Globally, 1 in 4 women have nowhere to manage their periods safely.

Fempowered is WaterAid’s period subscription box, offering plastic free and 100% organic-certified period products with 100% of profits going to WaterAid projects.

water aid, periods, period poverty,

Fempowered monthly period subscription box: £10 including a £3 donation to WaterAid.

This Menstrual Hygiene Day on 28th May, international charity WaterAid is asking the British public to help transform the lives of women and girls around the world by subscribing to Fempowered, WaterAid’s monthly period subscription box. 

The box costs £10 a month and, with 100% of profits (£3/box) going to WaterAid projects, it provides a unique way for people to get eco-friendly, organic and plastic-free sanitary products delivered to their homes each month, while helping women and girls around the world to manage their periods safely and with dignity.

As a special offer, Fempowered is also offering new subscribers 30% off their first three boxes, using the code IMNEWHERE.

On any given day, 288 million people are menstruating. Yet one in four have no access to a decent toilet, and therefore nowhere safe and private to manage their period. Globally, 37% of schools do not have decent sanitation, meaning nearly 700 million pupils attend a school without a working toilet that locks. As a result, many girls skip school when on their period putting their future goals in jeopardy.

In many places, talking about menstruation is also shrouded in shame and silence. Often, girls don’t know about periods before they start, and many live in fear of rejection from their communities just because they’re bleeding.

Through purchasing WaterAid’s Fempowered bespoke period box, subscribers can support the international charity’s vital work to end this silence and discrimination around periods and help ensure all menstruating women and girls have access to the knowledge, facilities and materials to enable them to manage their periods and feel empowered to lives their lives to the full.

Therese Mahon, Regional South Asia Manager at WaterAid said:

Globally, one in four women and girls are denied access to a decent toilet and a private space to manage their periods hygienically and with dignity. Menstrual health requires access to female friendly toilets with water and soap available at all times. Without access to these facilities at home, school, work and in public places during their menstruation, girls are at risk of missing school, whilst women can miss out on the chance to earn a decent income. 

“Periods are nothing to be embarrassed about yet there still exists a culture of silence and shame, which means the needs of women and girls are often overlooked, impacting their health and opportunities.

“Through Fempowered’s monthly period box, people can help us tackle stigma and discrimination and ensure those who menstruate can manage their periods with dignity.”

To subscribe and to find out more about Fempowered’s sustainable period products that give back, visit www.fempowered.me.

 

How Do You Feel About Getting Back In The Office? – Airdri Survey Shows Surprising Responses – by Award Winning Author Dr Kathleen Thompson

 

After over a year of home-working, offices are cautiously opening their doors. So how do you feel? Excited, nervous or both?

However it’s affecting you, the chances are you’re not alone, and the Airdri survey of 1,000 working British adults provided some interesting reasons why people are concerned about returning to the office:

58% had reluctance relating to having to look smart and dress in office attire

68% said that the commute was putting them off working back in the office

Only 16% were concerned over picking up germs from colleagues and communal areas

With my doctor’s hat on, I’m slightly concerned at the apparent lack of concern about spread of infection as we mix more. We’ve seen how Covid rates sneak up on us before, and whilst we absolutely should enjoy our well-earned new freedoms, we must remain cautious too. Let me explain exponential growth rate and why it can catch us unawares. When we think of growth graphs we usually think of straight lines. However natural growth is often exponential, meaning the graph curls upwards, ever more steeply. The reason is usually due to doubling, so one bacteria splits into two, each of which then split into four and so on – the same with cancer cells, which is why a tumour can be small for a long time and then appear to really take off. Viruses are a bit different but the way they spread follows a similar pattern. So growth starts off deceptively slowly, but because the time for infections to double is the same, whether it’s one infection to two, or 100,000 infections to 200,000, the infection rates can get faster and faster if we do nothing to intervene. Fortunately, with testing, monitoring, vaccination and other controls such as social distancing, we can suppress this exponential growth very successfully. So yes do enjoy those long awaited hugs, but don’t fling out the hand sanitizer or masks just yet – take things slowly, follow the guidelines and stay safe.

