Parents are being urged to think carefully before buying sleep and feeding products marketed as ‘essential’, as some may pose serious safety risks including suffocation, choking and overheating.

With families already facing significant costs when preparing for a new baby, estimated at around £600 in just the first month after birth, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is warning that some products marketed to help with sleep and feeding may not only be unnecessary, but potentially dangerous.

RoSPA has identified a number of products that may present risks to babies, including:

• Self-feeding cushions (sometimes sold as ‘hands-free baby bottle holders’, ‘hands-free baby feeding bottles’ or ‘adjustable baby bottle holders’). These products are designed to hold a baby‘s bottle while they feed. This makes it harder for babies to control the flow of milk and increases the risk of choking.
• Baby sleep positioners (sometimes marketed as ‘baby pillows’, ‘cuddle cushions’, ‘hug cushion/pillows’, ‘ergonomic pillows’ or ‘anti-roll pillows’). These products are designed to keep babies in a particular position while they sleep. Restricting a baby’s movement and placing additional items in the sleep space can increase the risk of suffocation.
• In-cot sleep aids (sometimes marketed as ‘sleep aid pillows’). These products are intended to comfort or soothe babies while they sleep. Additional products placed in a baby’s sleep space can increase the risk of suffocation or overheating.

Widely available online, some of these products are sold without clear safety information or instructions explaining potential risks. RoSPA advises parents to look for CE or UKCA markings where appropriate and to be cautious of products that do not clearly explain how they have been assessed for safety. Some products have been recalled by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) because of the serious risks they pose to babies.

RoSPA emphasises that more products do not necessarily mean better sleep, and that proven risks often outweigh potential benefits of some baby products.

The charity’s advice is that simpler is safer when it comes to sleep. Babies should be placed on their backs in a clear space, such as a cot, Moses basket or bassinet with a firm, flat mattress and no unnecessary items. Babies should always be supervised by an adult during feeding.

Top tips for safer sleep

Keep your baby’s sleep space clear: 

• Lie your baby on their back.
• Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress.
• Do not use sleep positioners, pillows, cushions, pods or nests.
• Do not use cot bumpers.
• To keep your baby at a comfortable temperature, if required, use a tucked-in blanket or a sleeping bag that meets BS EN 16781.
• Always read product labels, safety warnings and instructions before using a baby product.

Rebecca Guy, RoSPA Senior Policy Manager said:

‘Every parent wants what’s best for their baby, and it’s completely understandable to look for products that promise to make feeding or sleeping easier.

But some products can introduce risks that parents may not be aware of, particularly when they are marketed as must-have items.

The safest sleep spaces are often the simplest. Babies should sleep on their backs in a clear cot, Moses basket or bassinet with a firm, flat mattress and without extra items.

Before buying any product, take a moment to ask if you really need it and whether it could affect your baby’s safety. Keeping things simple can help protect your baby and save money at a time when family budgets are already under pressure.’

AllClear’s poll found that the number of people compounding the risk of extreme experiences with a lack of travel insurance is growing, up from 71% last year. The number of people with medical conditions who are keen to enjoy an activity or adventure holiday abroad sat above the national average (71%) and well above the figure for people aged over 55 (46%). 

Many people with medical conditions are keen to ‘seize the moment’ and turn their holiday into an adventure, but with adrenaline and enjoyment comes the risk of expensive  medical costs abroad. With wildfires and global unrest affecting holidays this year, travelling without insurance is already risky, but rising medical costs in many overseas countries can mean that the sums associated with medical attention or repatriation can be eye-watering, making travel insurance which includes good medical cover essential. 

Among the  holiday experiences chosen by those who are likely to cut corners with their travel insurance, animal experiences such as swimming with dolphins (chosen by 28% of those surveyed) and safari (18%) were favourites, alongside cross-country road trips (30%) and cross-continental rail journeys (14%). Extreme sports such as water skiing (12%) and bungee jumping (10%) were also popular.

