Social Prescribers have been at the heart of our community, helping individuals navigate challenges such as mental health struggles, elderly isolation, homelessness, and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. They connect people to vital resources, including food banks and employment support, all while strengthening community bonds. According to The BMJ, evaluating Social Prescribing Link Workers (SPLWs) too early risks overlooking their full potential. They recommend extending the evaluation period by at least two more years to conduct a thorough review of their impact. Let’s ensure these dedicated professionals can continue their essential work. Sign now to save this vital service!

More than 5years ago residents of Netherton, Meltham, and South Crosland were promised an extension to the Meltham Greenway, one that connects to Netherton and South Crosland.   We, the undersigned, are calling for the extension of the Meltham Greenway woodland cycle path and walk way, following the historic Meltham Branch Line. This extension will provide numerous benefits to our community, including:   1. Enhanced Connectivity: Extending the Greenway will connect the three communities and improve the feeling of unity, making it easier for neighbourhoods and residents, including those who use wheelchair users or mobility scooters, to enjoy the natural beauty of our area. 2. Environmental Benefits: Promoting cycling and walking reduces the number of short car journeys and reduces our carbon footprint and reduces noise pollution, contributing to a healthier environment. 3. Health and Wellbeing: Providing a safe, accessible, scenic route for walking, horse riding, running and cycling encourages physical activity, improving the health and wellbeing, including mental health, of our community members. 4. Historical Preservation: Following the Meltham Branch Line preserves our local heritage, allowing residents and tourists to appreciate the historical significance of the area.   Kirklees Council has not begun construction despite receiving funding from several local construction projects. Kirklees Council have failed to respond to queries regarding funding and progress updates.

  Contraception empowers people to manage their reproductive health and make choices that shape their futures. options are still limited to different delivery mechanisms for mostly the same set of hormones. This leaves many people without real choice.   It’s time the U.K. leads the way in revolutionising reproductive healthcare by investing in innovative contraceptive solutions for all. That investment would be a net saving for the Government: Over 10 years, there is a £9.00 saving for every £1 invested in publicly provided contraception.3   Investing in contraceptive innovation is about more than saving money. It’s about expanding choice, improving public health, reducing unintended pregnancies, supporting reproductive rights, and creating greater gender equality.  Why Contraceptive Innovation is Urgent:  1. Outdated Contraceptive Methods Are Leading Many to Turn Away from Contraception Altogether: Many of today’s widely used contraceptives, including hormonal pills, IUDs, and condoms, have seen little advancement in over half a century. While effective for some, they do not address the needs of everyone. Many women experience serious side effects from hormonal options, and for those who can't use these methods, options are limited. It’s time to make way for better choices for all.  2. A New Frontier in Fertility Control – Contragestives – Is on the Horizon: Contragestives are a new type of fertility control that can prevent pregnancy before or after fertilisation. They are distinct from traditional contraceptives and emergency contraceptives, and offer a non-invasive, non-hormonal contraceptive option. However, regulatory challenges and a lack of funding are delaying their availability, despite their potential to significantly reduce unintended pregnancies.  3. It’s Time for Gender Equality in Contraceptive Responsibility: The burden of contraceptive responsibility overwhelmingly falls on women, with women bearing both the side effects and costs. Meanwhile, male contraceptives have barely evolved. It’s either condoms or vasectomy. Studies show both women and men want more options so they can share contraceptive responsibilities fairly. And male contraceptive pills, gels and injections are showing great promise – they just require more investment to reach the market.    Sign this petition to show your support for a future where everyone can have access to the contraception they need!  This petition is addressed to The Rt Hon. Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and aims to reach all those who believe in reproductive rights, innovation, and gender equality in healthcare. 

Mental Health Sufferers should not have to contribute from their PIP or universal credit for their care.  Those with mental health issues are being failed by the current system, as they can not afford to contribute towards much needed care, such as carers and enablers, they are being left behind, with little or no chance of getting back into society, and contributing to our society in the future! 

The reason why you should not only sign this petition but join the fight against BDD is because this is a mental disorder that effects so many across all identity's, backgrounds, ages, genders and lifestyles. When you sign this petition you will bring so much benefit of all people in society and not just the people that suffer this everlasting mental disorder. By the day this disorder worsens, and people cannot take it anymore to the point of suicide. Do you want this in YOUR world for your kids, to grow up with. So again I plead you can you simply sign this petition and bring a better well being for the change in society.  Thankyou. 

Since the 1980s, over 100 NHS Hospitals have been closed, and half of NHS hospital beds have been CUT while the UK population has grown by about 10 million. Our NHS is short of properly qualified Staff, NHS beds and NHS equipment due to deliberate underfunding. And the UK is the 6th richest country in the world with no shortage of billionaires.

