Being creative is one of the cornerstones of wellbeing, according to Everybody Arts in Halifax. This Mental Health week, the award-winning charity - which has been at the forefront of arts for wellbeing work in West Yorkshire since 2010 - says that making art, no matter your background, ability or circumstance, is crucial for people’s health and happiness. For the past 15 years, Everybody Arts has facilitated people’s creativity leading to huge impacts on their lives, says Director Lauren Iredale. “We have seen people recover from traumatic events, overcome serious mental health challenges and enrich their own lives by engaging in creative activity. For some it has literally been life-saving and this is why wellbeing work is at the heart of everything we do,” Lauren commented. One of the most striking examples of this is the success of the Creative Care programme, delivered by Everybody Arts in partnership with Creative Minds, which last week was awarded with the Best Partner Excellence Award by the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. The programme connects artists with service users in inpatient care in wards across Calderdale and the success has been demonstrated not only because it is award-winning, but also because it has shown to dramatically improve wellbeing of service users and reduce incidences of violence on wards, as identified by this British Medical Journal paper published earlier this year. “We always knew how important art is to people’s wellbeing, but the Creative Care programme has shown us that art is a powerful healer and is increasingly being recognised by the NHS and other care providers as a crucial part of recovery for many people,” Lauren said. Everybody Arts has been successful in receiving funding from the Baring Foundation to support a further 500 male service users, and the Pilgrim Trust to deliver the Bloom project, designed to increase young women’s entry into creative-health careers. Partners involved in the delivery of this wellbeing work have also launched a brand new commission to develop content for the new Create and Bloom app. For people wondering how they can be more creative to improve their health and wellbeing, Everybody Arts runs regular courses and workshops and has a number of resources that can help people get started on their creative journeys:

The Cobham Bookshop were delighted to welcome Lord Michael Heseltine to the shop last week accompanied by Sue Biggs CBE. A fascinating and wide ranging conversation covered topics from horticultural life at his home, Thenford House; memories of VE Day and clearance of post-war urban dereliction; to development of a mayoral system and the big issues facing our country today. Lord Heseltine’s new autobiography From Acorns to Oaks : A Life in Business and Politics reflects on his vision for Britain, his leadership style, and his continued advocacy for economic renewal and devolution.

Harrisons, a leading manufacturer of nonwoven wipes, announces the launch of the Industrial Range: a collection of high-performance wipes created to support industry. Harrisons has launched a new Industrial Range of nonwoven wipes. The Industrial Range was designed utilising the Harrisons' in-house lab against key performance indicators: absorption, wet and dry strength, and lint control. The range is available in three tiers: Technical, Premium and Pro, with each tier including three high performance wipes. Harrisons took a rigorous, science-driven approach to developing the range, starting with an in-depth analysis of customer needs across various sectors. Each wipe was then tested in the Harrisons in-house lab for absorption, wet and dry strength, and lint control, to guarantee superior performance. The Industrial Range consists of three tiers, each engineered to deliver targeted performance: Technical: made from Sontara® materials renowned for their superior performance, these wipes are designed for specialist applications where there is no room for failure. They offer ultra-low linting, hyper absorbency, and exceptional durability, making them ideal for safety critical environments such as aerospace and food processing, as well highly sensitive environments like printing and pharmaceutical production. And, for a more sustainable solution, the Tech 100 offers a plastic-free composition made with compostable cellulosic fibres. Premium:  engineered for tough wiping tasks, these wipes offer great performance and value. With extra strength and superior absorption, they are excellent for removing grease, oil, and grime in industrial settings. The Prem 100, made from 55% wood pulp and 45% lyocell, helps reduce environmental impact. Pro:  versatile, cost-effective solutions for everyday cleaning, these wipes boast reliable performance for general maintenance, tool cleaning, and surface wiping. Each tier offers three wipes with unique strengths to ensure there is a product suited to every industrial cleaning need. Stephen Harrison, Managing Director at Harrisons, said: “The Harrisons Industrial Range is more than just a collection of wipes — it is a commitment to helping industry achieve excellence. The Industrial Range will help businesses focus on their core operations without being hindered by rags or subpar cleaning products.” As part of the launch of the range, Harrisons have created a product selector tool to simplify the decision-making process - so anyone can find the right wipe for their business in just 4 clicks. The new range comes after a period of significant progression for Harrisons, which recently acquired the business and assets of Ecotech, and established a new partnership with warehousing and logistics provider, Magnum Logistics.