And that’s where companies like Airdri can help. To quote Steve Whittall, group director of R&D and operations:

“Whilst employees might not be overly concerned about picking up germs back in the office, it is at the top of mind for business owners/team managers concerned about the safety of staff and visitors.”

“We have seen huge sales increases in our air sanitiser technology – SteraSpace which again shows the investment many firms are making to ensure the safety of their staff. Maybe so much so, that it’s given employees something else to worry about – what to wear”.

Stay safe people, and have fun choosing your outfit.

By Dr K Thompson, award-winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

Introducing…Sugar Coated The “face” of ethical hair removal

sugar coated vegan wax. Made from pure sugar syrup and water, Sugar Coated is the future of hair removal and the ethical alternative to waxing that will have you yelling “give me some sugar!”
Not only is Sugar Coated ultra-effective, more gentle on skin and the environment, but it is also vegan, 100%
natural, completely water soluble, biodegradable, and eco-friendly with its washable and reusable strips.
Inspired by an ancient method of hair removal dating back to 1900 BC, sugar waxing is tried and tested, and
loved by generations
Sugar Coated covers every hair removal need with a full body kit, as well as specific to leg hair, facial hair, bikini line, underarm and arm, and even hair removal on tattooed skin.
Each of these is made with a specific essential oil including rosehip, lavender, calendula, lemongrass, and almond for optimum skin healing and nurturing.
Say goodbye to those super sticky waxes, burning creams and painful epilators and give your skin a sweet treat with Sugar Coated Hair Removal.

Available at Next, Feel Unique, and Amazon.

Sugar Coated is the brainchild of Rosie Khandwala. Her story goes back
to the shores of the Indian Ocean on the north-east coast of Tanzania.
Growing up in Tanzania sugar waxing was the only form hair removal she
used. She learnt how to sugar wax from her mother and older sisters as

well as working in her cousin’s salon.

When she moved to the UK in 1987 she was amazed that sugar waxing
didn’t exist, so she started making her own. Seeing this glaring hole in the
market she and her husband started manufacturing at home to introduce
sugar waxing to the UK market. She soon outgrew the kitchen and they
found premises nearby where she is still manufacturing the sugar wax

today.

Sugar Coated is the vegan sugar wax that has the heritage and recipe
with a track record. This is the “face” of ethical hair removal. Made in the
UK with eco-friendly and ethical manufacturing at the heartbeat; Sugar
Coated is a product we want you to be proud to buy and share your
experience with friends just as its creator Rosie is sharing hers with you.

Three Weddings and a Proposal By Sheila O’Flanagan Book Review

Three Weddings and a Proposal - bestseller Sheila O'FlanaganI have read quite a few of Sheila O’Flanagan’s books now and I am always impressed by the depth of her female characters. They are not your silly carbon-copy women. Delphine is no exception. The main character of Three Weddings and a Proposal will have you cheering her on at every point. She is such a great character and grows so much throughout the novel, it is impossible to not love her.

Three Weddings and a Proposal is a doorstopper of a book and it is such a joy to lose yourself in it. I also loved the fact some of the book is set in Mallorca as it felt like I was on holiday. With all of its twists and turns and fantastic characters, it is impossible not to love Three Weddings and a Proposal. It is an entertaining book full of depth, warmth and happiness. Loved it.

Three Weddings and a Proposal (HB, £20, Headline Review) will become a much-loved staple for readers of Sheila’s books. In her classic style, it’s set between Ireland and Spain, continually transporting the reader straight to the sparkling seas and sun-baked streets of Mallorca. Sheila grapples with the complexities of dilemma and change, gets to the heart of empowerment for women and champions finding your feet. Her books always feature a strong female protagonist, are always fun with characters you really care about and have a big dollop of warmth throughout.

