is gaining in popularity with communities across England and Wales, to help people who are being priced out of areas they have deep connections with. This February, the Mayor of London announced that ten TFL sites will be made available for development, with the two largest designated specifically for CLT developments.

At London CLT prices are linked to what people actually earn in their local area - this meant their CLT homes are sold and let at around a third of the average property prices.

‘Sustainable housing for inclusive and cohesive cities’ is a £2.9million project which has been funded by the Interreg North-West Europe Programme. London CLT will join other CLT schemes from Brussels, Ghent and Lille as pilots to support more communities to set up their own groups.

The aim is for 33 new urban CLTs to be established by the end of this three-year project. For more information on London’s mentoring scheme and how to get involved, community groups should contact: hannah@londonclt.org

Hannah Emery-Wright, Membership and Stewardship Manager at London CLT, said:

“London CLT grew out of the community organising efforts of Citizens UK. We believe that when communities come together they are powerful and can bring about real and lasting social change.

“We are proud to be a part of this wider project working with European partners to promote innovative housing approaches. We look forward to sharing what we’ve learnt on our journey with communities to help them transform their own futures.”

Catherine Harrington, Director of the National CLT Network, said:

“London CLT has proven that the Community Land Trust model works in cities. In an area where 2-bed flats were selling for over £550,000, CLT 2-bed homes sold for £182,000.

“We’re delighted to be working with London CLT and our European counterparts on this project. It’s a significant investment that will support the delivery of thousands of new CLT homes - our huge thanks to the Interreg NWE programme.”

Notes to the editors:

More than 26million people across the European Union are living in overcrowded and inadequate housing. (DRESS Study, French Health Ministry, 2014)The ‘Sustainable housing for inclusive and cohesive cities’ project will deliver four core outputs: • Four successfully established CLTs in NWE; • A voucher scheme leading to the start-up of 33 new urban CLTs; • A shared online platform and; • A policy paper on financial gaps and a financial guide for CLTs More details can be found here. The project will involve regions from across NWE. As well as England and Wales, Belgium and France are also involved.London CLT are the first Community Land Trust in the capital to sell homes. Residents moved into their flagship project in Mile End in 2017. They are now working on projects in Lewisham, Croydon, Southwark, Lambeth, Redbridge and Haringey. For mentoring enquires, community groups should contact Hannah Emery-White on hannah@londonclt.orgThe National CLT Network is the national charity for Community Land Trusts (CLTs) in England and Wales. It supports and promotes the work of CLTs, representing 229 CLTs. CLTs are local organisations set up and run by ordinary people to develop and manage homes that are genuinely affordable for now and in perpetuity. To date, CLTs have developed more than 800 homes.‘Small Sites, Small Builders’ is a new initiative from the Mayor of London to boost the capital’s small homebuilders sector and increase the supply of new and genuinely affordable housing.Technical support is also available to community groups in London through the newly established London Community-Led Housing Hub.



No media attached. Please contact National Community Land Trust Network for more information.


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