If you can avoid the wind and rain Kew Wakehurst invites families to join the accessible Fantastic Fungi Trail this October half-term. Inspired by the adventures of Wallace & Gromit and the villainous penguin, Feathers McGraw, children are tasked with helping foil McGraw’s most recent plot by uncovering the 'tricks and treats’ of fungi found across the Sussex landscape. Coinciding with celebrations for Aardman’s 50th anniversary, the trail invites families to jump into th

Charities, care providers, and MPs have issued a stark warning to the government to implement a Cool Homes Plan for social care, or risk avoidable loss of life next summer. With 45 per cent of all heat-related excess deaths occurring in care homes last year, campaigners warn that extreme heat is a medical emergency for vulnerable people. The Epilepsy Society has joined forces with almost 60 health charities, including Parkinson’s UK, Age UK, and the National Care Forum, cros

Three remarkable aviators are to come together at London’s Royal Geographical Society in support of the charity Aerobility. The ‘Adventure of Flight’ will bring together John McFall, former Paralympian, Astronaut Reserve and disabled pilot, Jon Hunt, former BBC reporter and host of the popular YouTube channel The Flying Reporter, and John Romain MBE, aircraft restorer, air display and movie pilot, who will each share their unique experiences from the world of aviation. All pr

Four UK mouth and foot painters have discovered their unique artwork is being transformed into a Christmas card. The artists are all members of the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (MFPA), which supports 28 artists across the UK and over 700 worldwide. “Thousands of paintings are considered and only a handful become Christmas cards,” said Tom Yendell OBE, Board Member and President of the MFPA, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary. This year’s chosen cards were designed

Applications for the next series of The Great British Bake Off are now open. The oven is on. The tent is waiting. There are people who bake. And then there are people who really bake. The ones who make their own bread when the supermarket is two minutes away. Who turn up to birthdays with a cake that’s taller than the birthday boy. Or who shudder at the thought of a shop bought short crust. If that sounds like you, maybe, just maybe, the next Star Baker could be you. The sear

Serious Injury law firm Bolt Burdon Kemp (BBK) has announced that entry to its Design the Change Competition is now open. The competition, now in its fifth year, invites students from UK universities to design a product aimed at improving the lives of people with a spinal cord injury. The Spinal Injuries Association estimates that more than 105,000 people in the UK are currently living with a spinal cord injury. Such life-changing injuries can mean that previously simple task

British Blind Sport (BBS) is to continue working with McDonald’s Fun Football, delivering blind and partially sighted football to children aged 5-11 in England. The announcement follows a commitment by McDonald’s Fun Football to invest in grassroots football across the UK for a further four years. For more than two decades millions of children have been given opportunities to play, while grassroots clubs, coaches and communities have benefited from investment, equipment,

A play which imagines three of Britain’s all-time greatest comedy heroes discussing the secrets of life, death, comedy and what it means to be funny, is just one of the highlights of the new winter season at Chichester Festival Theatre in West Sussex. Written and directed by Paul Hendy, The Last Laugh is a poignant, nostalgic, warm and funny look behind the scenes as comedy legends Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe and Bob Monkhouse come together in their dressing room to shar

New analysis of insurance claims has revealed that mobility scooter users are being forced into roads, potholes and other hazards as they try to navigate pavements blocked by vehicles. Insurance intermediary Surewise reviewed 34 claims involving vehicles blocking or obstructing pavements. The cases included riders being forced off pavements into the road, where they encountered potholes, an uncovered drain, loose gravel or kerb edges. Some mobility scooter users were struck

A disability advocate and writer from Hertfordshire is celebrating the launch of her first book, Finding Yourself Within Disability: How to Look After Your Disabled Self. The book, by Rebecca Sullivan, 32, who lives with Cerebral Palsy, offers practical advice and personal insight for disabled adults, exploring topics including self-care, self-advocacy, ableism, accessibility, navigating the world as a disabled person and finding disabled joy. Rebecca says her motivation

A UK disability charity has celebrated the opening of its new, fully accessible holiday accommodation for people with special educational needs and disabilities. Fundraisers, donors and other supporters of The Wingate Centre have marked the official launch of the self-catering holiday facilities in Wrenbury, near Nantwich, Cheshire. The new accommodation offers children and adults with SEND the chance to be fully included in their family or group break. Plus, every booking wi

A story-book art trail organised by a charity supporting families with disabled children has been launched in Sussex. The free-to-access Story Trail invites everyone to #SitWithUs at more than 30 BookBench sculptures, each individually painted by a local artist, until November 8. Organised by Amaze and produced in partnership with global public art producers Wild in Art, the trail is designed as a walking route through Brighton & Hove. Each bench is an instantly accessible pi

A charity has announced it will be extending funding for its ‘life-changing’ bespoke vehicle grant programme for disabled people until 2029. The Motability Foundation, the charity which helps disabled people get around, has granted more than £15 million to disabled people as part of its Bespoke Passenger Solutions (BPS) grant since it started in 2022. This decision to extend the programme beyond this year comes after an evaluation by the charity on the positive impact the

Hot on the heels of comic actor Matthew Baynton’s portrayal of Bottom in the RSC’s 2024 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Chichester Festival Theatre has handed the role to another one of the UK’s most successful comedians. In his first stage acting appearance, Youtube star and popular comedy show panellist Munya Chawawa, brings extraordinary levels of energy and superb delivery and timing to this new production of Shakespeare’s ‘Dream’, running at the main Festival Th

Nearly 100 people came together for Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity’s annual sponsored walk, Walk Together, and raised almost £18,000 for children under five with cerebral palsy and other motor learning impairments. Walkers enjoyed glorious sunshine in West Sussex as they took on one of three options: a fully accessible 5k route, a 15k mixed-terrain trek or a shorter sensory Bear Hunt for younger children and families. For a quarter of a century, Dame Vera Lynn Childr

The rail industry has extended the Disabled Persons Railcard eligibility to help more people access discounted rail travel. From today (September 30) customers with a long-term impairment, health condition or neurodivergence that has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months and significantly affects their ability to use rail services will be able to apply for the Disabled Persons Railcard. Eligibility under the expansion will be based on the impact a person's conditio

The Ocean Film Festival World Tour is back, bringing a new collection of captivating ocean-themed films to venues around the UK this autumn. A powerful and visually stunning line-up of short thrilling ocean adventure films will celebrate the ocean from every angle: above the surface, beneath the waves, and deep into the stories that connect us all to the sea. “As we head into our 13th year, the Ocean Film Festival World Tour remains a celebration of the ocean in all its beaut

New research from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has revealed the significant financial pressures facing blind and partially sighted people across the UK. With rising living costs impacting not only household finances but also independence, wellbeing and social connection, the key findings revealed:       · Only 13% of those receiving disability benefits said their disability benefits completely covered the additional costs of sight loss.   · More th

Three charities across the UK are set to benefit from a new electric tricycle after being selected as winners of Jorvik Tricycles’ community giveaway. Following a nationwide competition inviting charities and community organisations to nominate themselves, Jorvik Tricycles has selected Shopmobility York, Monty’s Bike Hub in Southampton and Cycling 4 All in Wrexham as its three winners. Each organisation will receive an adult electric tricycle worth £1,000 to support its work

The accomplishments of musicians playing instruments with only one hand have been celebrated at a special concert held at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Organised by music disability charity The OHMI Trust, the concert marked the 15th anniversary of the Birmingham charity which enables musicians with an upper limb absence, impairment or weakness to play the musical instruments they wish to play. It sought to raise both funds and awareness of OHMI’s work in commission