One of Hull’s most prominent businesses has received another national award for its workplace travel plan, which encourages and supports its workforce to walk, cycle and use public transport for their daily commute.   Rix Group, the sixth-generation, family-owned business, with a portfolio of 22 companies ranging across many industries, has received a ‘Very Good Travel Plan’ award from Modeshift STARS Business programme, its second accolade in just over 12 months.   The national STARS accreditation scheme recognises workplaces that go above and beyond in developing, implementing, and monitoring an effective travel plan to bring about a change in travel behaviour and reduce the number of single occupancy car journeys to, from and between their sites.   Sites are awarded Approved, Good, Very Good, Excellent and Outstanding accreditation.   Rix Group’s latest certificate recognises the business’ ongoing work to:   1. decrease single occupancy car journeys among staff by promoting and increasing an uptake in car sharing 2. pool umbrellas to support those that walk to work in inclement weather 3. a lunchtime running club for staff 4. delivery of an onsite, secure cycling marking event in partnership with Humberside Police 5. improvements to onsite shower facilities to benefit those choosing to cycle to work 6. sharing promotional materials for Hull City Council active and sustainable travel events to their workforce and to neighbouring businesses and organisations.   Councillor Mark Leronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transportation, roads and highways, said: “Rix is one of Hull’s most iconic business names and it is a great pleasure to present them with their latest award, which recognises their ongoing efforts to support their staff to make more sustainable and active travel choices." “The Modeshift STARS Business Programme offers real benefits, both to people and the local environment, and it is brilliant to see so many organisations within Hull taking advantage of the opportunity to participate in the programme and work with the council to create a greener and healthier city.”   Cerys Davies, business analyst at Rix Group, said: “We’re proud to have achieved our second Modeshift STARS accreditation. Building on last year’s success, we’ve focused on making sustainable travel more accessible, practical, and appealing for our staff. From improving facilities for cyclists and supporting those who walk to work, to creating new opportunities like our lunchtime running club, we’ve aimed to embed active travel into everyday routines." “It’s also been great to reach out and offer initiatives we are running, such as secure cycle marking or our running club, to other local businesses near to our office at Humber Quays, helping to strengthen sustainable travel efforts across the wider community. We hope that this inspires other companies in the area to explore similar initiatives to support green travel choices.”   Hull City Council offers businesses and organisations within the city the chance to join Modeshift STARS for free as part of its strategic objective of promoting active travel choices.   The benefits and advantages of a workplace travel plan, include:   1. reductions of single occupancy car journeys, which helps alleviate pressure and congestion across site car parks 2. identifying availability and accessibility of viable transport options, based on staff locations 3. potential to improve and develop site connectivity links through sustainable and active travel 4. improving staff wellbeing, with physical and mental health benefits. Above Photo: BACK-TO-BACK SUCCESS -  Councillor Mark Ieronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transportation, roads and highways from Hull City Council, presents the Rix Group’s certificate to Cerys Davies, business analyst Submit

Nestlé Confectionery has unveiled its latest treat, the Aero Coconut flavour sharing bar, which is rolling out to shop shelves across the UK & Ireland this week. The new limited-edition bar will be part of the Aero Lost Bubbles campaign where the brand is offering a fantastic £10,000 prize for each bubble-less pack found by shoppers as part of its latest promotion. Coming in at 90g, the bar is perfect for sharing with friends and loved ones, especially those who love coconut. Cat Mews, Brand Manager for Aero at Nestlé UK & Ireland, said: “The new Aero Coconut sharing bar invites consumers to indulge in a delightful experience that celebrates the joy of sharing. Launching as part of the Lost Bubbles campaign we are excited for customers to try something new with a chance to win.” Aero has been keeping the exciting new flavours coming – last year it released two sharing bars Aero  Strawberry flavour and Aero  Choco-Hazelnut as well as an Aero  Peppermint gifting bar.