Delphine has worked hard for her success, but her opinionated family aren’t convinced that her lifestyle could truly make her happy. While at a wedding, Delphine hears some shocking news that will make her revaluate all that matters to her – will love, family and compromise come before her career, security and independence?

Out on 20th May.

Indie Book Awards 2021 Shortlist Announced and it looks very interesting

 

 

London, 14th May 2021: The shortlist for the Indie Book Awards 2021, the annual awards curated by independent bookshops as part of Independent Bookshop Week (IBW, 19-26 June 2021), has been revealed today.

Richard Osman, Kiley Reid, Raynor Winn and Benjamin Zephaniah among the shortlisted authors, chosen by indie booksellers. Winners announced on Scala Radio on Friday 25th June

2021 Shortlist includes: Windrush Child  by Benjamin Zephaniah; The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman; Hungry by Grace Dent; The Hospital Dog by Julia Donaldson and Sara Ogilvie

 The awards honour the paperback books of the year across four categories – Fiction, Non-Fiction, Children’s Fiction and Picture Book – as voted for by independent booksellers. Celebrating the best reads for the summer and the books that readers should be taking on holiday (or on their staycations) this summer, the awards are a part of the annual campaign celebrating indie bookshops in the UK and Ireland organised by the Booksellers Assosciation.

This year’s shortlist include the debut sensation Richard Osman (The Thursday Murder Club), the number 1 Sunday Times Bestselling author Matt Haig (The Midnight Library), Julia Donaldson MBE (The Hospital Dog), previous Indie Book Award nominee Onjali Q. Rauf (The Night Bus Hero),  2020 Booker Prize longlisted author Kiley Reid (Such A Fun Age), Stonewall Book Award winner Jessica Love (Julian at the Wedding), writer and poet Benjamin Zephaniah (Windrush Child) and Carnegie award winner Meg Rosoff (The Great Godden). During Independent Bookshop Week, Bookshop.org and Blackwell’s will be hosting virtual events featuring some of the shortlisted authors.

A judging panel of independent booksellers and authors will decide on the four winners, to be announced at 10am on Friday 25 June 2021, the penultimate day of Independent Bookshop Week. The winners will be announced on Scala Radio, the official media partner of the Indie Book Awards.

The judging panel for the Adult categories consists of booksellers including Tina Gaisford-Waller (Winstone’s Hunting Raven Books), Saber Khan (Toppings, Bath), Sam Fisher (Burley Fisher Books), Alice Carr (Blackwell’s, Edinburgh) and Hachette author Will Dean.

The Children’s categories will be judged by Nicola Lee (Children’s Bookshop, Lindley), Mariana Mouzinho (Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children’s Books), India Chambers (Round Table Books), Gill Edwards (Little Ripon Bookshop) and Hachette author Patrice Lawrence.

Benjamin Zephaniah, author of Windrush Child, said: ‘When I say I owe a lot to independent bookshops, I mean it. My first book was not published by an established publisher, it was published by Page One Books, an independent book shop in east London. When I couldn’t find venues to perform in, I performed above, or in, independent bookshops all over the country. Independent bookshops made me, and I don’t want to get too heavy, but in times like these I use them for their human connections, and as a political statement. Long love the book lovers.’

 Raynor Winn, author of The Wild Silence, said: ‘Independent booksellers are an amazing network of people with an understanding and passion for books like no other. They’re incredibly important not only for authors and publishers but also as hubs of connection within their communities. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to indie booksellers the length of the county for the overwhelmingly generous support they’ve shown for both of my books – thank you!‘

Richard Osman, author of The Thursday Murder Club, said: ‘Independent bookshops are the heartbeat of their communities and the heartbeat of the publishing industry. They feel like home for me, and I am beyond thrilled to be nominated for this award.’

