Health & Wellbeing

Tesco's ground-breaking 'Free Fruit for Kids' initiative has proved a real hit with children and parents, with over 50 million pieces of free fruit given to children since the programme launched almost two years ago.

The scheme was the brainchild of Maria Simpson, a Tesco colleague from Brigg Superstore in Lincolnshire, who suggested giving free fruit to parents for their children to eat during shopping trips as an alternative to sweets.

The idea was taken up by the store and was so well received by customers that Tesco decided to launch it nationwide, with stands now in 800 stores across the UK. Research last year by Tesco and mumsnet highlighted the positive effect the initiative has had, with a third of parents saying their children have eaten more fruit thanks to the scheme. Three quarters of parents said that the initiative has made their shopping trip easier.

As well as giving away 50 million pieces of fruit, Tesco can also reveal the nation's children are opting for bananas as their preferred free healthy snack. Over 21 million bananas have been snapped up by kids while their parents are shopping, followed by 19 million apples and 10 million oranges.

The initiative is just one part of Tesco's drive to help make it easier for colleagues and customers to eat more healthily through its Little Helps Plan. Earlier this week, the retailer confirmed that all own brand soft drinks fall below the government's new sugar levy, after a decade of work with its suppliers to reformulate and reduce sugar content in soft drinks. Tesco achieved this feat 17 months before the levy comes into effect.

Maria Simpson, Customer Assistant at Brigg Superstore, said: “Over 50 million, wow! This means that children across the UK have had a healthy and free piece of fruit from Tesco over 50 million times! It's incredibly humbling for me to know that children are benefiting from this. They love it and the parents love it too.”

Alessandra Bellini, Tesco's Chief Customer Officer, said: “I'm incredibly proud that a simple idea from one of our colleagues has gone on to have such a big impact. 50 million pieces of free fruit in two years will go a long way towards creating healthy habits that will stay with children as they grow up.”

Tam Fry, Chair of the National Obesity Forum, added: “Only 16% of children are eating the recommended five-a-day and this is why Tesco's Free Fruit for Kids is so important. Getting more kids to enjoy healthy food takes time and I commend Tesco for their long-term commitment on this and encourage them to continue to keep it going to help many more kids eat their five-a-day.”

Research from Diabetes UK has found that one in six (16.67 per cent) people with diabetes still at work, feel that they’ve been discriminated against by their employer because of their condition.

The survey also found that more than one third (39 per cent) of respondents said that living with diabetes had caused them difficulty at work, while 5 per cent had not told their employer that they have the condition. Around a quarter said that they would like time off work for diabetes-related appointments (23 per cent) and flexibility (26 per cent) to take regular breaks for testing their blood sugar or to take medication.

Diabetes UK hopes that the survey will start a conversation about long-term health conditions in the workplace. Managing diabetes can involve taking medication – including injecting insulin at the right time – and for some people testing blood glucose levels multiple times a day.

To prevent the onset of serious complications there are vital checks that everyone with diabetes should be getting which can require time off work. Employers can only help if they are aware that someone has diabetes and what it means both day-to-day and in the long run.

Peter Shorrick, Midlands Regional Head at Diabetes UK, said: “Thousands of people across the UK have spoken out about how a lack of understanding from their employers can make working with diabetes not just exhausting and stressful, but also potentially life-threatening. We heard from people who had to give up their jobs in order to manage their condition safely.

“Diabetes is one of the largest health crises of our time affecting more than 2.2 million people of working age in the UK. Missing essential health checks or not taking medication on time can lead to devastating complications, such as amputations, stroke, heart disease, kidney failure and even early death.

“Discrimination and difficulties come about because employers lack knowledge about diabetes and do not understand its impact. We need to talk more about the condition and the many ways it affects people’s lives in order to persuade workplaces to offer greater understanding and flexibility. Everyone deserves to work in an environment where they can ask for the support they need.”