Three top advisors are going online to share their expertise with firms keen to understand and act on the latest changes to key business taxes. The trio, from Hampshire business advisory firm HWB Chartered Accountants, are each hosting a free-of-charge lunchtime webinar via Microsoft Teams. The interactive series kicks off with a session on Corporation Tax from Tax Manager Joe Wilson. Taking place on Thursday 8 May, from 12.30pm to 1.30pm, Joe’s session will cover capital allowances and tips on how to avoid Corporation Tax pitfalls. A comprehensive introduction to international VAT issues will then be hosted by Alan Rolfe, Senior Tax Manager, on Tuesday 17 June, again from 12.30pm to 1.30pm. This will explain how firms can optimise a global VAT strategy in line with the latest regulatory changes. Topics include goods, services, administration and trading abroad. In the final webinar, Director James Alesbury will explain the recent changes to employers’ contributions along with other aspects of National Insurance and PAYE. His session, from 12.30pm to 1.30pm on Tuesday 15 July, will provide detail on employment-related subjects such as, auto enrolment, re-enrolment, salary sacrifice pensions, employment allowances, changes to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage, and the reduced secondary earnings threshold. James said: “We have designed our webinar series to help businesses understand the impact of the latest tax changes that affect them. It’s all about helping to expand financial knowledge, adding value, protect day-to-day operations and scope for investment, and ensure you and your business can make the most of your tax strategy.”

TNT Sports in the UK and Ireland will continue to be the home of English domestic rugby after agreeing new long-term deals with Premiership Women's Rugby and Premiership Rugby. The multi-year agreements will enable TNT Sports to continue utilising best-in-class production, unrivalled on-air expertise via some of the most respected voices in the sport as well as leveraging cross-promotional opportunities that have helped yield record audience numbers for both Gallagher Premiership Rugby and Premiership Women’s Rugby over the past 12 months. Replicating the existing agreement between the two parties, every single match from the Gallagher Premiership Rugby season – including the Play-Offs and Final - will be broadcast live on TNT Sports’ linear channels or its streaming platform discovery+ until the end of the 2030/31 season. Select matches from the Premiership Rugby Cup will also be shown on TNT Sports. In a further win for sports fans, TNT Sports or its streaming platform discovery+, will show at least one match from every Premiership Women’s Rugby round each season – including both Semi-Finals and Final - until the end of the 2028/29 season, meaning viewers will be able to watch some of the finest rugby players in the world – including England’s title-winning Guinness Women’s Six Nations Red Roses stars - week in, week out. TNT Sports will broadcast the top pick in every round. Genevieve Shore, Executive Chair, Premiership Women’s Rugby, said: "The extension of our partnership with TNT Sports is a huge step forward for Premiership Women's Rugby. Showcasing a live match every weekend for the next four years means our incredible athletes will be seen by more fans than ever before, giving them the platform they deserve and inspiring the next generation of players."  "We’re thrilled to be working with a broadcaster that shares our vision for the future of the women’s game, and this deal is a powerful vote of confidence in the strength, skill, and excitement that define Premiership Women’s Rugby and its athletes."   “The huge rise in viewing figures last season shows the potential of PWR, and together with TNT Sports, we will continue to grow women’s rugby.”   