At a time when 55% of brits are opting for short-haul holidays, many might assume that people who risk travelling without insurance might be doing so because they feel they are taking relatively ‘low-risk’ trips (which they feel they can quickly return from if needed), but AllClear’s latest data shows that in reality, those who roll the dice by travelling without insurance often compound that risk by choosing to engage with activities that could potentially jeopardise their physical safety.

Garry Nelson, Head of Corporate Affairs at AllClear Travel Insurance comments: “ People understandably want to get as much value out of their holiday as possible, but sacrificing comprehensive medical travel insurance should not be seen as a cost-saving measure – especially for those more likely to have higher risk holidays abroad. 

“Travel insurance is a vital safety net . People tend to only realise the value of comprehensive travel cover when something goes wrong. AllClear understands the need to cut holiday costs where you can, but not where it counts. Saving money on the wrong things can end up costing you more in the long run: without the protection of travel insurance, the significant and rising cost of medical treatment in some countries abroad could cost people their home. It is also vital to check your policy to see exactly what experiences are covered ”

Each year, the charity funds more than 100 people to spend four to eight weeks learning from leading practitioners, in person or online. They build  networks, exchange knowledge and ideas and use what they learn to improve communities, services and policy across the UK. In 2026, 109 people received Fellowships to explore issues ranging from social media harm and climate-friendly school canteens to dementia care in rural communities.

Julia Weston, Chief Executive of the Churchill Fellowship, said: “Every year we are inspired by people who see something that could work better and are determined to do something about it. A Churchill Fellowship gives them the chance to look outwards, learn from others, and turn those ideas into practical action here in the UK.

“This year’s programmes reflect many of the challenges and opportunities communities are facing now. We hope people from the widest range of backgrounds and life experiences, and from across the four nations, will see something here that speaks to their own experience and ideas for change.”

The charity has added a new Civic and Democratic Engagement programme to support people with ideas for strengthening participation, trust and engagement in public life. It joins other Fellowship programmes including Tech for All; Promoting Lifelong Health; Supporting Engagement in Education; Climate Change; Caring for our Natural Environment; Building a Society that Cares; Building Prosperous, Resilient Economies; and Making Space for the Arts.

Key facts

• Open to all UK citizens aged 18 or over and living in the UK
• Around 100 Fellowships awarded each year
• Four to eight weeks of international learning, in person or online
• No qualifications required
• Applications open 1 September and close 20 October 2026

Find out more about how to apply for a Churchill Fellowship

Whether it is the lush, mountainous archipelago of the Ionian Islands; the world-class art, culinary experiences and artisan culture of Florence – or the pearly white beaches and clear water of Thailand’s beaches – InsureandGo asked a nationally representative sample of 2,000 adults if they had taken holiday inspiration from the books they love.

Of the 54% of people who said they have chosen a holiday destination inspired by a setting of a novel, Alex Garland’s The Beach and The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown came top of the list, with 18% of survey respondents saying it inspired a trip to Thailand or Paris. Women are slightly more likely to be inspired by Alex Garland’s Thai adventure (19% vs 18%), while men narrowly favoured Dan Brown’s Paris-set thriller (19% vs 17%).

Overall, Italy emerged as the literary travel winners, with three of the nation’s top ten  influential travel-inspired books being set in Italy – Pompeii, A Room with A View and The Talented Mr Ripley.

The trend was strongest in London, where 73% of residents said the novels they enjoyed went on to influence subsequent holiday choices. The top holiday-inspiring reads in the capital were: The Da Vinci Code (19%) The Beach(18%), The Talented Mr Ripley (16%) The Summer I Turned Pretty (16%) and Chocolat (14%). Other UK regions where books played a major role influencing holiday choices included; the North West (58%), the West Midlands (57%) and the South West (55%). Books had the least influence on holiday choices for people living in Wales (46%).