Often people with diabetes do not think of themselves as having a disability, but in many cases they will be covered by the definition of disability in the Equality Act 2010. The Equality Act defines a disability as a ‘physical or mental impairment that has a substantial long-term negative effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.’ When asking whether the condition fits the definition it is the effect of untreated diabetes and the impact on each individual that should be considered, particularly if they have developed complications.

Health chiefs in Wolverhampton have welcomed the introduction of a sugar levy on soft drinks as manufacturers will have to pay a levy on the high-sugar drinks they sell.

Around half of firms have reduced the sugar content of their products ahead of the change. Others are keeping recipes the same but increasing the price of drinks or cutting the size of bottles.

Public Health England says the levy will help reduce levels of obesity, as well as improving the oral health of children, with figures released this week showing that every 10 minutes a child in England has a tooth removed which has become rotten due to preventable decay.

John Denley, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Director of Public Health, said: "We have fundamental concerns about childhood obesity in Wolverhampton, with more than a quarter of our 10-year-olds classed as obese, compared to just under a fifth nationally.

“Having high sugar levels in their diet is a major cause of this – and it is also impacting on their dental health too.

"The introduction of this sugar levy is a national step change that will make a real difference, and is wholly consistent with our ongoing work to reduce obesity levels in Wolverhampton - we hope it will encourage consumers to choose low sugar alternatives wherever possible.”

From today, drinks with more than 5g of sugar per 100ml will face a levy of 18p per litre. Those with more than 8g per 100ml will face a higher rate, 24p per litre.

Pure fruit juices are exempt as they do not carry added sugar, while drinks with a high milk content are also exempt due to their calcium content.

The levy is being applied to manufacturers – whether they pass it on to consumers or not is up to them. Money raised through the levy will be reinvested in school sports and breakfast clubs.

Mr Denley added: “This is about helping people to make healthier choices and, by investing the proceeds in school sports and breakfast clubs, it will help provide further opportunities for children to get the nutrition and exercise that they need to help them to learn.”

Public Health England recommends the maximum daily sugar intake for four to six-year-olds should be no more than five cubes per day, for seven to 10-year-olds the limit is six cubes and for children aged 11 years and over it is seven cubes. It says a typical 500ml energy drink can contain as many as 13 cubes of sugar, while a 330ml can of cola has around nine.

A woman who found solace in running after suffering a mental health crisis is preparing to tackle two marathons to raise money for the charity MIND.

Lynsey Kelly suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and severe anxiety after the vehicle she was travelling in was involved in a fatal road accident seven years ago – and at her lowest point she even tried to take her own life.

Now, thanks to the support of mental health professionals and family and friends, she has made a full recovery – and is preparing to tackle the London Marathon on Sunday 22 April and the Chicago Marathon on Sunday 7 October to raise money for MIND, the mental health charity.

In 2011, not long after her father had passed away, Lynsey travelled to Tanzania to help raise money for charity. Sadly, during the trip the jeep her and five other companions were travelling in crashed, resulting in serious injuries and one fatality.

Lynsey, a Community Safety Manager with the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership, said: “When I returned to the UK I found it difficult to understand what had happened – and why I had survived when someone else didn't.

“I felt guilty and questioned myself constantly. I found my life challenging and began to struggle, but perhaps didn't realise this at the time.

“I became very insular and stopped socialising. I was quiet and withdrawn, my marriage broke down, I didn't believe that I could be a wife any longer and I stopped working. My only escape was running... running and more running.

“After several months of feeling like this I tried to take my own life, but luckily my mum found me and saved me. She and my ex-husband stubbornly refused to let me be discharged from hospital until I had been seen by its crisis team so that I could get the support I needed, and I am so glad they did.

“I was referred to a psychiatrist for support and diagnosed with PTSD and severe anxiety. I then began to piece my life back together and after two years of counselling and medication, I can stand proud of how far I have come and can say that I am 'normal' again – all be it a changed normal. I can now manage my anxieties and I see life very differently, but I'm happy once more.”

The 39-year-old from Stafford added: “The sad thing about what happened to me was that no one apart from my close family noticed or understood - because there wasn't anything physically and visibly wrong with me people assumed I was fine, and the pressure it put on those people who looked after me and supported me was completely under-estimated.