Andrew Georgiou, President and Managing Director of Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe, said: “TNT Sports is proud to cement its position as the home of men’s and women’s domestic rugby, providing fans with certainty on where they can watch every moment of every match of Premiership Rugby and extensive coverage of Premiership Women’s Rugby." “There is no doubt the quality of both competitions continues to improve each season and we are convinced the changes being mooted by Premiership Rugby, together with the strength of our production and on-air team, that we can continue to grow viewership and attendance over the next five seasons. Furthermore, we are absolutely thrilled to continue to bring Premiership Women’s Rugby to rugby fans that know TNT Sports is the home of club rugby and believe this is also the best way to continue to promote and grow the women’s game.” Simon Massie-Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of Premiership Rugby, said: “Our recent partnership with TNT Sports has helped drive record audiences and attract a million new fans to the Gallagher Premiership, alongside drawing record crowds and a second sold-out final in a row."  “Our clubs have worked hard to establish the Gallagher Premiership as a compelling competition with high-quality entertaining rugby, and TNT Sports have embraced the challenge to continue to innovate to help grow the sport and their output has been first class."   “This extended partnership allows both parties to invest in the long-term growth of the Gallagher Premiership and we are very excited about the future.” This season TNT Sports continues to engage record numbers of fans through its coverage of Gallagher Premiership Rugby and Premiership Women’s Rugby. TNT Sports recorded two of its top five ever linear TV audiences this season. After 13 rounds of the 24/25 season Gallagher Premiership Rugby average audiences are up +11% vs 23/24 and +24% vs 22/23 seasons while TNT Sports’ live-to-live scheduling strategy has seen Saturday afternoon PRL matches drive a +39% rise in audiences when directly following a Premier League football match vs weeks with no EPL lead-in. Premiership Women’s Rugby audiences, meanwhile, rose 156% following November’s Autumn Nation Series. March’s PWR Grand Final, which saw holders Gloucester-Hartpury overcome Saracens 34-19, drove a 36% increase in average audience vs the 2024 final, contributing to an 86% year-on-year increase in season average audiences on TNT Sports. Coverage of Gallagher Premiership Rugby and Premiership Women’s Rugby on TNT Sports supplements an unrivalled portfolio of world-class rugby that includes the Autumn Nations Series as well as the HSBC SVNS Series. TNT Sports, which transitioned from BT Sport as part of the Joint Venture between Warner Bros. Discovery and BT in September 2022, has been the primary broadcast partner of Premiership Rugby since 2013.

Reading, Great Britain. Porsche Sprint Challenge GB travelled to Brands Hatch in Kent for its second weekend of the 2025 season, taking to the shorter 1.2-mile Indy circuit for the first time as part of the TOCA package. Tom Bradshaw (Toro Verde GT) from Bolton in Greater Manchester won the opening race of the weekend, while Toby Trice (Clean Racing) from Deal in Kent claimed the second and third races at his home circuit to further extend his championship lead. Meanwhile Oliver Meadows (Team Parker Racing) from Marston in Warwickshire drove to an RS Am victory on Saturday, and Matthew Kyle-Henney (Clean Racing) from Winchester in Hampshire took the category spoils in Sunday’s two races. Lydia Walmsley (Graves Motorsport) from Kesgrave in Suffolk, and Jonathan Moore (Toro Verde GT) from Barnsley in South Yorkshire, shared wins in Clubsport Pro. In Clubsport Am there were celebrations for Paul Porter (Team Parker Racing) from Bothamsall in Nottinghamshire, and Hannah Chapman (Xentek Motorsport) from Dunfirmline in Fife. Bradshaw wins one as Trice takes two in RS Pro Qualifying was a very closely contested affair, Bradshaw emerged ahead to take the first pole position of the Brands Hatch weekend, meanwhile Trice secured the top spot for the second race. Bradshaw got away cleanly at the start of Round Four as Trice slotted in behind him, while Ben Mulryan (Toro Verde GT) from London maintained third. The race was neutralised on lap two when the Safety Car was scrambled, but the action restarted with 15 minutes remaining on the clock. Bradshaw gradually increased his lead to the chasing Trice, meanwhile there was close racing between Samuel Harvey (Xentek Motorsport) from Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands and Joe Marshall (Team Parker Racing) from Crewe in Cheshire. Marshall grabbed fifth at Surtees and Harvey was briefly delayed. In the closing stages of the race, a recovering Harvey mounted an attack on Oliver Cottam (Duckhams Yuasa Racing by