The Top 10 holiday destinations inspired by books

1. The Beach – Thailand (18%) and The Da Vinci Code – Paris, France (18%)
2. Pompeii – Italy (16%)
3. Chocolat – France (14%)
4. A Room With A View – Florence, Italy (13%)
5. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – Greece (13%)
6. The Talented Mr Ripley – Italy (12%)
7. The Summer I Turned Pretty – USA (12%)
8. Life of Pi – India (10%)
9. Normal People – Ireland (9%)
10. My Family and other Animals – Corfu (9%)

The InsureandGo study found that the influence of books on travel decisions was strong across all age-groups. Nationally 48% of the over 45s cited holidays inspired by books (their top choice novel being The Beach) – and this rose to 72% among the under 25 age group, whose top choice book was Pompeii.

Garry Nelson, Head of Corporate Affairs at InsureandGo comments: ‘’Books have always had the power to transport us to another place, but increasingly they are inspiring people to experience those destinations for themselves. What’s striking is that novels continue to influence travel decisions in an age dominated by social media and streaming services. 

“A great book can be the beginning of a great holiday. Whether it’s a beach in Thailand, a piazza in Florence or the streets of Paris, stories have a unique ability to turn destinations into must-visit locations. As travellers bring those literary adventures to life, it’s important not to overlook the practical side of planning too. At InsureandGo we aim to make it easy for people to get the cover that best fits their needs. Having appropriate travel insurance in place means if the unexpected happens, your holiday story can remain one with a happy ending.”

InsureandGo is one of the best-known names in travel insurance in the UK.  Based in Southend-on-Sea with over 100 staff it is a multi, award-winning travel insurance company. InsureandGo has  were awarded the prestigious ‘Best Buy’ status by Which? for 3 years running, most recently in May 2026. InsureandGo has supported 27 million travellers with travel insurance policies and specialises in value for money products.

CLICK HERE TO ENQUIRE ABOUT BECOMING A COUNSELLOR

The Academy’s next intake begins on 1st September 2026. The Professional Practitioner Programme runs for two years part-time, with teaching taking place on Tuesday evenings from 6.00pm to 9.30pm in Liverpool. Successful students can achieve a Level 5 Diploma in Integrative Counselling alongside a Level 5 Practitioner Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy. The curriculum takes an integrative approach, covering a broad range of therapeutic models and areas of practice including….

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Person-Centred Therapy
• Gestalt
• Psychodynamic approaches
• Transactional Analysis
• Grief and loss
• Family counselling
• Couples counselling
• Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)
• Clinical Hypnotherapy

CLICK HERE TO ENQUIRE ABOUT BECOMING A COUNSELLOR

Rather than focusing solely on theory, the programme incorporates observation, discussion, practical exercises, monitored practice and feedback, helping students gradually develop the skills and confidence required to work therapeutically with clients. The programme is accredited through professional organisations including the National Council of Integrative Psychotherapists (NCIP) and the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council (GHSC), with further professional pathways associated with the qualifications.

CLICK HERE TO ENQUIRE ABOUT BECOMING A COUNSELLOR

A previous counselling qualification at Level 2 or Level 3 is not required to apply for the Professional Practitioner Programme. The course is suitable for complete beginners as well as people changing careers and those already working in health, care or other people-focused professions. Applications are assessed individually, with shortlisted applicants invited to an interview to discuss their background, experience and future goals.

CLICK HERE TO ENQUIRE ABOUT BECOMING A COUNSELLOR

The Academy is led by founder and course director Nichola Doyle, whose own experiences as both a counselling client and trainee helped shape the ethos behind the organisation. The Academy says its aim is to provide a learning environment that is supportive, consistent and personal, with tutors getting to know students individually rather than treating training as simply a process of completing academic requirements.

UK Therapy Guild’s wider aim is not simply to run counselling courses, but to develop more professionally trained therapists within the region. The Academy highlights growing demand for mental health support across Merseyside and sees training new practitioners as one way of strengthening the availability of therapeutic support within local communities.

