Bupa UK reveals that more than a third of people never smile at a stranger before 9am and of those that do, only one in three people smile once a day. As National Smile Month draws to a close, research also shows that a smile from a stranger has more impact than good weather when it comes to Brits raising a smile. People in Newcastle share the most smiles, with a third smiling at a stranger at least once a day before 9am.  This is in contrast to Belfast and Glasgow, where only 12% and 13% of people offer up a smile.

People are being invited to help shape services for young people and adults with autism in Wolverhampton. The City of Wolverhampton Council and Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group have developed a draft strategy for future service provision and now want people to have their say. Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition. Although a spectrum disorder, meaning individuals are affected in different ways, people with autism have difficulties communicating and with social interaction and social imagination. 

Alarming new figures from housing charity Shelter have revealed more than 13,017 renting households in the West Midlands were put at risk of losing their home in the past year –equivalent to 30,850 renters. The new analysis of statistics from the Ministry of Justice, showed that 1 in every 62 rented homes in the West Midlands were at risk of eviction. The charity also identified the ‘home threat hotspots’ across the region where renters face the greatest risk of losing their home, which comes as a result of the chronic shortage of affordable homes combined with crippling welfare cuts.

With a 900 per cent increase in cases of diabetes among pets in the last five years, it seems a good time to evaluate what we’re feeding our pets. Follow our guide’s alternative options to keep your pet in tip top condition. There has been a 1,161 per cent increase of diabetes cases in cats since 2011, with dogs seeing an 850 per cent rise. This significant increase is a result of owners feeding their pets human food and high-calorie treats, which links with the reality that our pets are becoming ‘humanised’ and increasingly ‘pampered’.

Animal-loving kids are encouraged to capture photos of their favourite pets this summer, as vet charity PDSA launches its annual photo competition for young people. Running with a ‘super pets’ theme, youngsters are asked to submit their photos to one of three age categories: under 10s, 10-13 or 14-16-year-olds. From captivating cats to beautiful bunnies, PDSA wants to see the best snaps of pets showing off what makes them awesome!