Emma Bradshaw, Head of Campaigns, Booksellers Association, said: ‘The Indie Book Awards celebrate the best titles of the year, as recommended by the expertise of independent booksellers. This year’s shortlist features an eclectic mix of books, from Sunday Times best-sellers, to Booker-nominated titles, to books that have kept us company throughout lockdown. As bookshops gradually reopen in the UK and Ireland, I can’t wait to go to my local indie and get my hands on this year’s shortlist – and I hope all book lovers will do the same!’

 For more information about the Indie Book Awards and previous winners, please visit www.indiebookshopweek.org.uk/IBWBookAward.

Follow the latest developments via social media: #IndieBookshopWeek @BooksAreMyBag

 

Interesting times at Arch 468

                  

Sofia Stephanou will move into the position of Executive Director at Arch 468 taking on more of the overall responsibility for producing and organisational strategy as Rebecca Atkinson-Lord takes up the position of Artistic Director and Chief Executive at An Tobar & Mull Theatre on the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides.  Atkinson-Lord will continue as Artistic Director, curating the artistic programme at Arch 468,

Up until spring 2020, Stephanou was the Producer at Paines Plough where she was responsible for the organisation’s festivals and touring work.

Rebecca Atkinson-Lord founded Arch 468 in 2007 as an arts production and development hub that exists to shape the cultural ecology of the future. The Arch 468 Hope Prize launched earlier this year offered a £10,000 commission for a new play that offers a vision of hope. Submissions have now closed and the winner will be announced in due course.

Atkinson-Lord comments, Sofia has worked with Arch 468 since the very start of her career and has become an invaluable part of the fabric of the company. Her time as Executive Producer has been a remarkable period of growth and ambition, so stepping up to become Executive Director to allow me to focus on curating the Artistic Programme at Arch 468 alongside my work on Mull is a natural next step. She’s a phenomenal producer and cultural leader and I can’t wait to work alongside her in her new role.

 Stephanou comments, I am delighted to be stepping into the role of Executive Director. Arch 468 is where it all started for me and has been an important part of my life and career, from touring my first production and learning the ropes of being a producer to touring world class new writing both nationally and internationally. I am incredibly grateful to have had a creative home with the company for so long. I look forward to working alongside Rebecca in this new role and period of growth for the organisation, whilst blazing new trails for the future.

An Tobar & Mull Theatre is a cross art form theatre and arts centre developing and producing theatre, music, dance, film, literature and visual arts. A Regularly Funded Organisation in the Creative Scotland portfolio, they tour nationally and internationally and work with artists of all kinds to commission and develop new and exciting work.

 Website https://www.arch468.com/

Instagram @Arch468TheatreStudio

Twitter @Arch468 Facebook @Arch468

Greenwich Theatre presents a family-fun Summer repertory season of The Wolves of Willoughby Chase and Pinocchio Greenwich Theatre,

 

Greenwich Theatre presents a family-fun Summer repertory season of The Wolves of Willoughby Chase and Pinocchio at Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, Greenwich, London, SE10 8ES

Thursday 5 th August – Sunday 5th September 2021

The rescheduled adaptation of Joan Aiken’s acclaimed novel The Wolves of Willoughby Chase will run alongside a brand-new retelling of family-favourite Pinocchio. Both directed by Greenwich Theatre’s Artistic Director James Haddrell, the productions will combine captivating music and magical storytelling for some much-needed escapism.

Greenwich Theatre’s favourite pantomime villain Anthony Spargo (Horrible Histories – Barmy Britain Part One and Two, Garrick Theatre; co-writer of Olivier nominated Alice’s Adventures Underground for Les Enfants Terribles) will join a fantastic ensemble cast, taking on numerous roles across both productions. Further casting includes Alice DeWarrenne, David Haller, Cassandra Hercules, Serin Ibrahim, Adam Karim and Reice Weathers.

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase tells the story of two brave and determined girls as they encounter unforgettable characters, take on ferocious wolves and battle through snowy wastelands. Bonnie, Sylvia, and their friend Simon the Goose-boy soon realise that the wolves roaming the forests outside may not be as dangerous as the wolfish adults plotting inside.

