Birdsong single set to soar into charts

TO highlight the crisis that nature is facing and the loss of over 40 million wild birds from the UK, in just ½ a century, The RSPB is releasing a specially created track of birdsong titled:- 'Let Nature Sing.' The single contains some of the most recognisable birdsongs that we used to enjoy, but that are on their way to disappearing forever. A compilation of beautiful sound recordings of birds with powerful conservation stories including the cuckoo, curlew, nightingale, crane and turtle dove who form part of the dawn chorus choir.

The charity is calling on the public to download, stream and share the single and help get birdsong into the charts for the 1st time, spreading the word that people across the UK are passionate about nature's recovery.

The track is designed to help reconnect the nation with nature, helping people find a moment to relax and promote a feeling of tranquillity, as birdsong has been proven to aid mental health and promote feelings of wellbeing.

Directed by Sam Lee, award winning singer and musician, and produced by Bill Barclay, musical Director at the Globe Theatre; the single uses entirely new sound recordings by RSPB birdsong expert Adrian Thomas, recorded on nature reserves and locations around the UK.

The single will available to pre-order now on all major platforms and will be on general release 26 April 2019, reaching a crescendo for International Dawn Chorus Day, on 5 May 2019. More information can be found and the track can be downloanded now.

Martin Harper, RSPB Director of Conservation said:- "Nature is falling silent; over the last 50 years we've lost a quarter of the birds that used to sing and soar in our skies. We're losing our connection with nature and so we're using music to put it back on the agenda by releasing a track of pure uninterrupted birdsong. Children today are growing up with much less birdsong in the soundtrack to their lives. We're asking people to show their support and concern for nature by downloading the single and enjoying the benefits that birdsong brings into our lives, but also helping to get nature noticed."

Although the track is not designed to raise funds, and the download price is the minimum permitted under chart rules; any proceeds raised will go to help the charity's 200 nature reserves around the UK, where a home for the birds featured on the single is created and protected for future generations to enjoy.

Support available for people to stress less!

STRESS Awareness Month is held every year, throughout April, in order to increase public awareness about both the causes and cures for modern stress. As we near the end of Stress Awareness Month, health professionals from Lancashire Care are encouraging people who are experiencing high levels of stress to get in touch.

A number of factors in all our lives can cause us to get stressed from time to time; the most common being our finances, relationships and work. Stress may also be caused by major life events such as a bereavement or unemployment.

According to the Mental health Foundation 74% of UK adults have felt so stressed at some point over the 2018, that they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope. With this in mind the Trust's Wellbeing and Mental Health Helpline and Mindsmatter Talking Therapy Service is encouraging people who may be feeling lonely, stressed or experiencing mental health problems to get in touch.

Lorraine Khalaf, Wellbeing and Mental Health Helpline Manager at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust said:- "The helpline is here to provide a confidential listening and emotional support line to those who are concerned about their own mental health, or that of someone they know. We also provide general help for people who are having difficulty in maintaining their own wellbeing. Stress affects 1 in 4 people and as part of Stress Awareness Month we would like to remind people that the helpline is available to support anyone who feels they need it. No 1 should have to suffer alone and we urge anyone who needs someone to talk to, to get in touch."

Kieran Fleck, PWP Lead Mindsmatter at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust said:- "The Mindsmatter service is designed with an emphasis on the ease of access to support for those who require our assistance. We have a self referral process whereby people can directly refer themselves to the team either by telephone, using our online self referral form or completing a postal form. Once we receive the referral, the person will receive a telephone assessment from 1 of our Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners who will discuss their needs and work with them to decide what type of treatment will be most helpful. It is important people are aware of the support available to them so they don't suffer alone."

The helpline is open Monday to Friday, 7pm to 11pm and Saturday and Sunday, 12 midday to 12 midnight. For more information about the Wellbeing and Mental Health Helpline, please call them on:- 0800 915 4640 or visit:- LancashireCare.NHS.UK/Mental-Health-Helpline and for information about your local Mindsmatter Service please visit:- LancashireCare.NHS.UK/MindsMatter.

Inspirational event for care providers returning to Liverpool

THE Care Roadshows, the leading event tailored to the care sector, is set to return to Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, on 14 May 2019. This year's free event promises an interactive and hands on experience for visitors, along with informative seminars brought to you by experts in their fields.

