News

Now in its third year the Morecambe & Vice Crime Festival has a fabulous range of panels and speakers. Anne Coates will be talking to Sharna Jackson, Nicki Thornton and Sarah Todd Taylor about writing crime for young adult readers on Saturday 28 September, 2019.

As part of a drive to get as many children’s eyes tested as possible before school terms starts in September, Bayfields Opticians, an independent, national group of opticians and audiologists, is offering parents and carers free eye tests when they book a special one hour appointment with their child before 31 August.   

The stresses of modern life can leave even the very best of us exhausted, but experts are warning that women in particular may risk serious health problems because of poor levels of crucial nutrients according to an important new report by a group of nutrition, medical and research experts – commissioned by Alive! The report – The Impact of Modern Medicine on Nutrient Status – looks closely at general nutrient intakes and why so many of us may have inadequate levels. 

We think of our homes as safe havens, but poor indoor air quality is helping to drive an epidemic of respiratory disease, a new report reveals. The report Air and Now, commissioned by Puressentiel reveals that indoor air pollution is becoming a growing area of concern with air quality tests showing that levels are actually greater than outdoor pollution.

Puressentiel has developed a unique range of products which have been proven to tackle respiratory symptoms on several fronts in the home.

Dropit, the handsfree shopping™ service, is expanding in London and internationally as trends for convenience and customer experience drive innovation in physical retail. Dropit shoppers use a simple app to leave their bags behind as they shop, with all purchases gathered for a single delivery to their chosen address. The Dropit network includes hundreds of stores within London’s prime West End shopping district and the service is expanding into mall environments, with successful rollouts at London Designer Outlet adjacent to Wembley Stadium in the UK and at Las Vegas North Premium Outlets in the USA. Anne Coates tried out the service.

Sending flowers can sometimes lead to disappointments but not with ethical florists Arena Flowers, writes Anne Coates.

Calling all knitters  buy a blanket pattern for just £150 and support the charity Action for Children.

Cressida Cowell, the international bestselling author and illustrator of the How to Train Your Dragon and The Wizards of Once series and the author of the Emily Brown picture books all published by Hachette Children’s Group has today been crowned the Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2019–2021.

This year's Summer reading Challenge kicks off on 13 July inviting children aged four to 11 to sign up to their local library and read six books over the summer. Here are some tips to help your kids make space for reading during the holidays.

The Summer Festival returns to Audley End Miniature Railway. Jam-packed with activities and entertainment for all the family, this spectacular summer-long festival offers everything to ensure a day full of excitement and wonder for children and adults alike. We have a special half-price tickets offer for the opening weekend 20 to 21 July to celebrate the end of the school year and the start of the summer holidays.

Kids in Museums have announced the 15 museums that have been shortlisted for the Family Friendly Museum Award 2019.

In a wake-up call to the nation, a new report from the Health & Food Supplements Information Service (HSIS) – STATE OF THE NATION: DIETARY TRENDS IN THE UK – 20 YEARS ON – reveals the devastating extent that such UK nutrient trends are set to create, with the very real likelihood of a surge in chronic illnesses and premature mortality. In a stark message, younger people are being warned that unless they improve their diets now, they face a significantly increased risk of serious health issues by the time they reach middle age, along with a reduced life expectancy.

For the whole of August, a child who’s aged 16 or under can go to any participating show for FREE as long as they’re accompanied by a full paying adult. Adults can also buy up to two extra children’s tickets at half price, with no booking fees. Booking opens on 11 June, 2019 so plenty of time to check the shows and what you'd like to see.

Child Safety Week 3 to 9 June, 2019 – Accidents can be prevented says the Child Accident Prevention Trust.

The Wildlife Trusts annual challenge – 30 Days Wild – calling on everyone to go wild every day in June starts this weekend. In its fifth year, 30 Days Wild has had a marked impact on the thousands of people taking part – people have reported feeling healthier, more connected to nature and more likely to take action to help wildlife. Sign up here for your free pack.

The UK’s largest platform for parents and childcarers is offering an hour’s free childcare to mothers across the UK so they can attend a cervical screening test. Childcare.co/uk has launched the nationwide initiative to encourage more women to attend a smear test to determine whether they are at risk of cervical cancer, which in 99.8 per cent of cases is preventable with early treatment, however figures show the take up is at a 20-year low.

Oscar’s Book Prize, the £5,000 literary award recognising excellence in books for children under five, has revealed its 2019 shortlist. Now in its sixth year, the award saw 117 entries, with submissions from across the country, from publishers new and old.