“Looking after a loved one with mental health issues is an extremely challenging job, and can impact on their life almost as much as the person they are caring for.

“Mental health needs to be better understood, accepted and talked about, and for charities to do this they need funding – and that is why I am aimed to raise at least £3,000 for MIND by taking part in these two marathons.”

TV doctor Dr Christian Jessen has launched an awareness and education campaign taking place in Birmingham and other UK cities to encourage the city’s smokers to quit by switching to vaping. In Birmingham, 14% of the population are smokers, approximately 2% below the average in the UK.

Organised by the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), the VApril campaign, which is being rolled out across cities throughout the UK during April, follows evidence recently published by Public Health England which highlights that vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking and that there are substantial health benefits from completely switching from conventional cigarettes to e-cigarettes.

Smokers are being encouraged to take the VApril challenge by dropping into vaping masterclasses, being provided by specialist vaping stores in the city during April.  Participants will receive a free guide – Vape to Break the Smoking Habit - to help them transition from smoking to vaping and give them the best chance of a successful quit.

Dr Christian Jessen said: “According to a recent report by Public Health England (PHE), e-cigarettes may be contributing to at least 20,000 successful new quits per year - with the industry estimating this figure to be much higher. But as a doctor it's disappointing to hear that an estimated 40% of smokers still haven’t even tried vaping.

“I’m delighted to be joining forces with the UK Vaping Industry Association to launch VApril in the city. VApril is all about helping more smokers to make a successful and permanent switchover. I personally believe vaping has overwhelming potential to help smokers break their habit, and this is important because stopping smoking is the single most significant step that people can make to improve their health. We hope that smokers in the city will put down their cigarettes for a month, take the VApril Challenge and themselves the best chance of quitting smoking for good.”

John Dunne, a director of the UK Vaping Industry Association, added: “There is a real need for greater awareness of vaping amongst the millions of smokers still in the UK and getting more of them to consider vaping. Data shows only just 1 in 10 people understand the relative risk of vaping compared to smoking. This is despite consensus amongst high profile and respected healthcare organisations, that vaping is a small fraction of the risk posed by smoking and represents one of the best ways to quit.

“It is estimated that there are currently some 3m vapers in the UK, with almost half of these having quit smoking. VApril aims to encourage the 14% of population in Birmingham who smoke, to think about switching.”

There is a dedicated VApril website – www.vapril.org – where Birmingham’s smokers can find out more information about taking the VApril challenge, hear about vapers’ experiences, download a special guide for first time vapers and access a range of frequently asked questions about vaping.

New figures show that one in six (16%) people with a deadly inherited heart condition are only diagnosed after having a cardiac arrest, whilst a fifth (18%) of people are diagnosed after a sudden death in the family. The figures have been released by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) as part of their In Your Genes campaign, which aims to raise awareness of inherited heart conditions and highlight the urgent need for better diagnosis these conditions, so people can be identified before a tragedy or life-threatening cardiac arrest.

The BHF estimates that around 54,000 people in the West Midlands have a faulty gene which puts them at an unusually high risk of developing heart disease or dying suddenly at a young age [2]. Each child of someone with an inherited heart condition has a 50 per cent chance of inheriting the same faulty gene. But the majority of people remain undiagnosed. In the UK it is estimated that at least 12 young people (aged under 35) die every week from an undiagnosed heart condition.

The BHF survey of almost 200 people with inherited heart conditions from across the UK also found that nearly half of people (48%) were not diagnosed with their inherited heart condition until they were over the age of 40. The heart research charity is urging people to speak to their family about any early sudden deaths or premature heart disease in the family, which might have been caused by an inherited heart condition.

We now know about many of the genes which cause inherited heart conditions, thanks in-part to research funded by the BHF. However more research is urgently needed to better detect and treat these conditions to stop the devastation brought to loved ones, who could also be at risk themselves. Once someone has been diagnosed with an inherited heart condition, genetic testing should be carried out on first-degree relatives – a process called cascade testing. Genetic testing on family members can identify individuals who carry the faulty gene and steps can be taken to monitor individuals and reduce the risk of sudden death, such as surgery, medication or lifestyle changes.

Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, said:

“It is extremely important that family members are offered genetic testing when there’s a history of sudden death or premature heart disease in a family. Once diagnosed, many of these conditions are manageable with medication or ICDs, and can prevent needless deaths.

“All too often, people aren’t familiar with their family history, or they aren’t aware that a sudden death might be linked to an underlying heart condition.

“We need to improve awareness of these conditions, and ensure that people have equal access to cascade genetic testing across the UK. If you have a family history of unexplained sudden deaths in your family, please speak to your GP or call our Genetic Information Service on 0300 456 8383.”

Twelve year old Owen Steatham, from Birmingham, was just nine when he collapsed after suffering a cardiac arrest on his way home from school. Thankfully, paramedics were at the scene quickly and managed to save his life using a defibrillator. In hospital tests revealed that Owen was living with the inherited heart condition hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and was fitted with an ICD. As HCM is an inherited heart condition, the rest of Owen’s family have now been tested and it was revealed that his Dad and younger brother Riley (aged 7) are carrying the faulty gene. They are now being monitored so that they can be treated if they too develop the condition.

Owen’s father, David, 37, said: “We know that genetic testing has saved lives in our family. My uncle was diagnosed with the condition after Owen’s diagnosis, which led to him having an ICD fitted. Since then his ICD has delivered a shock to his heart after it went into a dangerous rhythm. Without the diagnosis and ICD he might not be alive today. Owen has also had 10 shocks from his ICD since his diagnosis, which has literally saved his life.

“My youngest son Riley, who’s just 7, and I have also got the faulty gene. This genetic testing means we are being monitored so that we can be treated if we develop this condition. I am so incredibly grateful to the genetic testing service. No one should have to go through what Owen went through.”

Jaguar Land Rover Solihull has made a generous donation of £5,000 to support Solihull Hospital Charity’s appeal which is going to bring a new cancer unit to Solihull Hospital. The unit, which will form an extension of the existing Ward 19 Cancer Centre at Heartlands Hospital, will have an initial 24 patient chairs, rising to 31 within the next three years.

The donation from Jaguar Land Rover has helped Solihull Hospital Charity towards their overall goal of raising £150,000 to support this project which will see the currently empty ward transformed into a space that has been specifically designed with patients in mind. The new Chemotherapy centre is an extension to the existing Heart of England Foundation Trust Ward 19 treatment centre at Heartlands and will enable more patients to be seen in a comfortable environment

Sharon Gray, Secretary of the Jaguar Land Rover Solihull Charity Committee said: "It's a lovely part of my job when I can tell people we're making a donation to their cause. Helping towards the Chemotherapy Day Unit at Solihull Hospital is a great way for us to support our community as so many of us are touched by cancer.

Over the last two years I am proud to say that at a plant level we've donated nearly £20,000 to the hospital charity for a variety of fundraising projects. Across our workforce there is always the desire to help local organisations, especially the local hospitals".

Justine Davy, Head of Fundraising at the hospital charity said: “This is a fantastic show of support from all of the people at Jaguar Land Rover Solihull. Huge thanks go to everyone at the plant, especially those from the Charity Committee who decided to donate such a generous amount of money to support this project.

“The Chemotherapy Day Unit at Solihull Hospital will provide a great service to low risk patients from across the region who are being treated for cancer. Not only will this day unit be convenient for those who use it, but it will take the strain off Ward 19 at Heartlands Hospital.

“Generous donations such as that from Jaguar Land Rover Solihull will enable the hospital charity to support the Chemotherapy Day Unit and I would greatly encourage any other local business or community group to support the Charity’s appeal.”

For more information about this appeal, please visit heft.org.uk/cancercentre

Over 58% of smokers still try to quit without using an aid and going “cold turkey”,² despite this being the least effective way. A PHE report highlights that public misunderstanding of the harmfulness of nicotine containing products, such as NRT and e-cigarettes, may be linked to inaccurate and confused perception of the risks of nicotine.