Carlo Collodi’s iconic tale of a talking puppet, Pinocchio, has been adapted specifically for Greenwich Theatre by Anthony Clark. Packed with puppetry, a wood-influenced score, and a sense of adventure, the production is a beautiful reimagining of the original material. Join Pinocchio, a talking cricket and a whole host of characters, as they discover the impact of their actions and lies. James Haddrell,

Artistic Director and Director comments, I am delighted to be working with writers Tony Clark and Russ Tunney to launch this ambitious new venture for Greenwich Theatre, a summer repertory season which this year features Tunney’s adaptation of The Wolves of Willoughby Chase and Clark’s version of Pinocchio. Family theatre has always been incredibly important to us at Greenwich Theatre. From the launch of the Greenwich Children’s Theatre Festival in 2008 to the year-on-year growth of our Offie award-winning pantomime, audiences have come to expect exciting, innovative family shows in Greenwich every season, so this new signature moment in the year is set to become a must-see moment in the capital’s cultural calendar. Greenwich Theatre is excited to bring quality entertainment back to the area.’

The theatre continues to adhere to the ongoing government guidance, with social distancing potentially in place for indoor performances. Should the restrictions and circumstances change they will look to adjust accordingly.

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase and Pinocchio Dates Thursday 5 th August – Sunday 5 th September 2021 Location Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, Greenwich, London, SE10 8ES

How to Get There: The nearest train stations are Greenwich Station, Deptford Station and Cutty Sark Station (DLR). Running Time Both productions are 90 minutes

Box Office: Tickets are available from £21 (Concessions £18.50, Child £11, Family Ticket £54) on www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

Twitter @greenwichtheatr

Instagram @greenwichtheatre

Facebook /GreenwichtheatreLondon

Vogue Williams shares her ‘Must Have’ Baby Products with The Baby Show Live @ Home

Vogue Williams, radio & TV presenter, model and mum shares her must-have parenting products with The Baby Show:

Bouncer

I love the BabyBjörn Bouncer Bliss. We had one of these when we had Theodore and they are brilliant. You can get a toy attachment for it too, so that it can turn into a little activity chair for your baby. We recently got the new Leopard print one for Gigi which I love, but this bouncer will last you through all of your kids as the covers are washable!

 

Buggy

The Bugaboo Fox buggy was the main buggy we got for Theodore and then Gigi used it after she was born. It’s very long lasting and super comfortable, plus you can attach a seat to the back, which is where T sits now!

 

Baby Gym

I always find myself looking for ways to occupy Gigi. We got a gorgeous wooden play gym from Scandiborn and I just think they have the most gorgeous toys for all age groups.

 

Travel steriliser

I use the Avent Travel Steriliser. This steriliser is really compact, you can take it away with you and you can store it away in a cupboard, so there’s no need to have a messy steriliser sitting out.

 

Baby Clothes

In terms of clothing, there are so many baby brands I love, but some of my favourites are Rachel Riley, Pop My Way, MORI, Mini Rodini, Oliver Baby, Mini A Ture and Il Gufo. All of these brands are really good quality, so will stand the test of a messy baby!

 

Muslins

I think aden + anais do the best ones. You will need lots of these, we use them for everything, you can never have too many!

 

Breast Pump

My favourites are the Medela Swing and the Elvie. They are expensive, but have lasted me two babies so far and if we have more I will know I will be able to use them again.

 

High Chair

I really love the Stokke Trip Trap as you can use it from newborn upwards plus it’s easy to clean.

 

Sheets

Snuz do a lovely range of super soft sheets.

 

Moses basket

We got a really beautiful Moses for our sitting room from The Little Green Sheep.

 

The Baby Show Live @ Home takes place from Friday 19 – Sunday 20 June, 2021. For more information visit https://www.thebabyshow.co.uk/live