Graves Motorsport) from Bridgnorth in Shropshire for eighth, and in the dying moments Harvey found a way through. Back at the front of the race, Bradshaw took victory, joined on the overall podium by Trice and Mulryan. Trice got away cleanly at the start of the weekend’s second race which took place on Sunday afternoon in hot conditions. Bradshaw remained second while Jacob Tofts (Duckhams Yuasa Racing by Graves Motorsport) from Hatfield Heath in Essex stayed in third. In a repeat of the first race, the Safety Car soon arrived which paused the race. The green flag was shown with 10 minutes remaining on the clock. Trice initially pulled clear but later Bradshaw closed, however he could not mount a challenge for the lead. On the final two laps, Mulryan attacked Ethan Hammerton (Graves Motorsport) from Northallerton in North Yorkshire for sixth overall, however, there was no change of position – across the finish line they were separated by just 0.025 seconds. Trice enjoyed his third win of the season with Bradshaw and Tofts joining him on the overall podium. Trice started from pole position for the final race of the weekend, and he led Bradshaw into the first corner. Just behind, Marshall overtook Tofts for third at Graham Hill and successfully defended his new position. As Trice pulled clear at the front of the race Harvey fell backwards as he was passed by RS Am driver Reece Somerfield (Breakell Racing) from Pelsall in the West Midlands. Meanwhile Dan Zelos (Graves Motorsport) from Dereham in Norfolk kept a watching brief just behind. There was more close racing between Mulryan and Hammerton in their battle for sixth overall, and shortly afterwards a developing dice between Harvey, Zelos and Somerfield was resolved when Zelos overtook Somerfield. The gap between Trice and Bradshaw ebbed and flowed as the leaders lapped traffic, but Trice stayed ahead to take his second win of the day, extending his championship advantage. The local racer was joined on the overall podium by Bradshaw and Marshall. Kyle-Henney and Meadows are top in RS Am Kyle-Henney took category pole position for the weekend’s first and second races, however he was involved in an incident early into Round Four, this saw him make his retirement alongside Somerfield and RS Pro category racer Zelos. When the race restarted, Meadows was the category leader with Daniel Lewis (Race Car Consultants) from Basildon in Essex running in second, and Karim Sekkat (Breakell Racing) from Oxford in third. Sekkat later found himself battling with Lewis, and RS Pro drivers Harvey and Cottam, but the category order remained the same. At the flag, Meadows took the second RS Am victory of his Porsche racing career, while Lewis and Sekkat joined him in the podium celebrations. Having worked hard to repair his car overnight from damage sustained in Round Three, Clean Racing’s Kyle-Henney started ahead in RS Am for Round Four. At the start of the race, Kyle-Henney led Somerfield from Meadows until the Safety Car interrupted proceedings. Following the restart Meadows engaged in a scrap with RS Pro category driver Cottam, and with seven minutes of the race remaining he got ahead. In the closing stages, Sekkat suffered a spin on the Cooper Straight before continuing his race. Kyle-Henney was clear to take category victory, with Somerfield second and Meadows coming home in third. Kyle-Henney led Somerfield from Meadows at the start of the weekend’s final race, and Somerfield also became engaged in a scrap with RS Pro category drivers Harvey and Zelos for eighth. Somerfield initially moved forward before a penalty for track limits relegated him down the order on corrected time. Sekkat was also in trouble when he suffered a spin at Graham Hill. However, attention soon turned to RS Am leader Kyle-Henney as he took the chequered flag for a second category win of the weekend. Meadows finished second while Aimee Watts (Clean Racing) from Marden in Kent made a maiden appearance on the category podium. Walmsley and Moore win in Clubsport Pro Moore qualified ahead of his category rivals for the weekend’s opening race, while Jason Baker (Tuthill UK) from Bristol was the pacesetter for the second grid. Moore was the Clubsport Pro category leader before and after the Safety Car period which interrupted Round Four, just behind an exciting battle between Walmsley and Baker developed. After the restart, Walmsley