This General Election is our chance to make sure that action is finally taken on period poverty. Across the UK, women, girls, and people who have periods are struggling to access basic essentials and the cost of living crisis has driven levels of need to unprecedented levels.  One third of girls already miss school because they can’t access essentials like pads, but the Government has not yet confirmed if they will continue this much needed scheme beyond July 2024. For many other groups of women and people who menstruate who struggle to afford period products, there’s no support in place.  This has a devastating impact on those affected by the cost of living crisis, and reliant on food banks and other community support mechanisms.    This leaves charities, like us here at Bloody Good Period and many of partners, filling the gap  and providing a rising number of essential period products to those who need them.   Scotland has made history by becoming the first country in the world to protect the right to access free period products in law. A law for period products to be available in schools, colleges and public buildings in Northern Ireland is also now in force. It’s long overdue that we get the same legislation and access in England and Wales. We need party leaders who care about ending period poverty. We need the next UK government to listen to those who menstruate, the charities who are fighting for better access to period products and people like you and me who need a solution NOW.  But to get commitments to make period products freely available in public spaces in their manifestos we need public pressure. So, please join me and sign the petition.

Two years of training is insufficient for Physician Associates (PAs) to diagnose or treat patients effectively. The promotion of PAs in medical settings has several drawbacks, both for the PAs who are being parachuted into jobs they aren't prepared for and set up to fail, and for doctors who must supervise them and are held accountable for their mistakes. PAs lack the medical expertise that comes with specialised training, unlike nurses or paramedics, and their role does not complement but, rather, attempts to mimic that of doctors. Their courses are unaccredited, and they miss crucial training in ethics, communication, and basic medical knowledge. Consequently, PAs often fail to diagnose or treat conditions correctly, burdening already overstretched doctors with the responsibility for these errors. PAs also dilute the educational opportunities available to student doctors and, unlike other health professionals, PAs lack a regulatory body to ensure safety and accountability. Employing PAs over doctors in GP practices, where they often work unsupervised, is financially incentivised. However, it can lead to increased net costs due to the need for supervision. In GP practices and across NHS Trusts, patients are frequently seen by PAs without realising they are not doctors, undermining the extensive training that doctors undergo. This practice devalues doctors, creates friction within the NHS, and contributes to the unemployment of qualified GPs. The introduction of underqualified PAs, who often receive better pay and conditions than more medically competent doctors or nurses, is seen by many as a move to undermine the NHS and erode public trust and the morale of healthcare professionals.

Russ Cook run the entire length of Africa. That’s 9,940 miles. Russ ran the equivalent 385 marathons in 352 days across 16 countries. His efforts have raised over £900,000 for charity so far! Along the way he was kidnapped, held at knife point and had numerous issues with his body that stopped him from running. Russ Cook deserves to be recognised for his efforts and I think he should be included in the nominations for Sports Personality of the year. Let's make this happen and give the man the kudos he deserves! Russ encouraged health and fitness and showed what the human body is capable of, if you commit your mind to something. He is nothing short of an incredible inspiration to a lot of people and more people need to hear his story!

My name is Dr Adam Janjua, and I’m an NHS GP in Lancashire. In my job, there’s nothing more important to me than making sure that everyone is able to access good care in their community. But I’m very worried because due to funding cuts, there are hundreds of practices across the country that risk closure. In 2023 alone, nearly 60 GP practices closed their doors. In my own area, over a hundred practices have seen reduced income and rising costs, while 10 are at risk of closure.  I'm working with 38 Degrees to demand our political leaders come up with a serious plan to fix the impending crisis of GP practices closing. The benefits are obvious. Investing in local doctors creates a ripple effect throughout the healthcare system. If we strengthen our GPs it helps make us healthier, reduces the burden on hospitals, and creates a healthier society. We need to change how GP surgeries are funded so they can afford to stay open without charging patients. In the past few years, money meant for individual surgeries has been split between hundreds of practices. This has made it harder for GPs like myself to keep up with costs. We need leaders who care about the health system to step up and make sure the NHS doesn't fall apart. Our politicians should listen to doctors and patients, and stop trying to divide us by trying to shift the blame for the problems in the NHS on to staff like me who care. This is a serious problem, and we need a solution NOW!

it is important we keep the day centre open to meet the needs of the individuals and families who use this service currently, and for those to come. it allows families to have peace of mind to go to work or recharge their batteries, in the knowledge that their loved one is safe and receiving person-centred care

The Barnes community was really happy when our local post office reopened along with a Morrisons shop. It was a welcome addition to our town. However, we are all shocked at the blatant marketing of vapes to young people. The colourful stand of vapes is directly facing the glass door of the shop (seen from the street) offering an array of sweet flavoured Vapes such as strawberry and mint. These colourful, flavoured vapes are attractive and enticing to children. Children's doctors say vaping may cause long-term damage to young people's lungs, hearts and brains. The vapour inhaled contains a small amount of chemicals, including the addictive substance nicotine. It is well know and well researched that nicotine: - is highly addictive - can cause anxiety and depression - can cause bronchitis - leads to lung damage (which can be life threatening) Vaping also exposes the user to cancer-causing chemicals.