The risks of nicotine use are likely to be very low or negligible. NRT is safe and licenced for use in pregnancy and for people with cardio vascular disease. And there is now wide international consensus that e-cigarettes are far less harmful than smoking. It is the cocktail of deadly chemicals in cigarette smoke, including tar and carbon monoxide, which causes almost all of the harm of smoking.

Four in 10 smokers and ex-smokers incorrectly think that nicotine in cigarettes is the cause of most of the smoking-related cancer.¹ Understanding of the harms of nicotine among the general population is similarly poor. In 2017:

• only 7.5% thought that none or a very small part of the risk of smoking comes from nicotine
• 14% thought that it was nearly all the risk
• almost a quarter (24.2%) of the population didn’t know

• using NRT as a quit aid, such as patches and gums, or e-cigarettes makes it one and a half times as likely you’ll succeed;
• your chances of quitting are doubled if using a stop smoking medicine prescribed by a GP, pharmacist or other health professional;
• expert support from a local stop smoking service gives you the best chance of quitting successfully;
• combining quit aids with expert support makes it four times as likely you’ll stop smoking successfully.

“The good news is that there is free support including a range of products to help anyone wanting to quit. Visit https://www.nhs.uk/smokefree to find free advice on how to give up smoking in a way that suits you."

Professor John Newton, Director of Health Improvement at PHE said: “Misunderstanding about the risks from nicotine may be deterring smokers from using quit aids such as e-cigarettes or nicotine replacement therapies like patches and gums.

“Nicotine is addictive but it’s the many thousands of chemicals in tobacco smoke that are responsible for almost all of the harm caused by smoking. Using nicotine quit aids helps manage cravings and can be one of the solutions to helping you stop for good. Going ‘cold turkey’ is not recommended as it’s the least successful way.

“To get the most benefit, make sure you use as much nicotine replacement as you need, and for as long as you need, as this will help you stop smoking and stay smokefree. Combining quit aids with support from a stop smoking service gives the best success rates. With the wide range of aids now available, there’s never been a better time to stop.”

PHE has been supporting all NHS trusts across the country to do all they can to become truly smokefree. The Government and NHS England have both made commitments to a smokefree NHS, in the latest tobacco control plan and the NHS five year forward view.

Smoking rates are at their lowest ever level (15.5% of the adult population), but there are still nearly seven million smokers in England. Smoking kills 79,000 people in England every year,³ and for every death another 20 smokers are suffering from a smoking-related disease.

People are being encouraged to visit their local pharmacy first if they have minor health concerns – and not A&E or their GP.

NHS England's new Stay Well Pharmacy campaign calls on people, especially parents and carers of children under the age of five, to speak to their pharmacist for clinical advice about issues such as sore throats, coughs, colds, upset stomachs, teething and aches and pains.

Pharmacists are trained in managing minor illness and can assess symptoms and either recommend the best course of treatment or simply provide reassurance when a minor illness will get better on its own. And if symptoms suggest it’s something more serious, they have the right clinical training to ensure people get the help they need.

Most people live within easy reach of a pharmacy, many of which offer extended opening hours in the evenings and at weekends. Most community pharmacies also have a private consultation room, suitable for confidential conversations if needed.

Councillor Paul Sweet, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals who are the right people to see if you need clinical advice or over the counter medicines to help safely manage a wide range of minor health concerns.

"Using a pharmacy first where appropriate will help free up GP time for more urgent appointments and reduce non-emergency A&E visits."

Severn Trent has hosted its annual Health Liaison Day, in which the company invites more than 100 professional bodies to talk about innovation and water quality.

The FTSE 100 Company welcomed health professionals, water quality experts, members of local authorities and colleagues from other water companies to the event in Sutton Coldfield, which is designed to promote discussion and share knowledge around the water industry.