CLICK HERE TO ENQUIRE ABOUT BECOMING A COUNSELLOR

UK Therapy Guild incorporates placement and supervised client experience into its training pathway. During the second year, students progress towards client work alongside group supervision, allowing them to put their developing counselling skills into practice with professional support around them. The Academy also operates a community counselling service, providing therapy while giving appropriately trained students opportunities to build the client hours required as part of their professional development.

The September 2026 intake begins on Tuesday 1st September and runs over two years on a part-time basis, with the main weekly teaching session scheduled for 6.00pm–9.30pm on Tuesday evenings. This structure can make professional counselling training more achievable for adults who need to combine studying with employment, family responsibilities or other commitments. The investment to become trained is just £3,750 — with payment plans available.

CLICK HERE TO ENQUIRE ABOUT BECOMING A COUNSELLOR

Prospective students interested in counselling training in Liverpool can now explore the programme, request a prospectus or submit an application. For someone who has been considering becoming a counsellor, changing direction professionally or adding therapeutic skills to an existing career, UK Therapy Guild’s Professional Practitioner Programme offers the opportunity to study locally in Liverpool while working towards two Level 5 professional therapy qualifications.

Nichola Doyle / UK Therapy Guild

CLICK HERE TO ENQUIRE ABOUT BECOMING A COUNSELLOR

Follow UK Therapy Guild on FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM

Photo Credit: Goldfinch

One of the year’s most acclaimed music documentaries is coming to Tyneside Cinema this September as the venue hosts the North East Gala Premiere of Eddie Cochran: Don’t Forget Me, the first fully authorised documentary celebrating the life and legacy of the rock ‘n’ roll pioneer.

Taking place on Thursday 3 September, the special gala event also celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Sir Graham Wylie Foundation. Over the past decade, the Foundation has raised millions of pounds to support a wide range of charitable causes, including initiatives such as Tyneside Cinema’s Talent Unit, which nurtures emerging film talent across the North East.

Made possible with support from the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority (North East MSA), the evening will feature a gala screening of the documentary followed by an exclusive Q&A with director Kirsty Bell, actor Nick Moran, legendary journalist John Gibson and Jack Harris, who makes his screen acting debut as Eddie Cochran.

Produced by Oscar and BAFTA-winning Goldfinch Entertainment, the film features exclusive interviews including; Keith Richards, Yungblud, Ronnie Wood, Roger Daltrey, Sting, Alice Cooper, Rod Stewart, Billy Idol, Linda Perry, Peter Frampton, Suzi Quatro, Kiefer Sutherland, John Waters and members of Eddie Cochran’s family,  .

Although his career was cut tragically short at just 21, Cochran’s influence continues to shape popular music. His songs have been covered more than 500 times by artists including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Bruce Springsteen, Joan Jett, Led Zeppelin, T. Rex and many more.

The documentary has already received widespread acclaim following screenings at the Raindance Film Festival, where director Kirsty Bell won Best Director, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

Kirsty Bell, Director:
“It has been the deepest honour to be entrusted by Eddie Cochran’s family to tell his story. His life burned fast and bright, but the ripples of his sound reached across oceans and decades, shaping the very language of rock ‘n’ roll. ‘Don’t Forget Me’ is not just the title of this film. It is Eddie’s own plea, echoed in autograph books and in the lives he touched. My hope is to bring him vividly back into the world’s consciousness, to remind us not only of what we lost, but of the brilliance he gave.

Nic Greenan, Chief Executive, Tyneside Cinema:
“We’re delighted to be bringing the Northern Premiere of Eddie Cochran: Don’t Forget Me to Tyneside Cinema. This special event celebrates outstanding filmmaking, music and culture, while also marking the 10th anniversary of the Sir Graham Wylie Foundation and recognising the support that helps create opportunities for emerging film talent.”