challenged Baker for much of the race, and she finally made a move stick through Paddock Hill and Druids. However, a dominant Moore took the chequered flag first to take victory over Walmsley in second and Baker in third. Baker led Moore and Walmsley at the start of the weekend’s second race but, when Moore dived to the inside of Baker at Druids, there was contact which beached Baker in the gravel trap. This called the Safety Car into action. Following the restart, a recovering Moore set after Walmsley for the category lead. Moore closed but when he ran slightly wide at Clearways Walmsley was finally given some breathing space. Walmsley took the chequered flag to secure the first category win of her Porsche racing career, and Moore finished in second. Moore snatched the category lead from Walmsley at the start of Round Six, while Baker slotted into third. Moore edged clear of Walmsley building a cushion back to his rival, and as result the order stayed the same to the flag. Moore recorded his second win in Kent, with Walmsley taking finishing in second and Baker completing the Clubsport Pro category podium. Porter and Chapman victorious in Clubsport Am Porter started from category pole position for the first race at Brands Hatch, and Katia Loggie (Toro Verde GT) from Aberdeen claimed the top spot for the second encounter. Porter led at the start of the weekend’s opening race with Loggie running in second and Chapman in third. Chapman began to close on Loggie but she could not make a move stick. Porter maintained a leading margin to secure category victory, Loggie stayed in second while Chapman completed the podium. Following the race, Loggie was handed a time penalty for contact with Chapman which reversed their podium result, with Chapman now second and Loggie relegated to third. The Safety Car was mobilised soon into the second race at Brands Hatch. After the action was restarted Loggie found herself leading Porter from Chapman, however, Chapman quickly overtook Porter for second in the category fight. The trio closed up and it was Chapman who would break the deadlock. She made a move at Paddock Hill in the final few minutes of racing but, in the run up to Druids, Loggie took a trip through the gravel trap which allowed Porter and local racer Alister Weston (Graves Motorsport) from Medway to get ahead. Porter, Weston and Loggie formed the category podium. Porter was ahead again at the start of Round Six, with Chapman running in second and Loggie in third. With 12 minutes remaining of the 20-minute race, Porter took a trip through the gravel trap at Paddock Hill which promoted Chapman to the category lead and Loggie to second, while Porter continued in third. In the latter stages of the race, Porter advanced to second. As a result, the final podium of the day was created by Chapman, Porter and Loggie in that order. Porsche Sprint Challenge GB visits Oulton Park in Cheshire on the weekend of 20-22 June 2025 where championship battles will continue. Follow the latest Porsche Sprint Challenge GB news directly from Porsche Motorsport via Instagram – @PorscheRaces_GB – where users can share experiences via the hashtag #SprintChallengeGB, and the Porsche Motorsport Hub: https://racing.porsche.com Championship positions* RS Pro: Toby Trice - Clean Racing - 55 Tom Bradshaw - Toro Verde GT - 48 Joe Marshall - Team Parker Racing - 36 RS Am: Matthew Kyle-Henney - Clean Racing - 56 Oliver Meadows - Team Parker Racing - 47 Daniel Lewis - Race Car Consultants - 33 Clubsport Pro: Jonathan Moore - Toro Verde GT - 63 Lydia Walmsley - Graves Motorsport- 51 Jason Baker - Tuthill UK - 30 Clubsport Am: Hannah Chapman - Xentek Motorsport - 59 Paul Porter - Team Parker Racing - 54 Katia Loggie - Toro Verde GT - 36 *results remain provisional