Scott Ludford from Severn Trent, who organised and hosted the event, said: “It’s brilliant to have so many people with different expertise in one room who are willing, and keen, to share and discuss knowledge and ideas.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase some of the great work we do at Severn Trent, as well as taking advantage of having so many experts together at the same time. Building great relationships within our industry is vital, so we’re really thankful to those who attended and took part to help make the day as successful as it was.”

Among the attendees were Public Health England and Wales, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and the Consumer Council for Water, as well as local authorities within the company’s region, which covers the majority of the Midlands and mid-Wales.

The company delivered various presentations around new innovative technology it’s using, as well as showcasing the ways it’s looking to improve water quality.

“The water sector is constantly evolving, so days like this are really valuable in making sure we’re sharing innovative ideas and learning from each other so we can continue to provide a great, reliable service for our customers now and in the future.” Scott added.

Paul Quinn, Local Consumer Advocate for the Consumer Council for Water, who attended the event, said: "It was great to witness Severn Trent and public health professionals generously sharing their experiences, knowledge and innovative ideas to help ensure that current and future consumers can have confidence in the safety and wholesomeness of their tap water."

Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam recently earned a perfect score of 100 on a surprise routine United States Public Health (USPH) inspection conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Zuiderdam’s score follows sister ship Eurodam’s December 2017 score of 100, continuing that ship’s six-year run of perfect scores.

Zuiderdam’s unannounced USPH inspection was held Jan. 27, 2018, during a turnaround at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at the start of an 11-day Panama Canal and Caribbean cruise. Over the past four years, several Holland America Line ships have achieved a perfect score of 100 more than 23 times.

“Everyone involved with these inspections works incredibly hard to achieve that perfect score, and it’s especially difficult on a turnaround day when there’s so much happening on board,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “A score of 100 carries significant magnitude, and we congratulate the entire team aboard Zuiderdam for this accomplishment.”

CDC inspections are part of the Vessel Sanitation Program, which was introduced in the early 1970s and is required for all passenger ships that call at a U.S. port. The inspections are unannounced and are carried out by officials from the United States Public Health Service twice a year for every cruise ship.

The score, on a scale from one to 100, is assigned on the basis of a checklist involving dozens of areas of assessment encompassing hygiene and sanitation of food (from storage to preparation), overall galley cleanliness, water, shipboard personnel and the ship as a whole.

As the world prepares to mark World Cancer Day on Sunday 4 February, the UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) says it is vital asbestos related cancers like Mesothelioma are not forgotten. While cancer is the biggest killer worldwide, mesothelioma is the UKs biggest workplace killer, with HSE figures showing 2,542 deaths in 2015 alone and over 5,000 asbestos related deaths from cancer in this period.

“UKATA strongly supports the battle to beat cancer, yet among 200 cancer types, mesothelioma remains a hidden killer,” said UKATA Marketing & Events Officer Victoria Castelluccio. “Asbestos related lung cancers make up 40 per cent of lung diseases in the HSE figures and the frightening thing is, these rates are projected to remain the same for the next decade. In females in the UK, mesothelioma is the 20th most common cause of cancer death! This is one of the reasons UKATA supports Mesothelioma UK, the Mavis Nye Foundation and others working to support victims and raise awareness of the dangers.”

World Cancer Day from Cancer Research UK aims to unite everyone in the fight against cancer, with donations supporting scientists, doctors and nurses and improving survival rates. In December, Victoria attended the opening of Mesothelioma UK’s new headquarters; as part of UKATA’s commitment to the cause. Victoria says the reasons asbestos related cancers need to be high on the agenda are stark.

What’s romance without a bit of banter, competition and fun?

As romantic as it might be to book a candlelit dinner at a fancy restaurant, or to buy the usual bouquet of flowers, or chocolates, that can make Valentine’s Day celebrations super predictable. Why not quit being conventional and surprise your other half with an exciting alternative? A trip to The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience!

If you’re a couple that prefers not to spend the 14th February doing the usual mushy activities, are die-hard fans of the iconic 90s show, or if you just enjoy a challenge and taking the micky out of each other, then this is the perfect way to celebrate this Valentine’s.