Angie Jenkison, CEO of Graham Wylie Foundation said: 

“We are honoured that the Northern Premiere of Eddie Cochran: Don’t Forget Me, will be part of Sir Graham Wylie Foundation’s 10th Anniversary Celebrations. Eddie Cochran was a young man with extraordinary talent and passion and that is exactly what we are funding at Tyneside Cinema, a facility that will support young people with talent and passion to find their purpose.”

Ticket Information

Standard admission tickets at £17.50 available HERE, together with a limited number of VIP Circle tickets including drinks, canapés and an exclusive meet and greet with cast and crew plus entry to the aftershow party at PILGRIM with special live perofrmances. (£45). BOOK VIP TICKETS HERE

Two North Shields dentists have swapped their dental drills for running shoes and crossed the finish line of one of Europe’s toughest endurance challenges – completing the Copenhagen Ironman in aid of The Percy Hedley Foundation.

Kathryn Eccles and Jamie Dury from Union Quay Dental on North Shields Fish Quay took on the gruelling event on Sunday 16 August, completing a 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km marathon – all in a single day.

Jamie completed the course in an impressive 11 hours, 40 minutes and 54 seconds, while Kathryn crossed the finish line in 12 hours, 28 minutes and 50 seconds.

The challenge marked a major milestone for both, as although they had previously completed Half Ironman events, Copenhagen was their first full-distance Ironman.

After months of intensive training, early mornings, long bike rides, hours in the pool and countless running miles – all fitted around their busy careers and everyday lives – the pair finally made it to the finish line.

And their efforts have already raised £1,743 for The Percy Hedley Foundation, helping support the charity’s work with children, young people and adults with disabilities across the North East.

Kathryn said:

“It’s difficult to put into words how it feels to have actually completed a full Ironman. There were moments during the day when it felt incredibly tough, but crossing that finish line made every early morning, every long training session and every tired leg completely worth it.

“Knowing we were doing this for Percy Hedley gave us an extra reason to keep going when things got difficult. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who donated and supported us throughout the journey.”

Jamie said:

“A full Ironman is every bit as tough as you imagine it will be – and probably a little tougher! But finishing in 11 hours 40 minutes is an incredible feeling.

“The training has been a huge commitment, but being able to do it alongside Kathryn and raise £1,683 for The Percy Hedley Foundation has made the whole experience even more worthwhile.

“There were definitely some tough moments out on the course, but once you see that finish line, all you can think about is getting across it. We’re absolutely delighted to have done it.”

Bev Reid, Corporate Relationships Manager at The Percy Hedley Foundation, said:

“We are absolutely delighted to be collaborating with Union Quay Dental. Kathryn and Jamie have shown incredible determination in taking on such a demanding challenge, and their fundraising will help us continue to provide vital services to people with disabilities across the North East.

“We’d like to congratulate them both on an amazing achievement and thank everyone who has supported their fundraising.”

Donations can still be made via Kathryn and Jamie’s fundraising page, with every additional contribution helping The Percy Hedley Foundation continue its work across the region. Just go HERE

Delap became synonymous with the long throw during his playing career, with his deliveries into the penalty area becoming an important part of Stoke City’s success under Tony Pulis.

The tactic has attracted renewed attention in recent seasons as clubs place greater emphasis on set pieces and employ specialist coaches.

Speaking to business consultants Champions (UK) plc at the British Par 3 Championships, Delap said the growing focus on set pieces should not be viewed as a new development.

“I think people have jumped on it because set-play coaches have come in over the last few years, but it was always part of the game.

“The manager or one of the assistant coaches used to do the set plays, so it’s nothing new. It’s been around for 30 or 40 years.

“For me, you utilise every strength you’ve got in the squad. If you’ve got someone who can throw a ball, why wouldn’t you use it?

“Teams don’t like defending balls into the box, and it’s proven that the more balls and touches you get in the box, the more goals you’re going to score. So why wouldn’t you use it?”