An Edinburgh start-up is making a major impact in communities after accessing support from Business Gateway. Blast Boxing, a community interest company, aims to improve mental and physical wellbeing through accessible boxing classes and one-to-one sessions. Designed to help locals get fit, have fun and learn core boxing skills, the sessions take place in a welcoming and supportive environment. Founded by Kevin Matthews, the organisation offers a range of affordable classes for children and adults, along with drop-in social events and PE sessions delivered through Edinburgh’s Active Schools programme. Blast Boxing also hosts specialist wellbeing sessions, including 'Box N’ Blether', a popular format combining one hour of physical activity with one hour of open conversation, as well as parent-and-toddler classes and wellbeing sessions for both men and women. Working with a range of established organisations and charities in Edinburgh, the team offer physical and emotional support to residents in disadvantaged communities. As well as boxing, the team brings years of experience and qualifications in youth work, community engagement, health and fitness. Having previously worked in the community as a pupil support assistant and youth worker; Kevin saw firsthand the positive impact exercise had on mental health. At the age of 30, he pursued a qualification in sports coaching, setting the foundation for his vision of a community-focused fitness organisation. Blast Boxing has recently worked alongside charities Score Scotland and Spartans, to support young people and adults in the area through introductory sessions, mentorship and dedicated classes and is currently running sessions with West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre. Kevin reached out to Business Gateway in January 2024 to turn his vision into reality. He has been supported throughout his start-up journey by local adviser Lee Briggs, who has provided expert one-to-one guidance, business planning assistance, and advice on business structure, legislation, and community engagement. Business Gateway has also helped Kevin access funding opportunities and connect with local groups, enabling Blast Boxing to thrive. Lee’s guidance has played a key role in Kevin’s journey to grow Blast Boxing into a thriving enterprise, allowing the business to make a meaningful and lasting impact across Edinburgh. Kevin Matthews, Blast Boxing founder, said: “Business Gateway has been instrumental in helping me bring my vision for Blast Boxing to life." “The support and guidance I’ve received from Lee has given me the confidence and knowledge to shape Blast Boxing into an initiative that serves the community and makes a real difference on the lives of those involved.” Lee Briggs, Business Gateway adviser, said: “Having supported Kevin since day one, it has been fantastic to see his passion and dedication translate into real, positive change for the community. “Blast Boxing is a brilliant example of how the right support and determination can create something truly impactful.”

Bradford Bulls are delighted to announce an exciting new partnership with full-service marketing agency Perfect Storm - to develop a growth marketing strategy to support the club’s ambitions. As well as providing strategic insight, the Leeds-based agency will grab the bull by the horns with a ramp-up of digital activity, fan experience and creative strategies. Perfect Storm’s expertise in sports marketing, which includes working with global brands such as the FIFA World Cup, F1 Paddock Club and the Henley Royal Regatta, will play a key role in the Bulls’ push for success. Jason Hirst, Bradford Bulls’ CEO, said: “It’s time for Bradford Bulls to reclaim its place in the Super League. We really need to focus our efforts on attracting families and lapsed fans back to the stadium and reminding them why it’s such a great value day out. I’m a fan myself and I remember the glory days well, which is why I wanted to help the club get back to Super League." "The world has changed a lot since those days. No one was online when Super League started, but now we need to make sure we’re out there reaching the right people with the right messages at the right time. Perfect Storm are just the team to help us do that – and we’re excited to see what the next few months, and next season, brings.” Dave Nutter, founder and director at Perfect Storm, said: “There’s a big job to be done, but everyone at the Bulls and at Perfect Storm is committed to the same goal. We’re all fans who remember when Odsal Stadium was the place to be – and the club has a clear vision to get back there. A trip to see the Bradford Bulls was a family day out, full of fanfare and entertainment. That’s where the team wants to be again and the fans from back in its heyday now have families of their own to bring along. It’s a great digital brief to get our teeth stuck into, and as a local club many of us have fond memories of, we’re aiming for bullseye.”