To share the love The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience is also offering 15 couples who have been married more than 15 years, and therefore celebrating their Crystal anniversary, the chance to win a pair of free* tickets to its attraction in Manchester or London.

Whether you’re a couple seeking alternative ways to have fun this Valentine’s, or a group of mates trying to avoid all things hearts and romance, teams of eight will be lead around the maze’s four themed zones: Aztec, Medieval, Industrial and Futuristic, by a charismatic Maze Master.

Inside each zone are different challenges: skill, physical, mental and mystery and it’s up to your team captain to decide who takes on which challenge with the ultimate goal of winning a crystal. Each crystal won means more time in the iconic dome, where the aim is to catch enough golden tickets to bag yourself a spot on the coveted leader board!

Spend this Valentine’s lost in The Crystal Maze rolling around with laughter, running and even crawling to get to the Crystal dome at the end as the whole experience is hilariously entertaining from start to finish.

With news of the flu being a hot topic right now, Hallfield School in Edgbaston put on a special assembly teaching youngsters all about germs and the importance of hygiene.

This morning, school nurse, Mrs Florance, took over the Pre-Prep assembly to talk about germs, where they are, and how we can stop them from spreading.

They discussed the importance of washing your hands and a number of volunteers assisted in explaining the steps on how to do it thoroughly.

Mrs Florance rounded off the assembly with a song ‘If you’re happy and you know it wash your hands.’

Speaking of the assembly, Mrs Florance said: “The flu has affected a lot of people across the country this year so we thought it was crucial that we teach our younger children how to stay safe by preventing germs from getting into out bodies.

“Washing hands regularly with soap and warm water could limit the spread of germs and reduce the risk of catching the flu.

 “This winter’s outbreak is reported to be 16 times more severe than last year’s so it really is worrying.”

Aussie flu is on the rise in the UK with Government data showing 4,128 people being struck down across England last week, compared to 3,044 new cases the week before.

Anne Oliver, Head of Pre-Prep at Hallfield School, said: “It's not just parents who cultivate habits of cleanliness in children, we realise that teachers have a responsibility to teach and reinforce hygiene habits too.

“It's vital that children understand the importance of hygiene and washing your hands so they can lead healthier lives.”

National estate agents Leaders has confirmed Teenage Cancer Trust as its new charity partner for 2018 and announced it plans to raise £50,000 for the good cause.

The property firm will work with Teenage Cancer Trust over the next 12 months to fundraise and raise awareness of its invaluable work in supporting the thousands of young people in the UK aged between 13 and 24 who are diagnosed with cancer each year.

Teenage Cancer Trust provides expert staff and specialist units across the UK to care for young people diagnosed with cancer. Currently, almost half of young people with cancer are not treated in Teenage Cancer Trust units, so the charity is building a wider nursing and support service within the NHS to help all young people, wherever they receive treatment.

Allison Thompson, managing director at Leaders, says: “Every day, seven young people aged between 13 and 24 are diagnosed with cancer and it is only thanks to the work of Teenage Cancer Trust that they have specialist support, advice and care available to them.

“The unique support the charity offers makes a huge difference to the young people they help, and their families, but unfortunately there are still some young people they simply cannot reach. I know all our staff at Leaders are ready to get behind Teenage Cancer Trust and use their imagination and hard work to fundraise on its behalf in 2018 and hopefully we can go a small way towards helping the charity realise its aim of ensuring no young person has to face cancer alone.”

Sian Cooper, regional fundraiser at Teenage Cancer Trust, says: “Right now, for every young person that we reach, there is another that we can’t. We’re determined to reach every young person with cancer in the UK and with Leaders’ help, we can get steps closer to making this happen. We can’t thank the staff enough for choosing to support us in 2018 and we’re so excited to be working with them and see the amazing ways they get involved to support young people with cancer.”

With Teenage Cancer Trust set to receive Leaders’ support in 2018, it marks the end of the company’s previous partnership with Together for Short Lives that saw it raise approximately £150,000 for the children’s hospice charity in the last three years.