Long throws have sometimes divided opinion, particularly when teams take significant time setting up attacking deliveries and send central defenders forward to contest the ball.

For Delap, however, the tactic itself is not the issue. Instead, he believes greater attention could be paid to how quickly teams restart play when preparing a long throw in an attacking area.

“I do think something has to be done about the time it takes to set them up. I know they’ve brought in counting for throw-ins all over the pitch, but it hasn’t quite been utilised properly. In attacking areas, you seem to get a dead spell when everyone is waiting for the throw.

“I don’t see any reason why long throws should be treated differently, but I don’t think the centre-halves will thank me for that, having to get up and back so quickly.

“That’s probably the only thing they need to look at. Long throws are going to be part of the game, so you have to accept that. It’s more about how quickly you can get the ball back in play.”

For a player whose own long throw became one of the most recognisable weapons in Premier League football, Delap remains clear that there is nothing wrong with teams continuing to use the tactic, provided they keep the game moving.

Roy Shelton, CEO of Connectus Business Solutions, said the milestone, which falls on 11 August 2026, lands at the busiest point yet in the company’s growth, with more scale-up activity to come.

“Fifteen years in, the pace is only increasing,” he said. “We’ve gone from a standing start in Doncaster to supporting more than 700 businesses and 15,000 users, and this is the most active period of acquisition and investment we’ve had in the business’s history. This isn’t a moment to slow down and reflect; it’s only the beginning of the next 15 years.”

The anniversary comes weeks after Connectus completed a strategic investment in Glu Digital, the fastest transaction the company has ever taken from announcement to delivery, with two joint projects delivered within weeks of the deal, forming the new Digital Connect Group.

The business has grown from 380 clients and 7,000 users in 2020 to its current scale of more than 700 businesses and over 15,000 end users, having completed seven transactions in total, including Cybersity, YouCloud Solutions, Mango Tech, IT 4 Growth, the PCSC customer base, the assets of i7 Technologies and, most recently, Glu Digital. Recurring revenue has risen at double-digit rates for three consecutive years, with turnover now set to exceed £6 million.

Connectus was founded in 2011 as Eximus Solutions, a spin-out of Peel Telecoms, building a full fibre network at Doncaster Sheffield Airport in 2013 and launching its UCentrix hosted voice platform in 2014. The company was acquired in 2018 to form Connectus Group, backed by FW Capital and chaired by Paul Ruocco. In 2019, Shelton, alongside Commercial Director Andy Marden and Operations Director Phillippa Shelton, set a target of building a 500-customer managed services business, a goal the company has since more than doubled.

Shelton said the milestone reflected discipline as much as ambition. “We didn’t just hit that target, we grew beyond it, more than doubled the number of users we support, completed seven transactions and built a great team along the way,” he said. “What matters most is that we’ve kept our standards. We still treat customer 700 exactly the way we treated customer one. That consistency is why partners like Glu Digital want to build something with us.”

The company, which remains 100% privately owned with every share held within its own team, launched its Connectus Evolve AI-as-a-Service platform in 2025 and was named SME of the Year at the Doncaster Chamber Awards the same year. It has also strengthened its regional ties, moving from Club House Sponsor to front-of-shirt sponsor of Doncaster Knights.

Looking ahead, Connectus says its next phase will include further acquisitions across both its managed services and channel businesses, deeper investment in AI-driven managed services through Connectus Evolve, and continued expansion across the Northern Powerhouse, Midlands and wider UK. The company has identified Microsoft-stack-focused managed services businesses as priority acquisition targets for 2026 and 2027, alongside continued organic growth in cyber security, business connectivity and telephony.

“We are privately owned, team-owned and completely in control of our own pace, which means we can be bold,” Shelton added. “The market does not need another IT provider that just keeps the lights on. It needs partners who reduce cost, complexity and risk while genuinely innovating. That is what Digital Connect Group is about, that is what Connectus Evolve is about, and that is what the next 15 years of this business will be about.”