There’s no denying it: electric cars have captured the public imagination. Sleek, silent and seen by many as a passport to a cleaner future, they’ve become as much a symbol of modernity as they are a mode of transport. But behind the glossy marketing and futuristic dashboards lies a more nuanced picture – one of real benefits, yes, but also real challenges. On the plus side, electric vehicles (EVs) represent a giant leap forward in our efforts to reduce carbon emissions. With no exhaust pipe in sight, they produce zero emissions on the road – a major win for cities choked by pollution and noise. In places where the electricity grid is powered by renewables, the environmental impact is even lower, making EVs one of the greenest ways to get from A to B. Add to that their whisper-quiet motors, and it's not hard to imagine a future where the morning commute is no longer drowned out by engine noise. Economically, they’re appealing too. Charging at home is considerably cheaper than filling up at the pump, and because EVs have fewer moving parts than traditional engines, servicing and maintenance bills are often lower. Governments have sweetened the deal further with incentives ranging from tax breaks to grants, nudging drivers towards a more sustainable choice. Yet, the road to an all-electric future is not without potholes. The price tag of many EVs remains high, often placing them out of reach for the average household despite long-term savings. Charging infrastructure, while improving, still lags behind the pace of adoption in many parts of the country. For city dwellers without driveways, or those in rural areas far from rapid chargers, owning an EV can still feel impractical. Then there’s the matter of range. While battery technology has come a long way, many drivers remain wary of taking longer trips, plagued by “range anxiety” and the unpredictable availability of chargers en route. And let’s not forget the elephant in the room – the batteries themselves. Producing them requires rare materials like lithium and cobalt, often mined under controversial conditions, raising ethical and environmental questions. Recycling old batteries is another looming challenge we’ve yet to fully solve. So, are electric cars the answer to our transport woes? Perhaps not entirely – at least, not yet. But they’re undeniably a crucial part of the journey. As technology advances, prices fall, and infrastructure catches up, it’s likely that more of us will be swapping petrol pumps for plug points. For now, though, the electric dream remains just that for many – a dream tantalisingly close, but still not quite within reach.

A spa resort on Windermere has completed a major renewable energy project with the addition of 385 photovoltaic solar panels. Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa has installed the solar panels across five buildings around its grounds, with each cluster facing south or south westerly to maximise sunshine hours and light exposure. English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues has invested £195,000 in the project which is aligned with its eco-tourism and sustainability commitments. The hotel group commissioned Kirkby Lonsdale based firm RJ Solar to install the PV panels. The new solar panels are expected to provide annual electricity generation of over 130,000 kwh. As well as contributing to environmental targets on carbon reduction, they will save the resort a significant amount of costs in energy consumption. Low Wood Bay already generates around 12% of its own electricity from its hydropower water turbine fed from a fellside stream. It generated 209,269 kwh of the hotel’s green energy production in 2024, saving around £36,000 in operating costs. English Lakes Hotels estates director Tim Berry says: “This is another major renewable energy project for the venue and, based on projected annual electricity bill savings, has the potential to have paid for itself within around six years. And the estimates provided indicate savings of over £1.3m over the lifetime of the PV solar panels." “The environmental benefits are hugely significant too, with around 33 tons of CO₂ emissions prevented each year. Over the PV system’s lifetime, that will equate to planting over 6,000 trees – or equivalent to saving on nearly a million kilometres of car journeys or 700 long haul flights." “Our aim for future years is to be able to run the venue as close to ‘carbon neutral’ as possible, helping to protect the environment as well as significantly reducing our energy and operating costs. A continued drive for innovation will be crucial if we are to succeed, but projects such as these are proof that there is significant return on investment in renewables.” Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa recently received the nationally recognised Greengage ECOsmart gold award. It is the leading certification system for hotels, hospitality and meeting venues which includes UN sustainable development goals into its benchmarking processes.