The CPD seminar programme will be kicked off by Jonathan Cunningham, who will present his 5 stage plan for achieving an Outstanding rating, based on his own experience as Owner of Rosebank Care Home, which followed the same strategy over 18 months and was graded Outstanding back in December 2016.

Later in the day, Inspection Manager for the CQC, Catherine Challinor will provide an update on the next phase of inspections and will present best practice examples to gain ideas from. In addition, Headline Sponsors, Quality Compliance Systems will be exploring the thinking behind the Human Rights agenda and share practical ideas to help care providers embed equality, respect and dignity into all aspects of their service. All seminars are free to attend, allowing visitors to simply turn up on the day and take their seats.

There will also be 2 workshops throughout the day focusing on ageing and sensory perception, provided by Saint Gobain Ecophon. These sessions will interactively explore the effects of ageing and dementia on our bodies and how this affects the information we perceive from the world around us, with the aim of helping care providers to make appropriate adjustments to their residents' living environments.

Leading industry exhibitors at the event will also showcase a range of the latest products, services and technologies at the event, including:- training, activities, interior design, nutrition and much more. During the exhibition, visitors will have the opportunity to make lasting business connections and have their questions answered by experts from a variety of specialisms.

To see the full programme and to register for free tickets, visit:- CareRoadShows.Co.UK or call:- 01425 838393. Care Roadshows will also be coming to Birmingham, Cardiff and London throughout the year.

Over 70% of adults in the North West want social networks to face criminal sanctions if they fail to keep children safe

¾ of British adults agree that tech companies and their directors should face criminal sanctions for failures to keep children safe on their sites, a new NSPCC survey has revealed. These figures come just days after the Government released its Online Harms White Paper, which proposed introducing an independent regulator to enforce a legal duty of care on tech companies to keep users safe on their platforms. The NSPCC believes that tough sanctions are needed to ensure that responsibility to keep children safe is truly embedded in the boardrooms of tech firms. The UK Government is consulting on various aspects of the proposed laws, including:- whether senior managers should be made liable for gross breaches and whether this should be criminal rather than civil liability. The NSPCC believes it must be criminal and also that a new corporate offence should be created so that tech firms can be prosecuted for gross breaches in their duty of care to children.

The charity's opinion poll, which surveyed more than 2,000 adults, revealed:-

► 77% of adults back criminal prosecution of named directors for significant breaches of child safety.

► And 85% support corporate prosecutions to be brought against social networks for significant breaches.

Both these elements were called for in the charity's detailed proposal:- 'Taming the Wild West Web,' released earlier this year.

Danielle Armitage was groomed on a social network by a 49 year old man, when she was only 14. She initially believed he was 16. He kept her silence by threatening to hurt her family, but was prosecuted and jailed after her father discovered the truth.

Now 22, Danielle speaks out about the abuse to campaign for tech companies to protect young people on their sites.

Talking about the abuse, Danielle said:- "He started being affectionate, and he would give me compliments. As I was feeling quite alone at that time, it was nice to get that attention. As our relationship developed, I felt there was a bond there. I felt in no danger at all. After 2 or 3 weeks we decided to meet up just round the corner from my School. It's only when I was sat in the passenger's seat that I realised how old he was. That realisation was scary. He started driving straight away. He didn't even say anything to me. He took me to a nearby forest, and told me to take my clothes off so he could take photographs."

Danielle was coerced into meeting up with him on two more occasions, with the sexual abuse becoming more violent. Danielle added that:- "Things need to change. I help my partner care for his 2 girls who spend time on the internet. I am scared for their safety, even though we put all the parental controls in place to protect them. It is important that social networks put in protective measures that will stop abuse from happening in the 1st place and not just reacting once it's already begun."

Peter Wanless, NSPCC Chief Executive, said:- "The Government's pledge to bring in independent statutory regulation of social networks is hugely significant but, for effective enforcement, it is vital the regulator has teeth. These latest figures show there is overwhelming support for both corporate and individual criminal liability in cases where tech companies significantly fail to protect children from harm. We urge the Government to take this crucial opportunity and decide on legislation that will make tech firms feel the full weight of the law if they fail in their duty of care to children."

Sanctions the Government has already committed to, and for which the NSPCC's Wild West Web campaign called for, include:- the regulator issuing civil fines, serving enforcement notices, publishing public failure notices and requiring tech firms to disclose information about the breach.